The ORCID–WACA initiative, led by the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) with support from the ORCID Global Participation Fund, aims to advance the adoption and integration of ORCID across institutions in West and Central Africa. It builds on WACREN’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the use of Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) in Africa, which is an important step toward enhancing researcher visibility, institutional impact, and equitable participation in the global research ecosystem. The initiative aligns with WACREN’s and ORCID’s mission to close participation gaps in the Global South.
WACREN has long recognised that the low adoption of PIDs such as ORCID across Africa limits the visibility and discoverability of the region’s scholarly outputs, reinforcing the misconception of low scholarly productivity in Africa. Many African researchers and professionals only encounter ORCID during the journal submission process because publishers often require it. Institutional or journal-level mandates for ORCID are still low in Africa, and awareness and use of ORCID are particularly limited in non-STEM disciplines. This situation makes it difficult to attribute scholarly work accurately, showcase institutional research productivity, and highlight the true scholarly impact of African researchers.
To address these challenges, WACREN has already laid a strong foundation for PID adoption through several initiatives. Notably, research outputs disseminated via the BAOBAB repository, operated by WACREN, are assigned Archival Resource Keys (ARKs), ensuring their long-term discoverability and access. WACREN has also organised workshops and training sessions on PIDs, equipping African researchers, librarians, and publishers with knowledge about the importance of PIDs for improved attribution and recognition. In addition, the COPPHA training courses spearheaded by WACREN have engaged more than 600 participants, including African early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) and senior professionals, in equitable publishing models which covered discussions on research integrity, transparency, and proper attribution through PIDs to mitigate predatory publishing practices.
Building on this foundation, the ORCID–WACA Initiative will demonstrate how ORCID adoption can strengthen research integrity, improve researcher identification, increase the visibility of African scholarly outputs, and enhance broader institutional collaboration across the continent. The project will raise awareness of the benefits of ORCID, promote its integration with research infrastructures such as institutional repositories, and build community capacity through the ORCID–WACA Ambassadors Programme and the ORCID–WACA Community of Practice. Together, these efforts will increase ORCID adoption across West and Central African institutions, advance ORCID’s mission to close participation gaps in the Global South, and strengthen the long-term integration of PIDs within regional research infrastructures.
Regions Covered: West and Central Africa (Anglophone and Francophone countries)
Duration of the Ambassadors Programme
The Ambassador Programme will run from February 2026 to July 2026, with an expected commitment of approximately 4 to 6 hours per month for workshops, outreach, and participation in the Community of Practice (CoP).
Role of Ambassadors
Ambassadors will play a leading role in promoting ORCID awareness and adoption within their institutions and professional networks. They will conduct workshops and institutional outreach to engage faculty, researchers, and administrators, while also supporting the development and localisation of promotional materials. In addition, Ambassadors will serve as core members of the ORCID–WACA Community of Practice (CoP), contributing to shared learning and collaboration across the region.
Number of Ambassadors to be Selected: 15
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
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Be currently based at a recognised higher education or research institution in a West or Central African country.
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Have experience with researcher identification systems (persistent identifiers) and scholarly communication practices (librarians, repository managers, research administrators, faculty members, early-career researchers, journal editors, and open science advocates).
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Hold an active ORCID iD with demonstrated use (linked publications, datasets, or institutional profile)
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Have experience delivering training, workshops, or other outreach activities, and be willing to conduct workshops and outreach.
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Communicate effectively in English or French.
Expectations & Deliverables
Ambassadors are expected to:
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Actively participate in ambassador activities and the ORCID–WACA Community of Practice, and encourage colleagues and researchers in their institutions to join and engage with the CoP.
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Conduct workshops and institutional outreach to increase ORCID adoption.
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Promote the ORCID–WACA programme and events on social media platforms to increase awareness and engagement.
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Report engagement activities and provide feedback to the ORCID–WACA team.
Support, Stipend & Recognition
Ambassadors will receive mentorship from the ORCID–WACA team throughout the programme. They will also receive a stipend, along with access to training resources and workshop materials to support their outreach activities. In addition, Ambassadors will be provided with ORCID–WACA promotional materials to help them raise awareness and encourage ORCID adoption within their institutions and professional networks. Upon successful completion of the programme, Ambassadors will receive formal recognition through a Certificate of Achievement and a public profile as an ORCID–WACA Ambassador on the ORCID–WACA webpage.
Application Process
Interested candidates should complete and submit the application form, providing their ORCID iD and experience with ORCID, as well as a short statement explaining why they wish to become an ORCID–WACA Ambassador and how they would increase ORCID awareness and adoption in their institution, along with responses to other questions in the form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Apply here: https://survey.wacren.net/index.php/619121
Deadline: January 22, 2026
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us at orcid@wacren.net.