The main objective of the workshop is to share how free and unrestricted access to research materials can increase the impact of research and benefit research institutions, authors, journal publishers, as well as the society as a whole.

The context of Open Access in Africa and the value it can add to visibility and accessibility of research materials will be highlighted. Examples of national copyright laws and how they influence the production and accessibility of learning materials will also be presented.

Discussions will then focus on critical aspects that policies should address in order to make learning materials available for Open Access. Participants of the workshop will have an opportunity to contribute towards highlighting priority areas for intervention in Open Access in Africa and the way towards better cooperation among institutions that are promoting access to scientific knowledge.

Representatives from ten African universities, councils for sciences and technology, academies of science and international partner institutions are expected to attend the workshop and lay the foundation for a more fertile environment for Open Access in Africa.