Theme: Explore the Transformative Power of ICT in Addressing Crucial Development Challenges Across the Globe

Open Science Landscape in
Africa

ICTD 2024 International Conference 9-11, December 2024 at AICAD, Nairobi Kenya

Prof Muliaro Wafula PhD, FCCS, FCSK
Lead Scientist AOSP EA Node
Associate Professor, Dept. of Computing-JKUAT
Adjunct Professor, AICAD
&

Brian Macharia
Data Systems Developer, AOSP EA Node

Open Science Landscape in Africa- Prof Muliaro Wafula

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African Open Science Platform (AOSP)
The African Open Science Platform (AOSP) with
HQ in SA
(https://aosp.org.za/)
It has 3 regional nodes:
1. Egyptian National Authority for
Remote Sensing and Space Sciences
(NARSS) is the Northern African Node
based in Egypt;
2. The African Institute for Capacity
Development (AICAD) is the East
African Node based in Kenya
3. The UbuntuNet Alliance is the
Southern Africa Node based in
Zambia

AOSP EA Node:
and JKUAT jointly host the
• AICAD
AOSP-EA region node.
Africa Open Science Platform
• The
Eastern Africa Node (AOSP-EA node)
administration office is based at
AICAD.
main objective of the AOSP)-EA
• The
node is to promote efforts aligned
with implementing open science
Programmes in the Eastern Africa
region, strengthen knowledge
networks and infrastructure access
and enhance cooperation between
regions and globally in support of
AOSP’s vision

Open Science Landscape in Africa- Prof Muliaro Wafula

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OS Landscape in Africa Survey Highlights:
The survey aimed at providing an updated understanding of current open science
policies, the hardware and software infrastructures supporting open science, the
essential skills required to effectively engage in open science practices, and the role of
funding in supporting these efforts.

Focus Area:

• 107 Responses

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Open Science Policy
Hardware &
Infrastructure
Software & Tools
Skills & Training
Collaboration & Research
Visibility
Funding & Incentives

Roles
Open Science Landscape in Africa- Prof Muliaro Wafula

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Open Science Policy
Examples of Policies that Support
OS
• JKUAT Open Research Data (JORD) policy
• UCT's open access policy
• Wits policy
• CNRS researchers
• IHVN Open Science culture
• the Regents' policy
• University of Michigan's (U-M’s) support OS open scholarly exchange and academic
freedom.
• JKUAT Repository Policy
• Northumbria University Open Research
statement
• RUFORUM Open Science Policy
• ASSAf OS Pillars
Open Science Landscape in Africa- Prof Muliaro Wafula

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Additional Resources to support OS

Skills Neeeded

OS Incentives

Open Science Landscape in Africa- Prof Muliaro Wafula

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Main Challenges to
OS

Collaboration Challenges

Open Science Landscape in Africa- Prof Muliaro Wafula

OS Strengthening Research
Collaboration

6

OS Benefits
• Visibility and collaborations
• More research & discoveries
• Easy access to reusable and shared
data
• higher dissemination of findings
• Openness regarding the research
process and its results
• Development of societal solutions
• Knowledge sharing without barriers
• Solving problems together
• Improvement of innovations
• Increase local capacity for research,
increased innovation

• Faster implementation of Scientific
findings
• Prevent duplication, enhance
knowledge
• Increase collaboration and innovation
• Facilitate collaborative research
• open up opportunities especially for
African researchers.
• Increased integrity among scientists
• More global orientation
• increased publications and researcher
visibility
• Promote ethics in science
• Improve Reuse and sharing of
resources

Open Science Landscape in Africa- Prof Muliaro Wafula

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Thank you!

muliaro@icsit.jkuat.ac.ke

Open Science Landscape in Africa- Prof Muliaro Wafula

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