LIBSENSE has commenced broad-based discussion on research assessment reforms in Africa. A recent workshop jointly organised with the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) served as the platform for experts on the subject to share ideas and experiences on how Africa can advance in research assessment reforms, especially in the age of open science. Facilitators at the LIBSENSE-DORA workshop opined that the continent needs a tailored approach to reforming how research is assessed in the light of the ongoing Open Science wave blowing across the globe. Research cultural change and modern reform practices have been identified as some of the key dynamics that influences how research is assessed in our side of the world. Speaking at the webinar, Laura Rovelli the Coordinator for FOLEC-CLACSO cited that in North America, cultural change and reforms are handled through a bottom-up approach, where the various academic and research institutions play a crucial role. She said, “cultural change is facilitated in a context-specific manner by working groups across partner organisations”. Prof. Frederick Ato-Armaah of the University of Cape Coast called for a broad based stakeholder engagement and consultation to ensure the voices of all are heard in our to have a blueprint for research assessment reforms to enhance the value of research contribution in Africa by Africans. He also called for what he called, for the development of “national research and innovation ecosystems”, across countries in Africa. The LIBSENSE-DORA Workshop was a precursor of the Research Open Science Policy Development Workshop slated for Wednesday, 27 April 2022 at WACREN 2022.
