Enhancing Research Visibility in Africa: Leveraging DOAJ for Open Access Publishing

This webinar session featured Ina Smith, the Planning Manager, Scholarly Publishing Unit, Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), South Africa & DOAJ Ambassador Southern Africa.

She spoke on the topic: Enhancing Research Visibility in Africa: Leveraging DOAJ for Open Access Publishing.

Attendees learned how African researchers and journals can increase their visibility and impact through DOAJ. 

Key points highlighted:

– How to get your research and journals listed in DOAJ

– The benefits of open-access publishing for African scholars

– Strategies for overcoming common challenges in open access

This webinar series is co-organized by: UbuntuNet Alliance and Access 2 Perspectives  as part of the ORCID Global Participation Program: https://info.orcid.org/global-participation-program/

We look forward to seeing you there!

Watch the recording here:

The slides are available here: https://africarxiv.ubuntunet.net/handle/1/1704

Speaker’s profile

Ina Smith is a strong advocate for open science, especially in Africa and South Africa. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked at universities like the University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University, focusing on repositories and journal publishing. She has a Master’s in Computer Integrated Education and has helped implement important projects like UPSpace and SUNScholar.

Since 2014, Ina has been the Planning Manager at the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). She is a DOAJ Ambassador for Southern Africa and led the review of the DOAJ Ambassador Programme in 2024. She also led the African Open Science landscape study and helped create the African Scientists Directory. Ina’s work in open science has earned her several awards, including the LIASA Librarian of the Year in 2016.

Questions to discuss during the Q&A session 

1. What are the key criteria for journals to be indexed in DOAJ, and how can African journals meet these standards?

The criteria can be accessed at https://doaj.org/apply/guide/, and will also be addressed as part of the presentation. To summarize:

• The journal must be fully open access for readers (no embargoes or registration by readers required), and online available.
• The journal must be actively publishing, minimum 5 scholarly research articles per year, with no interruptions in between.
• The copyright holder of any article published in the journal must grant usage rights to others using an open license (Creative Commons or equivalent).
  The journal must display an open access statement indicating that it fulfills the DOAJ definition of open access.
• The journal must have its own dedicated URL and homepage that is accessible from any location.

Each article must be available as an individual, full-text article:

•    One unique URL per article
•    HTML or PDF, as a minimum
• Journals that include intrusive advertising will not be accepted. See best practice recommendations for advertising.
• DOAJ does not approve of using Impact Factors or ranking metrics. However, journals may display the Journal Impact Factor calculated by Clarivate and metrics from Scopus. Journals must not display any reference (images, links, logos) to Impact Factors or ranking metrics from any other service.
• The website does not need to be in English. If the site is available in multiple languages, the information provided must be the same in all languages.

The following information must be available online and easily accessible from the journal homepage:

• Open access policy
• Aims and scope
• Editorial board (including institutional affiliations of all members)
• Instructions for authors
• Editorial process (peer review)
• Licensing terms
• Copyright terms
• Author charges

• If a journal doesn’t have any charges, then this must be stated.

            Must include all fees that may be charged to the author, from submission to publication, including:

•    Submission fees
•    Editorial processing charges
•    Article processing charges (APCs)
•    Page charges
•    Colour charges
• Any fee waiver must be clearly specified with the conditions of waiver, e.g. amount, time period.
• If there are charges for withdrawing the article after submission, they cannot exceed the author’s charges.

            Contact details:

•    Include the name of a contact person and the journal’s dedicated email address.
•    The country in the application and on the journal website must be where the publisher is   
    registered and carries out its business activities.

• A journal must have at least one ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) that is registered and confirmed at issn.org.
• The ISSN(s) must be displayed on the website.
• The journal’s name in the application and on the website must match what is shown at issn.org.

• A journal must have an editor and an editorial board.
• The editorial board must be listed on the website.
• The name and affiliation of all editors and board members must be included.
• Journals that display a list of reviewers must include their names and affiliations.
• The editorial board for the journal should consist of at least five editors with appropriate qualifications and expertise. It is recommended that board members should not all come from the same institution.
• All articles must pass through a quality control system (peer review) before publication.
• The type and details of the peer review process must be stated clearly on the website, including the process for special issues, if applicable.
• At least two independent reviewers should review each article.
• Use of a plagiarism checking service is highly recommended but not required for inclusion in DOAJ.
• Endogeny should be minimized.
• The proportion of published research papers where at least one of the authors is an editor, editorial board member, or reviewer must not exceed 25% in either of the latest two issues.
• Where content is not divided into issues, for example in a continuous publication model, endogeny must not exceed 25% in the last calendar year (minimum 5 articles per year).
  
  Journals that publish special issues or other content curated by guest editors must adhere to these additional criteria:
• The Editor-in-Chief must be responsible for the content of the entire journal, including all special issues, which must fall within the scope of the journal
• Special issue articles must have the same editorial oversight as regular papers, including external peer review, and be clearly labelled
• Journals must ensure that guest editors’ credentials are checked and approved
• The Editor-in-Chief or dedicated board members must oversee the guest editors
• Papers submitted to a special issue by the guest editor(s) must be handled under an independent review process and make up no more than 25% of the issue’s total.

• The licensing terms for use and re-use of the published content must be clearly stated on the website.
• DOAJ recommends using Creative Commons licenses for this purpose.
• If Creative Commons licensing is not used, similar terms and conditions should be applied.
• Extra care must be taken to state these terms clearly.
• It is recommended that licensing information is displayed or embedded in full-text articles, but this is not required for inclusion in DOAJ.

• The copyright terms applied to the published content must be clearly stated and separate from those applied to the website.
• Copyright terms must not contradict the licensing terms or the terms of the open access policy.
• “All rights reserved” is never appropriate for open access content.

2. How can researchers and institutions in Africa benefit from having their journals and articles listed in DOAJ?

Increased visibility and accessibility: Being listed in DOAJ makes journals and articles freely accessible to a global audience, improving discoverability and expanding the readership. This is particularly beneficial for African researchers, as their work becomes visible to peers, policymakers, and stakeholders worldwide.

Increased article downloads and citation rates due to higher visibility in search engines and databases.

Wider accessibility for both local and international researchers, contributing to greater knowledge sharing across regions.

• Enhancement of journal credibility and prestige

DOAJ applies strict criteria to the journals it indexes, which include adherence to Open Access best practices, ethical publishing standards, and high editorial quality. Being listed in DOAJ gives African journals and articles a mark of credibility.

Trustworthiness in the global research community, attracting quality submissions from reputable scholars.

• Facilitating global collaborations

By increasing the visibility of African journals in DOAJ, researchers and institutions are more likely to be noticed by international peers. This opens up opportunities for:

Collaborative research projects, as foreign scholars can easily discover and engage with African research.

Cross-border partnerships, providing African institutions with platforms to connect with institutions from other regions.

Increased participation in global academic networks.

• Support for Open Access and Open Science goals

Many African institutions are actively promoting Open Science as part of their research and development agendas. Listing in DOAJ aligns with these goals by ensuring that:

Research outputs are openly available and free to access for both academics and the general public.

Compliance with funders’ requirements, especially international grants that mandate Open Access publishing. DOAJ indexing helps institutions demonstrate that they are adhering to funder mandates for open research.

• Broader societal impact

OA journals listed in DOAJ can contribute to addressing societal challenges by ensuring that research relevant to Africa is widely disseminated. Research findings can be accessed by:

Policy makers, who may use research outputs to inform decisions on issues like healthcare, education, climate change, and governance.

Non-academic stakeholders, including practitioners, NGOs, and businesses who can benefit from the free availability of knowledge to implement solutions.

• Cost-effectiveness for institutions

Many African institutions face budget constraints, especially with accessing expensive subscription-based journals. By publishing in DOAJ-listed OA journals, institutions can:

Reduce costs associated with subscribing to expensive journals, as their own research becomes more accessible and can be exchanged with global research communities.

Promote local research without relying on costly international journal subscriptions, increasing the dissemination of region-specific studies.

• Capacity building for African journals

DOAJ provides guidance on editorial practices and best standards in publishing. This support is invaluable for African journals seeking to improve their operations and achieve international recognition. DOAJ indexing can lead to:

Improved editorial processes and peer review standards, elevating the journal’s overall quality.

Increased submissions from reputable researchers due to the enhanced credibility and visibility offered by DOAJ listing.

• Promoting local and regional research

African scholars can use OA publishing through DOAJ to promote research that is locally relevant but might not receive attention in international, paywalled journals. This allows for:

Highlighting African solutions to African challenges, such as research in public health, agriculture, or sustainable development.

Dissemination of indigenous knowledge that is often underrepresented in mainstream research platforms.

• Addressing global inequities in research

Being listed in DOAJ helps African researchers overcome barriers to accessing and contributing to global research. It democratizes access to knowledge by:

Bridging the gap between researchers in resource-limited settings and those in wealthier regions, fostering greater equity in the global academic landscape.

Reducing reliance on international, paywalled journals that may overlook research from the Global South.

• Institutional reputation and ranking

African institutions can improve their international rankings and visibility by supporting journals that are indexed in DOAJ. This can enhance:

Institutional prestige, as globally recognized journals are often a factor in international university rankings.

Attractiveness to students and faculty, particularly those seeking institutions committed to Open Access and high-quality research dissemination.

• Long-term sustainability of African Journals

Listing in DOAJ can contribute to the long-term sustainability of African journals. The directory encourages transparency in publishing, provides greater visibility, and increases submissions, all of which contribute to the journal’s:

Increased readership and citation rates, leading to a more vibrant academic community.

Potential partnerships with international indexing services, databases, and funding organizations, which can offer further support to African journals.

Enabling multilingual publishing

DOAJ supports the listing of journals in multiple languages, which is crucial for African research. African scholars can benefit by:

Publishing in both local languages and international languages like English, expanding the reach of their work while preserving linguistic diversity.

Promoting research to a wider and more diverse audience, ensuring that both local and international communities can engage with African scholarship.

3. What are some common challenges faced by African open access journals, and how can DOAJ help address these issues?

• Limited visibility and discoverability: Many African OA journals struggle to gain visibility on a global scale. They may not be indexed in major databases or may lack the infrastructure to promote their content widely. DOAJ is one of the largest directories of high-quality OA journals, making it easier for journals listed there to be discovered by a global audience. DOAJ also ensures that journals are visible to researchers, libraries, funders, and other institutions worldwide. Journals included in DOAJ benefit from increased visibility in academic databases and search engines like Google Scholar, which leads to higher readership and citations.

• Lack of resources and capacity: Many African journals operate with limited financial and human resources. They often lack the funding and expertise to implement modern editorial and publishing systems, which are critical for maintaining high-quality journals. DOAJ provides resources and guidelines for maintaining quality OA publishing. It encourages best practices, including editorial transparency, robust peer review, and adherence to ethical publishing standards. By following DOAJ’s criteria for inclusion, African journals can improve their operations and attract more submissions from reputable authors. DOAJ offers tools, webinars, and resources that help journal editors and publishers understand and implement these best practices.

• Quality and editorial standards: Some African OA journals may face challenges in maintaining consistent editorial standards and quality control. This could be due to a lack of training, peer review capacity, or access to qualified reviewers. Journals must meet specific quality standards to be indexed in DOAJ. The directory encourages journals to implement rigorous peer review, transparency in editorial policies, and adherence to ethical guidelines. This support helps journals improve their credibility and attract high-quality submissions. DOAJ encourages practices such as long-term preservation of articles (e.g. through JASPER if the journal is in DOAJ) and use of persistent identifiers like DOIs. There is also an Africa initiative https://africapidalliance.org/ working on DOIs for African journal articles. African journals may struggle with technical infrastructure, such as managing online submissions, publishing platforms, or ensuring long-term digital preservation of their content. DOAJ encourages journals to adopt digital tools and systems that ensure better management of the publication process. By promoting the use of tools like Open Journal Systems (OJS) or other OA platforms, DOAJ helps journals improve their technical capacity, making the submission, review, and publication processes more efficient. DOAJ emphasizes the need for digital preservation strategies, helping journals ensure that their content is accessible for the long term through partnerships with preservation services like JASPER, LOCKSS and Portico.

• Sustainability and financial constraints: Many African OA journals face financial sustainability issues. They may struggle to cover operational costs, such as website hosting, editorial processes, and journal management, without charging high article processing charges (APCs), which may exclude local researchers. DOAJ promotes journals that adhere to the principles of open access without excessive APCs, making OA more equitable. DOAJ supports models like diamond open access (where neither authors nor readers pay), which can help African journals remain accessible and sustainable. By being indexed in DOAJ, African journals may be more attractive to funders and international organizations that support OA initiatives. This can open up opportunities for grants or partnerships to support the sustainability of these journals.

• Language barriers and regional representation: African research is often published in local languages or lesser-known regional journals, limiting its international readership. English dominance in academic publishing can also be a barrier. DOAJ includes journals in multiple languages and supports journals that promote regional research and indigenous knowledge. By providing an international platform for African OA journals in various languages, DOAJ helps African research reach a broader audience while preserving linguistic diversity. Journals published in African languages or addressing region-specific issues can gain international visibility through DOAJ, attracting readership and citations from scholars around the world.

• Challenges in achieving global standards: Some African OA journals may struggle to meet global standards for indexing in major platforms due to limited resources, inadequate publishing practices, or lack of compliance with global benchmarks. DOAJ provides clear criteria for journal indexing, including ethical guidelines, peer review processes, and transparency. By working to meet these criteria, African journals can improve their practices, helping them align with global standards while receiving recognition for their efforts. DOAJ also partners with organizations to provide capacity-building initiatives in low- and middle-income countries, helping African journals improve their quality and meet international standards.

• Low international collaboration and citations: African journals often face challenges in attracting international authors and increasing their citation rates due to limited visibility and global reach. DOAJ’s global reach helps African journals gain recognition and visibility among international scholars, making them more attractive for collaboration and citation. Being listed in DOAJ can encourage international researchers to discover and cite articles published in African OA journals, increasing their impact. Journals included in DOAJ experience higher citation counts, as their articles become more discoverable by researchers worldwide through platforms like Google Scholar.

• Ethical and copyright challenges: Some African OA journals may face challenges in managing ethical issues, such as plagiarism, data falsification, and author misconduct, as well as complexities around copyright and licensing. DOAJ requires journals to adopt clear and transparent copyright policies, encouraging the use of Creative Commons (CC) licenses that protect both authors and journals. DOAJ also provides guidance on managing ethical issues, ensuring that journals maintain high standards of integrity. Journals listed in DOAJ must adhere to ethical guidelines, including COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) standards, helping African journals manage and resolve ethical issues effectively.

4. Can you share any success stories of African journals or researchers who have gained significant visibility and impact through DOAJ?

African Journals Online (AJOL) is the world’s largest online collection of African-published, peer-reviewed scholarly journals. AJOL and DOAJ have worked together to enhance the visibility of African research, making hundreds of African journals more accessible globally.

Journals listed on both AJOL and DOAJ have seen increased visibility and citation rates. DOAJ’s global indexing complements AJOL’s regional focus, helping African journals gain a wider international audience. For example, South African Medical Journal (SAMJ), listed on both platforms, has experienced growth in both readership and citations, which has strengthened its reputation as a leading medical journal in Africa. The same applies to the South African Journal of Science and many other journals.

DOAJ is also indexed by Google, and therefore article and author metadata from DOAJ are crawled by Google. 

Since the metadata is open, it is also accessed by Large Language Models (LLM’s) (Artificial Intelligence).

Studies from major publishers like Springer and PLOS have demonstrated higher citation rates for OA articles. See for example:

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0040157

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-023-04894-0

5. How does DOAJ support the development and sustainability of open access publishing in regions with limited resources, such as parts of Africa?

• Free access to global indexing boosts visibility and discoverability.
• Capacity-building workshops improve journal management and editorial quality.
• Technical guidance helps journals meet international standards.
• Advocacy for APC-free models supports financially sustainable OA publishing.
• Multilingual inclusivity enhances access to non-English research.
• Partnerships with local initiatives promote regional and international collaboration.
• Encouragement of OA policies ensures long-term support for African research.