Consultative Forum held jointly in collaboration with and
support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Royal
Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
THE HILTON HOTEL
NAIROBI, KENYA ON 29-30 JANUARY 2015
Consultative Forum on Open
Access (OA): Towards high
level interventions for
research and development in
Africa
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
CONSULTATIVE FORUM OBJECTIVES
1. To initiate a dialogue between scientists and policy-makers among
stakeholders that will lead to the drafting of the NASAC Project
Proposal on an Open Access Initiative for Africa.
2. To support the development of science-based advice on Open
Access for Africa by the NASAC, with special input by UNESCO and
KNAW - the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences.
3. To establish relationships with organizations keen on Open Access
and provide evidence to African policy-makers and other
stakeholders in Africa working in the area of Open Access.
4. Bring together researchers, academics, scholars and librarians
responsible for the publishing of research to exchange and share
their experiences and research results with regards to Open
Access.
5. Discuss the new models of scholarly communication based on
open access, and the practical challenges encountered and the
solutions that should be adopted.
6. Understand/share the experiences, investment and commitment
of countries where successful OA has been implemented.
7.
Focus
beyond
building
the
project
to
developing
recommendations to policymakers — with an ultimate target
audience of the African Union (AU).
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Consultative Forum held jointly in collaboration with and
support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Royal
Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
CONSULTATIVE FORUM ON OPEN ACCESS (OA): TOWARDS HIGH LEVEL
INTERVENTIONS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
| Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya | 29-30 January 2015 |
Day 1: Thursday, 29 January 2015
DEFINING OPEN ACCESS FOR AFRICA
8:30-9:00
Registration of participants
9:00-9:30
Opening
Session
Moderator:
Jackie Olang,
NASAC
Welcome and introduction
Addresses from:
1. The Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW)
2. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) – Nairobi Office
3. Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS)
4. African Academy of Sciences (AAS)
5. Network of African Science Academies (NASAC)
6. Kenyan Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
(5mins each)
9:30 – 11:00
1. Open Access development in Europe – Vincent Wintermans –
UNESCO Netherlands
2. Open Access development in South America – Dominique Babini –
Latin America Council of Social Sciences, Argentina
3. Open Access development in Africa – Pascal Hoba – Association of
African Universities
(20mins presentation and 10mins discussion each)
11:00-11:30
Refreshment Break and Group Photo
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11:30-13:00
Moderator:
UNESCO tbc
Challenges to opening access to African Research
 Scholarly Communication in Africa Project (SCAP): Michelle
Willmers (15mins presentation 15mins discussion)
 Findings of the survey into the challenges of editors and publishers
in Africa: Susan Murray (15mins presentation 15mins discussion)
 The role of the GRC in promoting open access in Africa: Daisy
Selematsela (15mins presentation 15mins discussion)
13:00-14:00
Lunch Break
14:00-15:30
Moderator:
KNAW tbc
Creating an environment for Open Access (PANEL DISCUSSION)
• Creating enabling Policies for Open Access: David Bakibinga,
Makerere University
• Impact of networking and collaboration using available resources:
Francis Tusubira, UbuntuNet
• World Bank’s Centres of Excellence Initiative: tbc
• African Union’s STISA-2024 strategy: tbc
• UNESCO’s training courses: Bhanu Neupane, UNESCO
• Cameroon Academy of Science: Emmanuel Tonye, CAS
(Panel discussion for 60mins followed by general discussions for 30mins)
Topics for discussion by panelists:
(a) Elaborate on examples of Open Access initiatives that have worked
(b) What constituted the regulatory frameworks under which the
initiatives operated?
(c) How can science-policy dialogue be facilitated through open
access?
(d) What roles can science academies play?
15:30-16:00
Refreshment break
16:00-17:30
Moderator:
Kenneth
Kaduki, KNAS
A sustainable Open Access model for Africa (GROUP DISCUSSION)
Group 1: Publishing Infrastructure (costs and logistical requirements,
repositories, online content management services and journal platforms,
other publishing services e.g. hosting, editorial services, peer reviews)
Group 2: Developing policy for Open Access (institutional policies,
government policies, funders and academies’ policies)
Group 3: Training and Advocacy (existing training needs, advocacy
network, concept document for Tunisia)
From 18:00
Group Dinner – Sarova Stanley Hotel
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Day 2: Friday, 30th January 2015
OPEN ACCESS FRAMEWORK FOR SCIENCE-POLICY DIALOGUE
8:30-8:40
Recap of Day 1 by Forum Rappoteur
8:40-10:50
Moderator:
Asifa Nanyaro, TAAS
Case studies/success stories in the region
 Spider by eIFL – Rosemary Otando
 SciELO SA by ASSAf – Susan Veldsman
 iHub and youth engagement – Jessica Colaço
 AJOL on Africa-wide partnership – Susan Murray
 Global Open Access Portal by UNESCO – Bhanu Neupane
(20mins presentation each and 30mins discussions at the end)
10:50-11:30
Refreshment break
11:30-13:00
Moderator: Gilford
Hapanyengwi, ZAS
Reporting back session from Group Discussions
Group 1: Publishing Infrastructure
Group 2: Developing policy for Open Access
Group 3: Training and Advocacy
(20mins presentation and 10mins discussion each)
13:00-14:00
14:00-16:30
Moderator:
Abed Peerally
(MAST)
Lunch Break
Open-forum for general plenary discussion on pertinent issues on
Open Access for Africa
16:30-17:00
Robin Crewe
(NASAC)
Summing up and Closing Session
• Summary of consultative forum discussions and forum’s
recommendations
• Closing remarks (NASAC/KNAW/UNESCO)
• Vote of thanks
Topics for consideration
 How can academies add value and how can technology and
options be discussed with policy-makers and the public; and
 Who else is working on these issues and what are the
opportunities for partnership to support African decisionmakers and stakeholders?
 What elements should an open access programme for Africa
encompass?
 What is the role of academies and Open Access experts?
 What are the budgetary implications? How can financial
resources be secured from Africa and beyond?
 Which crucial partnerships should be pursued?
 What timeframe is being envisioned?
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