In 2023, we launched the DataCite Global Access Fund (GAF), supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, to help organizations worldwide make their research outputs discoverable and connect to global open infrastructure. Today, we are excited to announce the second cohort of organizations and projects receiving GAF funding!
The second GAF Call for Proposals garnered strong interest from the community, with numerous applications (193 to be exact) from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The selection process was highly competitive and we are proud to introduce our eight newest awardees, recognized for their visionary and impactful initiatives that support their communities both within their countries and beyond. This year’s awardees are based in Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Pakistan, Tunisia, and Vietnam.
Meet the awardees
GAF allocates funding to projects in the following areas:
- Outreach and engagement activities to support increasing awareness on the value of Open Science and persistent identifier (PID) infrastructure.
- Open Infrastructure development and integration to enable and increase the adoption of PID infrastructure and Open Science practices.
Outreach
African Library & Information Associations & Institutions – AfLIA
The “Open Data Infrastructure Course for African Libraries” project aims to equip African academic and research librarians, as well as ICT professionals, with essential knowledge and skills in Open Data infrastructure, including DataCite tools, Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), metadata, and Application Programming Interfaces. By creating an openly licensed course in English and French, this project will empower participants to integrate Open Data practices into their workflows, enhancing the visibility and accessibility of African research. The initiative will also foster a Community of Practice to promote peer learning and sharing, develop policy guidelines for implementing Open Data infrastructure, and support the broader African library sector in advancing Open Science, research collaboration, and global scholarship inclusion.
African Population and Health Research Center – APHRC
The project, “Enhancing Open Data Capacity and Awareness for Research Impact,” aims to strengthen data documentation, anonymization, and accessibility at APHRC to foster open data sharing and improve research impact within the health research community. It addresses challenges such as a low data-sharing culture, limited capacity for advanced anonymization techniques, and inadequate awareness of Open Data platforms. Through capacity-building and dissemination activities, including tailored training, webinars, and workshops, the project will equip researchers with essential skills in data documentation, privacy compliance, and metadata management. By enhancing the visibility and usability of APHRC’s micro-data portal and leveraging DOIs for discoverability, the project seeks to support evidence-based decision making in the health sector across Africa and beyond.
Arab Federation for Libraries and Information – AFLI
The “Enhancing Open Science Adoption in the MENA Region” project, led by AFLI in collaboration with the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN), aims to empower research administrators and academic librarians across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with the skills and knowledge to implement Open Science practices. Through targeted training on DOIs, metadata standards, and Open Science principles, the project seeks to improve research visibility, foster collaboration, and create a sustainable Community of Practice. By addressing regional challenges and leveraging existing networks, this initiative will enhance the discoverability of MENA research outputs, cultivate a culture of transparency and innovation, and contribute to the global Open Science movement.
The project “Pakistan Open Infrastructure Outreach Initiative” (POIOI) seeks to transform Pakistan’s research ecosystem by promoting open data-sharing practices among Higher Education Institutions and Research & Development organizations. Through targeted training, the integration of DataCite DOIs, and the establishment of the DataCite Pakistan Network, the project aims to enhance research visibility, build technical and operational capacity, and foster global collaboration. By aligning local practices with international Open Science standards, POIOI will elevate Pakistan’s academic and research contributions, while cultivating a self-sustaining community that is committed to transparency, collaboration, and sustainable research development.
Infrastructure
This project aims to establish a scalable infrastructure to support experimental data at SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East), the first synchrotron light source in the Middle East and neighbouring countries. SESAME is a cooperative venture by scientists and governments of the region, set up on the model of CERN. In alignment with the FAIR Principles, it will leverage DataCite services with support from ASREN. By integrating DOI registration and enabling robust metadata management, the project will enhance data discoverability, reliable citations, and compliance with Open Science mandates. Targeting researchers, academic institutions, and funding agencies, the initiative promises increased dataset visibility, credit for data sharing, and improved tracking of research impacts. Through targeted training, community engagement, and sustainable infrastructure funding, this effort will position SESAME as a leader in Open Science practices, benefiting the global research community.
Malawi Research and Education Network – MAREN
The project seeks to establish a national-level repository infrastructure for research outputs and Open Science in Malawi. The project will develop and integrate four institutional repositories—at the University of Malawi, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, and Mzuzu University—alongside a central repository at MAREN. By leveraging DataCite infrastructure and adopting international data standards, this initiative will enhance the discoverability, accessibility, and management of Malawian research outputs. The repositories will serve as a scalable and sustainable prototype to expand MAREN’s consortium, fostering Open Science and collaboration across Malawi. Comprehensive training, technical support, and system maintenance will empower institutional staff to manage the repositories effectively.
The project aims to enhance Ethiopia’s academic and research workflows by promoting Open Access policies and integrating DataCite infrastructure across institutions. Focusing on Mekelle University as a pilot site, the initiative seeks to register DOIs for 100% of its publications by the end of the year, with plans to extend DOI integration to four other institutions. The project will significantly increase the visibility, citation, and accessibility of Ethiopian research, strengthening the country’s Open Access infrastructure and aligning outputs with the FAIR Principles.
People and Nature Reconciliation
The project aims to develop a DataCite-enabled biodiversity data management system for specific protected areas and forest conservation projects. Key objectives include implementing DOI for datasets, creating a standardized metadata template for species observations, and training panNature staff on data management and DataCite metadata registration. The project also seeks to ensure its replicability by producing comprehensive documentation for future use.
What’s next
We would like to congratulate each of the awardees, and express our excitement that we are able to collaborate with you and witness the impact of the awarded projects.
A heartfelt thank you goes to all who submitted applications for the Global Access Fund. Your commitment to advancing positive change in research has been truly inspiring, and we look forward to exploring future collaboration opportunities.
We also extend our gratitude to the GAF committee and external reviewers for their dedicated efforts in evaluating and selecting the proposals.
If you are interested in directly supporting institutions and researchers in regions with low open infrastructure and persistent identifier adoption, our call for support to the Global Access Fund remains open.
Stay tuned for updates as we begin this exciting journey with our awardees!
Gabriela Mejias
Helena Cousijn
