The AfricArXiv Open Science webinar series hosted its first session of 2025 with an engaging discussion on the role of COAR (Confederation of Open Access Repositories) in advancing open access in Africa. Organized by UbuntuNet Alliance and Access 2 Perspectives, with support from the African Open Science Platform, the webinar featured Kathleen Shearer, Executive Director of COAR, as the guest speaker.
With nearly two decades of experience in open science, Kathleen provided valuable insights into the global open access landscape and its relevance to African researchers and institutions. She emphasized the importance of repositories in facilitating open access, highlighting how policy developments, including the UNESCO Recommendations on Open Science, are helping create a more inclusive and sustainable research environment. She also shared how COAR collaborates with initiatives like LIBSENSE Africa, which is working to strengthen repository networks across the continent.
A key focus of the session was on how African researchers and institutions can increase the visibility of their work globally. Kathleen introduced COAR’s “Publish, Review, Curate” model, which is transforming diamond open access publishing by enabling greater transparency and researcher-driven knowledge sharing. She also discussed COAR’s ongoing efforts to enhance repository interoperability and sustainability, ensuring that research outputs from Africa are seamlessly integrated into the global open science ecosystem.
The webinar attracted 44 participants from across Africa, who actively engaged in a Q&A session, further exploring challenges and opportunities in open access and repository development. Their discussions underscored the growing interest in strengthening African-led open science initiatives and the critical role of collaboration in shaping the future of research accessibility.
For those who missed the live session, the recording of the webinar is available at AfricArXiv, and the presentation slides can be accessed here. To stay updated on upcoming webinars, visit the AfricArXiv Open Science Webinar Series.