In the digital age, the ease of accessing, sharing, and referencing academic and scientific work has become crucial. As the volume of digital content grows, the importance of persistent identifiers (PIDs) such as ORCID, ROR, ARKs and DOIs becomes even more apparent. They ensure the stability, discoverability, and proper attribution of scholarly work and preserve the long-term value of digital archives, supporting the infrastructure of the digital research ecosystem and contributing to the reliability, transparency, and efficiency of academic research dissemination and usage.

As the African research community rapidly grows, with a significant increase in the number of scholarly publications, datasets, and digital resources produced across the continent, a fit-for-purpose identifier which conforms to global standards is needed to speed up the adoption of PIDs in Africa to ensure that this wealth of knowledge is easily discoverable, accessible, and preserved for future generations.

This is where PIDsLink comes in. PIDsLink is an Archival Resource Key (ARKs) allocation and management service developed by WACREN to enable African NRENs and their communities to mint and resolve ARKs. The Archival Resource Key (ARK) is a full-featured, non-paywalled, persistable identifier designed for information objects, whether digital, physical, or conceptual. The platform, which is now being piloted, boasts a management dashboard that streamlines the management of these PIDs. This user-friendly dashboard allows users to efficiently manage and track resources assigned to their ARKs without requiring technical expertise. It provides a centralised space for storing and organising minted ARKs, ensuring efficient resource allocation and utilisation.

PIDsLink offers an API for integration with other applications. This API enables developers and users to extend the dashboard’s capabilities, integrate it with existing systems, and automate processes, enhancing workflow efficiency and flexibility.

WACREN’s decision to use and promote ARKs was based on the “Roadmap for Implementing PIDs in Africa” from the LIBSENSE initiative. This roadmap carefully assessed different PID options and gave recommendations tailored to the African context. WACREN thinks that ARKs offer an open, cost-effective, and globally interoperable PID option with transparent governance that meets the specific needs of the African research community, and PIDsLink was developed to provide a reliable and adaptable solution for managing and resolving ARKs across various information objects. Although WACREN chose the ARK scheme for its unique advantages, the regional PID strategy acknowledges the significance of other PIDs in the scholarly community, such as ORCID, ROR, and DOIs. These will be integrated into our frameworks and infrastructure to support a comprehensive approach to persistent identifiers in African research.

WACREN’s development of PIDsLink underscores its commitment to leveraging innovative and affordable solutions to enhance the management and accessibility of digital resources within the region. This platform showcases our dedication to empowering researchers and fostering collaboration across Africa. WACREN will announce a call for NRENs and organisations interested in the pilot program in Q4 2024.

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