WACREN has officially launched the inaugural cohort of ORCID–WACA Ambassadors, marking the start of a coordinated regional effort to expand ORCID adoption and strengthen the research identity ecosystem across West and Central Africa. Through the programme, Ambassadors will champion the use of ORCID and other Persistent Identifiers (PIDs), helping researchers establish trusted digital identities that make their work more discoverable, improve institutional tracking of research outputs, and enable seamless integration with global research systems. Ultimately, the initiative aims to enhance the visibility, credibility, and international reach of research produced across the region. During the orientation, Ambassadors were introduced to the programme’s objectives and their role as national advocates for ORCID–WACA. They also received practical guidance on supporting researchers in creating and managing ORCID iDs, linking affiliations and research outputs, and understanding how ORCID connects with the broader PID ecosystem, including DOIs, ROR, and Grant IDs. Over the coming months, each Ambassador will organise at least two outreach activities, including an in-person workshop at their home institution. WACREN will provide training materials, promotional resources, and technical support to help them engage researchers, librarians, research administrators, journal editors, and institutional leaders. Many of these activities will be integrated into existing institutional events to maximise participation and impact. The next major milestone is the launch of the ORCID–WACA Community of Practice in July 2026. The monthly forum will bring together Ambassadors and the wider research community to exchange experiences, address implementation challenges, and collaborate on initiatives that accelerate ORCID and PID adoption across the region.
