Sustainable Approaches for Institutionalizing Open Access in Africa’s Depressed Economies and LMICs
Dear Neil,
Open Access (OA) must be reframed as a strategic public good in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Institutionalizing OA requires sustainable financing, robust policy frameworks, capacity building, and equitable partnerships. Governments and universities should adopt clear OA mandates that prioritize repository development, green OA, and retention of author rights. Sustainable funding can be achieved by reallocating subscription budgets to support institutional repositories and by establishing national and regional OA funds that subsidize publishing infrastructure rather than costly article processing charges (APCs).
Capacity strengthening is essential. Librarians, researchers, and administrators need training in OA licensing, metadata standards, digital
preservation, and advocacy. Regional consortia can aggregate technical expertise and negotiate collective agreements with publishers while
promoting OA models that waive article processing charges by relying on institutional and governmental support. Digital infrastructure
investments—reliable repositories, persistent identifiers, and interoperable metadata—must be scaled with attention to low-bandwidth
accessibility and long-term preservation.
Equity must guide partnerships with global north institutions and funders; collaborations should transfer skills, preserve local editorial control, and avoid extractive publishing relationships. Policies incentivizing OA—promotion criteria recognizing OA publications, public visibility metrics, and rewards for data sharing—encourage researcher buy-in. Legal reforms protecting copyright exceptions for education and research will remove barriers to reuse and enable broader uptake.
Finally, sustained advocacy and community engagement are critical. Civil society, professional associations, education groups, and student movements should champion OA’s societal benefits: improved healthcare, education, and innovation. Measured implementation, iterative evaluation, and sharing of best practices across Africa and LMICs will ensure OA becomes an enduring, locally governed resource that strengthens knowledge sovereignty and accelerates development. Continent-wide roadmaps with milestones, financing targets, and monitoring indicators will secure long-term viability and regional ownership, and foster inclusive digital futures, today.
*Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje*
CEO and Perm. Rep. to the United Nations Systems, Afrihealth Optonet
Association (AHOA);
National Coordinator, Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development
Goals in Nigeria (CSP-SDGs);
President, African Network of Civil Society Organizations (ANCSO);
President, Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and
Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN);
Chair, Global Civil Society Consortium on Climate Change and Conference of
Parties (GCSCCC).
*Global Health and Dev’t Projects Consultant | Conferences Organizer |
Trainer| Facilitator | Researcher | M&E Expert | Civil Society Leader |
Policy Advocate*
�� �� +2348034725905/✉️druzoadirieje2015@gmail.com/ ceo@afrihealthcsos.org*
*X: *twitter.com/druzoadirieje
*��* www.afrihealthcsos.org*, *https://druzodinmadirieje.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: https://ng.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Dr.+Uzodinma/Adirieje
HIFA profile: Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a leading voice in health education, community health, and advocacy, with decades of experience advancing people-centered development across Africa and beyond. His approach to health education emphasizes participatory learning, knowledge transfer, and behavior change communication, ensuring that individuals and communities gain the skills and awareness to make informed decisions about their health. He develops and delivers innovative health promotion strategies tailored to local realities, particularly in resource-limited settings. In community health, Dr. Adirieje has championed integrated primary health care, preventive medicine, and grassroots health initiatives. Through Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), which he leads, he connects civil society, community groups, and health institutions to strengthen healthcare delivery, tackle health inequities, and improve access to essential services for vulnerable populations. His work addresses infectious diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, climate and health, environmental health, and emerging public health challenges. As a passionate advocate, Dr. Adirieje works with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to influence health policy, mobilize resources, and promote sustainable development goals (SDGs). He amplifies community voices, ensuring that health systems are inclusive, accountable, and responsive. His advocacy extends beyond health to governance, environment, and social justice, positioning him as a multidisciplinary leader shaping healthier and more equitable societies. afrepton AT gmail.com