Open Science Month Celebration

Organizer: Association of African Universities (AAU)

Theme: Advancing Open Science in Africa: Collaboration, Equity, and Sustainable Development

Date & Time: October 28, 2025, 11:00 GMT

Register here: http://bit.ly/4o1zll6

1.0 Introduction: The Global Imperative for Open Science

Open Science has emerged as a transformative approach to research and knowledge sharing, promoting transparency, accessibility, and collaboration across disciplines and borders. This movement is now a central pillar of the global development agenda.

The recent adoption of the United Nations Pact for the Future underscores that science is instrumental for the three pillars of the UN – sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights. Recognizing the potential for science to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Pact explicitly supports policies towards open science and open innovation to help bridge science gaps, especially in developing countries.

Despite these commitments, billions of people – especially in developing countries – still lack meaningful access to critical scientific knowledge. Open science provides a transformative pathway to reverse these trends, fostering multilateral cooperation, responsible innovation, and the equitable dissemination of knowledge. It is a catalyst for achieving the six key transitions for SDG acceleration: food systems; energy access; digital connectivity; education; jobs and social protection; and climate change. It is within this urgent global context that the Association of African Universities (AAU) is proudly inviting stakeholders to join our webinar dedicated to the celebration of Open Science Month on October 28, 2025, as we discuss the critical role of Open Science in reclaiming African intellectual sovereignty and building self-sustaining knowledge systems. We will explore how African-led platforms, continental policies, and equitable global partnerships can work in synergy to overcome systemic barriers, ensuring that African research directly fuels African innovation and sustainable development.

2.0 The African Context and AAU’s Leadership

African higher education faces significant challenges, including limited research visibility, and systemic barriers to knowledge access. In response, institutions are increasingly embracing Open Science to bridge the knowledge divide and promote equitable access.

The AAU is at the forefront of this movement, championing African-led solutions. Our initiatives are designed to overcome these barriers and build a robust Open Science ecosystem. Among these are the:

-The African Research, Innovation & Development (AfRID) Network: Our flagship digital platform profiles over 6 million research publications and fosters Communities of Practice. AfRID is a direct response to the challenges of fragmentation, designed to enhance visibility and cross-border collaboration.

– Together with our partners – TCC Africa & PLOS, our footprint across the continent has been strategically established to catalyze systemic change. We have organized a series of high-level Open Science dialogues, workshops, and policy engagement sessions that are directly shaping national policies and building institutional capacity from North to South and East to West.

– We continue to support and advocate for African-Led Platforms, such as African Platform for Open Scholarship (APOS), a concrete step in reclaiming African scholarship which seeks to empower African universities to publish academically rigorous, diamond Open Access journals and books.

The AAU’s open science webinar presents a strategic opportunity for all of us to build on this momentum. It is a platform to share your successes, align our efforts, and collectively shape the future of an open, equitable, and globally connected African research ecosystem.

3.0 Alignment with Global Momentum

Our celebration is designed to resonate with concurrent global efforts, creating synergies and amplifying our collective voice. It is strategically aligned with major international events, including: The 4th United Nations Open Science and Open Scholarship Conference, which featured a presentation by the AAU. This conference convened global stakeholders to advance Open Science aligned with the UN’s Pact for the Future, a goal we share and champion for the African continent. Again, the AAU joined the SPARC Africa webinar on Diamond Open Access which featured perspectives from the USA, Latina America, Europe and Africa, organised as part of celebrating the International Open Access Week,2025

This alignment reflects a shared global commitment to making science more inclusive, transparent, and impactful, and ensures that Africa’s perspectives and progress are central to the international conversation.

4.0 Our Celebration – AAU Open Science Webinar

Date: October 28, 2025 – 11:00 GMT

Objective: To engage African universities, research institutions, and development partners in a strategic dialogue on operationalizing Open Science, building on the momentum of our global advocacy.

Agenda:

• Keynote address from the AAU Secretary General on AAU’s Open Science vision.
• Remarks by Partners – UNESCO, PLOS, SPARC
• Spotlight presentation: AfRID as a strategic platform for Open Science in Africa.
• Case studies from African institutions successfully implementing Open Science practices, including insights from the African Platform for Open Scholarship (APOS).
• A high-level panel discussion on policy, infrastructure, and capacity building, focusing on how Open Science can empower communities, advance citizen science, and co-create solutions for the SDGs.

5.0 Expected Outcomes

• Increased awareness of Open Science principles and their critical role in achieving Africa’s development goals.
• Enhanced visibility and adoption of AAU’s platforms (AfRID) among member universities and partners.
• Strengthened continental network of Open Science advocates, researchers, and policymakers.
• A clear position for AAU as the leading continental voice and facilitator for Open Science in Africa, aligned with global frameworks like the UN Pact for the Future.

6.0 Conclusion and Call to Action

As stated in the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, we must ensure “reciprocal access to science for all producers and consumers of knowledge.” By celebrating Open Science Month, the Association of African Universities reaffirms its commitment to this principle.

Reclaiming African scholarship is not optional—it is a strategic imperative for sovereignty, visibility, and impact. This event is more than a celebration; it is a strategic step towards building a more inclusive, collaborative, and impactful scientific ecosystem for Africa.

Let us collaborate to make Open Science a reality for Africa.

Download the Concept Note