The future of open access publishing for global development: insights from the UN Science Technology and Innovation Forum 2025

Imagine being a scientist in an African university, eager to tackle pressing issues like malaria or food security, only to hit a paywall when trying to read the latest research. Imagine conducting a groundbreaking study but struggling to publish it because the journal asks for an $3,000 article fee you can’t afford. This isn’t a rare anecdote; it’s everyday life for thousands of researchers across the global South. At this year’s (2025) UN Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, a group of experts from Africa and around the world came together to address a fundamental question: How can we reshape global research publishing so its inclusive for all? This piece offers further reflections on those discussions, highlighting science diplomacy as a pathway for a more equitable, open publishing system. 

How the publishing system holds back African research 

For many African researchers and institutions, the deck is stacked against them in the current academic publishing system. The panellists at the STI Forum painted a vivid picture of these challenges. Dr. Alphonsus Neba of African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) explained how financial barriers blunt the impact of African science: “I’ve seen colleagues give up on publishing in top journals because the fees are more than their yearly research budget. That’s a tragedy for global science.” The paywalls and high article processing charges mean African scientists often cannot access important papers, even those about Africa’s own health or environmental issues nor disseminate their work widely if they lack foreign grants. This publishing pay-to-play model exacerbates an existing inequity in research funding. African countries collectively invest far less in R&D than wealthier nations (on average around 0.5% of GDP, compared to 2-3% in many high-income countries). Fewer resources for research often translate to fewer papers published – and those that are produced might struggle to get into journals that are predominantly managed and read in the Global North. It’s a vicious cycle: limited funding leads to fewer publications, which leads to less visibility and influence, which then makes it harder to attract funding. Beyond money, there’s the issue of access to infrastructure. Dr. Nokuthula Mchunu, who works on the African Open Science Platform, highlighted that many African institutions lack robust internet connectivity, research databases, or library subscriptions. Researchers sometimes spend hours downloading a single paper or rely on personal connections to obtain articles, she noted. This digital divide in access to knowledge means brilliant minds in Africa often operate with one hand tied behind their back. As one attendee summarized, it’s a scenario where “those who need access to knowledge the most are the ones least able to get it.” 

Current system and how it perpetuates scientific colonialism  

A central theme that emerged from the panel was how the current academic publishing system reinforces longstanding global power imbalances. Panellists spoke about how current academic publishing continues to reflect a form of scientific colonialism, where control over what knowledge is valued and disseminated remains concentrated in the Global North. Over time, a small group of commercial publishers based primarily in Europe and North America has come to dominate the academic publishing landscape. These companies profit from bundling journals into expensive subscription packages and charging high fees for open access publishing. This market oligopoly has turned academic publishing into a multi-billion-dollar business, one that often prioritizes profits and prestige over global knowledge equality.  

Dr. Evelyn Gitau of the SFA Foundation remarked on how this concentration of power affects knowledge production: “A handful of companies in the North decide which research gets the spotlight. That’s a huge problem when the challenges we face are global.” When most high-impact journals are edited and curated in the Global North, research from Africa or other under-represented regions can struggle to make it through the filters sometimes due to bias (unconscious or otherwise), sometimes simply because of misaligned priorities. This structural bias limits who gets published and what knowledge is legitimised. 

The pressure to publish in high-impact international journals also distorts how African scientists engage with their own communities. Researchers often face expectations to collaborate with well-funded institutions in the global North and publish in outlets inaccessible to local audiences. As Nathanael Bevan of the UK’s FCDO noted, researchers in the global South must pass through Northern gatekeepers to study local problems, only for their findings inaccessible at home. This creates a publishing loop where knowledge flows upward and outward, reinforcing a system in which scientific influence remains centralised and uneven. 

Science diplomacy: a pathway to a fairer system 

To address the deep-rooted inequities in global research publishing, the panellists identified science diplomacy as a critical tool for reform. Science diplomacy, through international cooperation and multilateral policy action, can help realign the system to be more inclusive and equitable. Dr Ezra Clark from UNESCO highlighted that the groundwork is already in place. The 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science offers a global framework for making science more transparent and accessible. The next step is action. Governments and funders can implement policies that require publicly funded research to be openly accessible. With collective pressure, publishers could be encouraged to adopt more equitable models. 

The panel also stressed the importance of capacity support for countries with limited publishing infrastructure. This includes investing in local journals, open repositories, data platforms and editorial training. These are not efforts a single country can take on alone but require sustained international collaboration. Programs like Research4Life (which provides free or low-cost journal access to developing countries) were cited as helpful but not enough. The focus should shift toward strengthening Southern-led publishing platforms that reflect local priorities. Another area where diplomacy can play a role is in redefining what counts as research excellence. By engaging in global policy spaces such as the United Nations or the G7, countries can advocate for more relevant and context-driven metrics that value local impact over citation scores. As Dr. Gitau passionately put it, “We must decolonize the metrics of science. Global challenges demand diverse solutions, and we can’t keep sidelining a big part of the world’s brains.” 

Emerging African solutions for a fairer publishing future 

While international diplomacy offers a foundation for reform, panellists emphasised that real change is also being shaped from within the continent. Across Africa, researchers and institutions are actively developing local solutions to improve access to knowledge. A key development discussed was the growing momentum of Diamond Open Access (DOA) in Africa-a model where journals do not charge fees to authors or readers. These journals are often supported by academic institutions or grants and are driven by the needs of research communities. This removes cost barriers and allows more inclusive participation in publishing. As highlighted in the Electronic Information for Libraries DOA review, several African countries are already engaging with DOA as part of broader efforts to democratise knowledge production. 

Platforms like African Journals Online and Open Research Africa are helping to make African research more visible. Open Research Africa, for example, allows authors to publish quickly and receive open peer reviews. This approach can make the process more transparent and inclusive. The African Open Science Platform, led by South Africa’s NRF, is also playing a key role. It supports open data sharing, research training and digital infrastructure that helps researchers collaborate and share findings across borders. “It’s about creating an environment where an African scientist can easily collaborate with a colleague in another country and openly share their findings with a farmer or teacher who can use that knowledge,” she explained. However, these efforts need more support to grow. Panellists noted that African-led journals and platforms often go unrecognised by international indexing systems. This limits their visibility and impact. Yet these platforms are essential for sharing research that addresses local needs and global challenges. Investment in these homegrown efforts is not about aid but about strengthening global science. Supporting African publishing systems helps create a more balanced and diverse knowledge ecosystem that works for everyone. 

Advancing a global agenda for equitable research publishing 

The STI Forum side event was more than a discussion. It was part of growing momentum to place open science and equitable publishing at the heart of global policy. As the UN General Assembly approaches in September 2025, there is a real opportunity to push for a global agenda that recognises the potential for scientific knowledge to be a global public good and the importance of an effective global research publishing system to realise this potential. 

Policymakers and funders reading this should consider a few forward-looking actions.  

• First, fund the gap or contribute to funds designated for building open access publishing infrastructure where it’s most needed. Think of it as building knowledge roads and bridges: repositories, journal platforms, training programs.
• Second, change the incentive structures. As a funder, require that any research you support is shared openly, and reward researchers for publishing in open venues (including respected local journals), not just the traditional prestige outlets.
• Third, enhance diplomacy in action to drive greater commitment and coordination at the academic level. Foster North-South and South-South partnerships by encouraging universities in the Global North to partner with those in Africa on joint open access journals or conferences, and support networks of African universities working together on common publishing strategies. 
• Finally, including researchers from the Global South in shaping global standards is essential. Their perspectives bring the practical insight needed to design systems that work. As Nathanael Bevan put it, “we must listen to those on the front lines of this imbalance”. The upcoming UNGA offers the chance to do just that and to take steps toward a more inclusive global knowledge system. 

Photo credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe. A wide view of the tenth multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals on the theme: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive and evidence-based, science and technology solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”.