Join the No-Fee Open Access Publishing in Africa Community of Practice

Over 350 editors and publishers of no-fee open access (OA) journals and books across Africa have joined a vibrant and growing Community of Practice (CoP) dedicated to strengthening Diamond OA publishing on the continent and beyond.

Moderated by the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN), the CoP is part of the Collaboration for Sustainable OA Publishing in Africa project, implemented in partnership with the Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL) and African Journals Online (AJOL), and supported by Wellcome.

The Community of Practice provides a platform for members to share experiences, discuss opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, and collectively advocate for sustainable and equitable OA publishing models. Open to editors and publishers affiliated with African organisations that publish no-fee OA journals or books, the CoP is committed to enhancing publishing quality and building a strong, connected ecosystem for Diamond OA in Africa.

Monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 10:00 UTC and provide a forum for discussion, learning, and community building. The CoP also maintains an active mailing list for ongoing engagement and information sharing.

This initiative responds to key findings from the Landscape Study of No-Fee Open Access Publishing in Africa, which highlighted the challenges faced by publishers in navigating rapidly evolving global publishing trends. Respondents emphasised the need for training, editorial and IT support, policy guidance, and cross-organisational collaboration. The CoP is actively working to address these needs.

Ready to join?

Click here to apply to join the Community of Practice and become part of a growing network of no-fee open access journal and book publishers across Africa.

For questions or additional information, please contact no-fee-publishing@wacren.net.