Publishing Academy – Africa Research & Impact Network

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARIN PUBLISHING ACADEMY:

Strengthening Africa’s Research, Writing, and Policy Translation Capacities

Introduction

1.1 About the Africa Research and Impact Network

The Africa Research and Impact Network (ARIN) is an international think tank that amplifies African voices and research for impact. ARIN is a platform that brings together over 300 scholars, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from across 40 National Focal Points in African countries and the diaspora, promoting knowledge sharing, research excellence, and transformative policy action. ARIN’s core focus is peer learning and sharing good transformative research and impact practices across Africa. It leverages its deep experience in generating and consolidating evidence on effective interventions across Africa’s most critical strategic sectors and themes. Recognizing the continent’s wealth of underutilized research, innovation, and best practices, ARIN fosters a unique platform for the science-policy interface. This platform bridges the gap by facilitating the sharing, profiling, and leveraging of the best research and impactful practices from diverse African contexts. Through this peer-to-peer exchange, ARIN empowers stakeholders to inform transformative policy action across the continent. ARIN’s vision is to be the catalyst for Africa, where research excellence fuels transformative policy and sustainable development. ARIN envisions becoming Africa’s foremost platform for advancing locally driven research, fostering impactful collaborations, and shaping sustainable development policies. By 2030, ARIN aims to address Africa’s pressing challenges, leveraging the power of African knowledge systems and evidence-based solutions.

1.2 The Case for a Publishing Academy

Africa is home to a dynamic and expanding community of researchers, early career academics, technical experts, and policy professionals generating critical insights across diverse domains, including climate change, public health, governance, and sustainable development. Despite this rich intellectual capacity, much of the continent’s knowledge output remains underutilized or invisible in global arenas. This is largely due to the lack of structured, Africa centered platforms that support effective research writing, scholarly publishing, and policy-oriented communication.

To bridge this persistent gap, there is a compelling case for establishing a pan African publishing academy, that nurtures homegrown scholarship, builds research communication competencies, and strengthens Africa’s voice in global knowledge systems. The Academy would not only serve as a launchpad for high quality academic and policy outputs but also act as a catalyst for increasing African research visibility, fostering regional collaboration, and promoting equitable participation in global scholarly conversations.

In positioning the Academy for broader and sustained impact, a structured alumni network, mentorship pipelines, and strategic partnerships with universities, research institutions, and publishers will be critical. These linkages will help institutionalize support for emerging researchers, drive long-term capacity building, and ensure the integration of African knowledge into global frameworks for evidence-informed development and policy dialogue.

1.3 The Capacity Gap in Africa’s Research and Publishing Landscape Across Africa, there is a growing number of postgraduate programs and research initiatives housed within universities, think tanks, and policy institutions. This expansion has produced a vibrant community of postgraduate researchers, early career academics, technical experts, and policy professionals who generate valuable insights on pressing development challenges. However, a critical gap persists: most of these individuals lack structured, Africa-specific training in academic writing, publishing processes, and knowledge translation. Many researchers struggle to frame their work for peer-reviewed journals, navigate editorial and peer-review systems, and meet the standards required by international publishing platforms. Despite producing strong academic theses and dissertations, most postgraduate students graduate without exposure to global norms for scholarly publishing, open-access practices, or ethical authorship. As a result, their work often remains unpublished, disconnected from global academic conversations, and inaccessible to broader audiences. This challenge is compounded by weak dissemination channels, limited indexing of African research in high-impact journals, and the absence of institutional platforms that support scholarly communication and policy engagement. Consequently, a vast reservoir of high-potential African research remains invisible, undermining opportunities for knowledge uptake, policy influence, and global impact.

1.4 Beyond Academia: Policy and Practice-Oriented Writing Deficits Beyond the walls of academia, professionals across government agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, and the private sector are increasingly expected to engage with and produce evidence-based communication products. These include policy briefs, technical reports, op-eds, working papers, and advocacy memos. These formats demand a distinct set of skills from traditional academic writing. However, the capacity to craft such outputs remains limited. Many professionals lack access to structured training, mentorship, or editorial support to develop high-quality, context-relevant materials aligned with global standards. This gap in policy-oriented communication significantly weakens the ability to translate research and technical evidence into actionable insights. As a result, valuable knowledge often fails to reach decision-makers or influence public discourse in meaningful ways.

The consequences are far-reaching, including weak communication capacity, which hampers evidence uptake in policymaking, reduces the effectiveness of advocacy, and perpetuates the disconnect between research and real-world impact. It also sidelines context-specific African knowledge that could drive more inclusive, equitable, and responsive development outcomes. Addressing this deficit is critical for strengthening the science-policy-practice interface and ensuring that Africa’s research contributions shape both national strategies and global debates.

1.5 Structural and Institutional Barriers

The persistent capacity gap in Africa’s research ecosystem is deeply rooted in structural and institutional limitations. Chief among these is the absence of well established platforms that provide systematic training, mentorship, and long term support in academic writing and scholarly publishing. Most existing capacity-building mechanisms are fragmented, sporadic, donor-dependent, or narrowly focused on specific disciplines. As a result, researchers working in critical yet underfunded fields, such as the social sciences, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and gender, are often left without pathways to publishing success. This challenge is further compounded by the lack of open access publishing infrastructure and the prohibitive costs of article processing charges, which continue to marginalize African authors. At the institutional level, research priorities are frequently skewed towards economically driven and technologically oriented disciplines like medicine, engineering, and business. This leaves limited space and support for multidisciplinary research and teaching, especially in areas that are essential for addressing complex development challenges.

Moreover, poor data availability, inconsistent standards, fragmented storage formats, and limited open data practices hinder the quality and reach of African research. These constraints restrict researchers’ ability to generate, analyze, and disseminate robust evidence. The lack of institutional access to a diverse array of academic journals further isolates scholars from evolving global knowledge systems, weakens teaching quality, and limits opportunities for publication, international engagement, and conference participation. Without sustained investment in inclusive infrastructure, equitable publishing pathways, and data driven research support, African scholars will remain constrained in their ability to participate meaningfully in regional and global academic and policy dialogues.

1.6 ARIN’s Ongoing Initiatives

The African Research and Impact Network (ARIN) has laid strong foundations to address the structural and capacity challenges limiting African research visibility and policy engagement. Through its Africa Science-Policy Fellowship Program (AS-PFP), ARIN has created dynamic platforms for early-career researchers and policy practitioners to co-produce knowledge, engage in regional science-policy dialogues, and receive targeted mentorship and training. The program champions evidence-based decision-making and knowledge co-creation while institutionalizing science-policy engagement across the continent.

The AS-PFP is guided by two core goals:

(a) to consolidate evidence from diverse African contexts and leverage it for policy support and capacity building, and

(b) to promote research excellence and the sharing of best practices for impactful scholarship.

It has a proven track record of delivering high-level dialogues, regional case studies, and thematic knowledge syntheses that connect research to real-world policy challenges.

To further advance this agenda, ARIN is leveraging its strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the Taylor & Francis Group, a key partner in enabling equitable access to global publishing platforms. Through this partnership, ARIN seeks to:

Establish institutional champions to advocate for inclusive journal access. • Nurture future institutional leaders who appreciate the value of equitable knowledge ecosystems; and
Build stronger bridges between academia, policy, and publishing to harmonize efforts in strengthening Africa’s contribution to evidence informed development.

These efforts are part of ARIN’s broader mission to democratize knowledge production, support the next generation of African scholars, and amplify African voices in global academic and policy spaces.

1.7 ARIN Publishing Academy

Recognizing the urgent need to enhance the visibility of African research, strengthen scholarly communication, and build lasting capacity among researchers, the African Research and Impact Network (ARIN) proposes the establishment of the ARIN Publishing Academy. This continental initiative will serve as a structured, Africa-specific platform to support both emerging and established scholars in producing and disseminating high-quality academic and policy-relevant outputs. The ARIN Publishing Academy is therefore envisioned as an inclusive, pan-African platform to address this research and publishing gap. It will serve as a continental centre for capacity building in research writing, scholarly publishing, and knowledge translation. It will equip researchers and professionals alike with the competencies, networks, and opportunities they need to contribute meaningfully to academic, policy, and public conversations, whether through peer-reviewed journals, national policy dialogues, or global knowledge exchanges.

Building on ARIN’s robust foundation, including its Science-Policy Fellowship Program (AS-PFP) and strategic partnership with Taylor & Francis Group, the Academy will align with ARIN’s broader mission of strengthening the science policy-practice interface. It is envisioned as a springboard for African researchers to confidently publish impactful work, navigate the complexities of scholarly publishing, and translate evidence into actionable communication for decision makers. With a strong commitment to equity, openness, and inclusion, the Academy will offer a contextualized and interdisciplinary support system tailored

to Africa’s diverse research ecosystem. Its core services will include: • Structured training programs on academic writing, peer-reviewed publishing, and policy-oriented communication.

Thematic writing workshops aligned with pressing development and policy agendas.
Mentorship and coaching, connecting early-career researchers with experienced academics and editors.
Editorial support to improve the quality and readiness of manuscripts. • Capacity development for non-academic stakeholders, including civil society actors, practitioners, and policymakers, to improve evidence based communication.

1.7.1 Driving Research Output and Quality through Targeted Programming To ensure the ARIN Publishing Academy contributes meaningfully to Africa’s research productivity, the initiative will embed targeted mechanisms that improve the quality, visibility, and volume of scholarly outputs. Key strategies include:

Regular Peer Review Sessions

Participants will engage in structured peer review exercises, allowing them to critique and improve each other’s work in a collaborative and supportive environment. This will build confidence and familiarity with editorial standards while enhancing manuscript quality.

Publication Incentives

The Academy will establish recognition mechanisms, such as awards, fellowships, or visibility campaigns, for participants who successfully publish their work in peer-reviewed journals or contribute to policy-relevant outputs post training.

Iterative Feedback Mechanisms

Researchers will benefit from continuous, constructive feedback loops throughout their writing process. This approach will support iterative improvement of manuscripts and improve readiness for submission to reputable journals

Promotion of Interdisciplinary Research

The Academy will actively encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration across its cohorts, promoting diverse perspectives and fostering innovative, solution oriented research outputs that are relevant to complex development challenges. By embedding these elements into its core programming, and leveraging the editorial, publishing, and review expertise available through its partnership with Taylor & Francis, the Academy will position itself as a catalyst for increased, high quality African scholarship that resonates within both academic and policy spaces.

1.7.2 Collaborative Value and Strategic Partnerships

The Publishing Academy will strategically leverage ARIN’s MoU with Taylor & Francis Group to:

Launch joint publishing initiatives that amplify African voices and promote open-access knowledge.
Co-design training modules and editorial mentorship pipelines • Create institutional champions across African universities to promote inclusive journal access and open publishing practices.

This collaboration offers mutual benefits as it positions Taylor & Francis as a leader in democratizing publishing access in the Global South while enabling ARIN to scale African research outputs and visibility globally.

1.7.3 Strategic Benefits for Taylor & Francis

Partnering with ARIN on the establishment and operationalization of the ARIN Publishing Academy offers Taylor & Francis a unique opportunity to strengthen its global presence, foster research equity, and drive impact across the African continent. Key benefits include:

Expanded Reach and Influence in Africa

Engaging with ARIN positions Taylor & Francis at the forefront of a rapidly expanding academic and research landscape in Africa. This partnership enhances the publisher’s visibility, fosters deeper institutional relationships, and opens access to a growing market of universities, think tanks, and research consortia across the continent.

Contribution to Global Diversity and Inclusion in Publishing Supporting the Academy enables Taylor & Francis to play a leading role in advancing inclusive knowledge production by amplifying African voices and supporting underrepresented disciplines. The partnership aligns with global calls for decolonizing academic publishing and broadening the scope of contributors and topics represented in international journals and books.

iii. Access to Emerging Talent and High-Quality Submissions Through workshops, mentorship, and editorial support, the Academy will serve as a pipeline for identifying, nurturing, and elevating emerging research talent. This can translate into an increase in high-quality, Africa based manuscript submissions across various disciplines, enhancing the publisher’s content diversity and scholarly impact.

Strengthened Reputation as a Socially Responsible Knowledge Partner

By actively investing in capacity development and the science-policy interface, Taylor & Francis reinforces its brand as a socially responsible and forward-thinking publisher. This initiative aligns with the UN SDGs and growing demands for equity in global knowledge ecosystems, offering reputational value and long-term credibility in development-oriented publishing circles.

1.7.4 High-Impact, Low-Cost Engagement for Taylor & Francis In addition to its broader strategic gains, Taylor & Francis can support the ARIN Publishing Academy through a range of non-financial, high-value contributions. These may include:

Editorial mentorship for early-career researchers;
Facilitated access to journals and publishing resources;
Co-hosting of training webinars and knowledge-sharing events; • Co-branded certification for Academy participants;
Visibility for T&F through shared communications and branding. These forms of partnership will significantly enhance the Academy’s credibility, impact, and global integration. They will also offer meaningful engagement and visibility across the African research and publishing landscape without necessitating direct funding.

1.7.5 Metrics for Success and Impact

To ensure accountability and sustained value, the Academy will track clear and measurable outcomes, including:

Number of researchers trained, mentored, and successfully published.
Volume and diversity of policy-relevant outputs (briefs, op-eds, technical reports).
Institutional partnerships formed and sustained across African universities.
Increased representation of African-authored research in indexed, high impact journals.
Feedback from stakeholders on the influence of communication products in policy processes.

Through the Publishing Academy, ARIN aims to transform Africa’s research capacity landscape, moving from fragmented, donor-driven support to a sustainable, strategic, and impact-driven model that empowers scholars and bridges the divide between research and policy.

1.8 ARIN Infrastructure and Institutional Strength

ARIN’s capacity rests on its available wide network of Scholars, Research Fellows, Policymakers, and Community of Practices endowed with different skills, as well as its existing research ecosystem-supporting infrastructure, such as Data Centre and Interactive Data Platforms, such as LAMA and CAPCHA, that support its quest for establishing a leading Publishing Academy in Africa. The Academy aims to leverage its pool of researchers equipped with data management, analysis, and visualization skills, alongside its Data Centre and platforms like LAMA and CAPCHA, to advance data-driven research and policy engagement. Through this approach, the Academy will promote the production of high-quality, publishable empirical research by building the capacity of early career researchers in data collection, analysis, and communication. Additionally, it will enhance their ability to disseminate data-informed insights, especially in the era of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, by facilitating continuous learning, global mentorship, and exposure to emerging tools and techniques in empirical research dissemination.

2.0 Rationale for the ARIN Publishing Academy

2.1. Africa’s Research and Development Challenge

Africa’s development is constrained by persistent poverty, climate vulnerabilities, and systemic health and governance challenges. Addressing these issues requires robust, evidence-informed policymaking, yet the continent struggles to translate research into action. According to the 2023 Global Innovation Index, Africa continues to rank low in research impact and commercialization. This is largely due to under investment in R&D (still below the 1% of GDP target set in Agenda 2063 and STISA-2024), heavy reliance on external funding, and limited capacity for research uptake and communication.

While initiatives like the Science Granting Councils Initiative have attempted to improve evidence use in policymaking, institutional fragilities and fragmented systems hinder long-term impact. African universities and think tanks often lack the autonomy, platforms, and incentives to develop and disseminate Africa-led knowledge. Moreover, the research that is generated frequently remains inaccessible or in formats not tailored for policy use.

There is also a disconnect between knowledge production and knowledge translation. Researchers, governments, and NGOs lack sustained mechanisms for collaboration, learning, and co-creation. The result is a cycle of underutilized research outputs and missed opportunities for influence in both national and global conversations. To date, there are few dedicated forums in Africa to interrogate the science-policy interface or systematically build capacities for research communication, particularly in emergent fields like climate change, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.

2.2. Addressing the Evidence Generation and Communication Gap in African Research

Bridging the gap between research and policy requires more than producing evidence. It demands the ability to interpret, package, and communicate that evidence effectively. Yet many African professionals, from postgraduate students to senior advisors, receive little or no training in academic publishing or policy communication. Challenges such as poor access to journals, high publication fees, weak mentorship, and inadequate writing skills contribute to low publication rates and reduced policy engagement.

The ARIN Publishing Academy responds to this gap by positioning itself as a transformative capacity-building hub. It aims to equip researchers and practitioners with the skills to publish impactful research and translate findings into actionable knowledge. This is not merely a technical intervention; it is a structural response to build a new generation of African knowledge leaders across sectors.

The Academy builds on ARIN’s strategic partnership with Taylor & Francis Group. Through this collaboration, African scholars gain access to publishing opportunities in globally recognized journals, training sessions by publishing professionals, and mentorship from experienced editors. The Academy serves as a complementary mechanism for increasing research visibility, fostering collaboration, and enhancing the quality and policy relevance of African scholarship.

Its key interventions include:

Enhancing academic writing and publishing skills: Through targeted training on manuscript development, peer review navigation, and ethical publishing practices, the Academy will support African scholars in producing high-quality, peer-reviewed research outputs.
Bridging research and policy communication: The Academy will train participants to craft policy briefs, opinion pieces, and strategic reports that translate complex research into usable knowledge for decision-makers and the public.
Providing mentorship and editorial support: By establishing mentorship networks and peer review communities, the Academy will guide early career researchers through the publishing journey, enhancing confidence and success rates.
Expanding access to publishing networks: Through ARIN’s partnerships and outreach to additional publishers, the Academy will help reduce publication barriers, facilitate co-authorships, and amplify African research globally.
Promoting open-access and digital dissemination: The Academy will encourage the use of open-access platforms and digital tools to maximize visibility, reach broader audiences, and increase citation impact.

3.0 Objectives of the ARIN Publishing Academy

The Academy seeks to:

a) Strengthen research and writing capacity for early-career and established African researchers, as well as professionals seeking to produce high quality academic, empirical, and policy-oriented outputs.
b) Build inclusive mentorship and publishing networks by connecting participants with senior researchers, journal editors, and policy communication experts, and facilitating access to reputable journals through ARIN’s publishing partnerships.
c) Enhance data literacy and research quality through regular training in data management, analysis, visualization, and ethical research practices to improve the rigor and credibility of African scholarship.
d) Advance knowledge translation and policy engagement by equipping participants with the skills to develop policy briefs, op-eds, technical papers, and advocacy materials that inform decision-making.
e) Promote innovative and open dissemination pathways by leveraging digital tools, open-access models, artificial intelligence, and ARIN’s interactive data platforms to increase research visibility, sharing, and impact.

4.0. Structure and Implementation

4.1 Training Modules/Areas of Coverage

The Academy will offer structured training modules covering:

Academic Writing Mastery: Research design, manuscript preparation, and journal selection strategies.
Navigating the Publishing Process: Responding to peer reviews, addressing editorial feedback, and avoiding predatory journals. • Research Impact and Open Science: Open-access publishing, research metrics, and increasing global visibility.
Science Communication for Policy Impact: Writing policy briefs, media engagement, and storytelling for non-academic audiences.
Ethical Publishing and Research Integrity: Plagiarism prevention, data transparency, and responsible authorship.

4.2 Incentives and Continued Engagement

To foster sustained engagement, motivation, and long-term value for participants, the ARIN Publishing Academy will integrate a suite of incentive mechanisms and post-training opportunities. These include:

Certification and Recognition: Participants will receive certificates upon completion of specific training modules, providing formal recognition of their acquired skills and improving their professional profiles.
Career Development Pathways: The Academy will explore partnerships to connect graduates with relevant funding calls, research fellowships, and academic opportunities to further their research and publishing goals.
Alumni Network: A vibrant alumni community will be established to facilitate peer learning, collaborative research, and continued mentorship among Academy graduates across Africa and beyond.
Research Competitions and Awards: Competitive recognition mechanisms, such as awards for outstanding policy briefs, journal articles, or op-eds, will be introduced to promote excellence and practical application of learning.

4.3 Training Schedule

Our proposed training modules will be covered in a period of Two Months for fast paced learning and up to Three Months for part-time learning. We propose 2-hour evening sessions (3-5 pm ET) on Tuesdays with flexibility depending on the availability of candidates (Quorum). The proposed training schedule is presented as follows:

4.4 Delivery Mechanism

The Academy will utilize diverse learning approaches, including: ⇒ Workshops and Webinars – Virtual and in-person training sessions led by experienced scholars and editors. This will be on a weekly basis. ⇒ One-on-One Mentorship – Personalized support to guide researchers through the publishing process.

⇒ Guided Self-Paced Learning: Accessible self-paced learning platforms. This will be reviewed after every chapter.

⇒ Periodical Research Fora: Peer-to-peer discussions and evaluations. This will be on a weekly basis.

⇒ Publishing Fellowships – Select researchers will receive funding and editorial assistance to enhance their publication success rates. ⇒ Hybrid Learning Model – Combining online and in-person formats to accommodate African researchers.

⇒ Thematic writing labs and cross-sector mentorship: Tailored labs will focus on policy brief development, opinion writing, and strategy papers. Participants will be matched with mentors from academia, policy, and communications sectors to refine outputs for targeted audiences.

4.5 Institutional Partnerships

ARIN will collaborate with:

⇒ Universities and research institutions to integrate the Academy into existing research training programs.

⇒ International publishers and journals to provide publishing opportunities and technical training.

⇒ Science-policy networks to ensure research outputs reach policymakers and drive impact.

⇒ Funding organizations and philanthropic entities to ensure sustainability and long-term success.

5.0 Expected Outcomes and Impact

The Publishing Academy aims to achieve the following outcomes: ⇒ Increased high-quality and empirically grounded publications by African researchers in reputable journals.

⇒ Stronger research-to-policy linkages, ensuring that academic outputs inform policy decisions.

⇒ Increased engagement of African scholars with global publishing networks such as Taylor & Francis.

⇒ Enhanced global visibility of African research, contributing to decolonizing knowledge production.

⇒ Facilitate regular data management, access, and analysis of knowledge sharing capacity among empirical researchers and stakeholders. ⇒ Improve data analysis dissemination skills that will help match Africa’s dynamic research reporting landscape.

⇒ Strengthened mentorship and scholarly networks, fostering long-term collaborations.

⇒ Institutionalization of evidence-based policymaking, supporting Africa’s development agenda.

⇒ Greater influence of African research on policy and decision-making processes.

6.0 Funding and Sustainability

The Academy will adopt a multi-pronged approach to funding: ⇒ ARIN Mini-grants and Mentorship Scheme will support early-career researchers with funding and mentorship to develop high-quality publications.

⇒ Grants from international donors and development agencies support knowledge production in Africa.

⇒ Institutional partnerships with universities and research bodies, integrating the Academy into their training programs.

⇒ Fee-based training models offering specialized data management, analysis, and publishing workshops for institutions and individuals. ⇒ Corporate and philanthropic sponsorships, leveraging private sector support for research and data analysis capacity-building initiatives.

In conclusion, the ARIN Publishing Academy is a critical intervention to enhance research excellence, strengthen the science-policy interface, and promote Africa-led knowledge production. The Academy will contribute significantly to evidence-informed policymaking, academic growth, and sustainable development across Africa by equipping researchers with the skills and opportunities needed for successful publishing and results dissemination.

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