An African framework for e- knowledge Buhle Mbambo University of Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe

Introduction Outline of presentation –Broad contexts –Potential for ICT usage –Issues –Concerns –Case study: AJOL (success stories) –Conclusion

African Framework for e- knowledge NEPAD African Renaissance –Information society AISI –Vision 2010 (utilize ICT for) Availability of African information for education, government, business etc Open dissemination of knowledge Global access of African Information

Typical Research Information Scenarios Weak local of scholarly material Over dependence on foreign publishing for tertiary education Limited “forex” to import learning resources Limited African content on the Web.

Potential of ICT Access to published information –Information portal –Search engines Publishing African content –journals online –electronic books –grey literature On-line abstracts

Opportunity Wiling audiences (learning communities)_ E-resources for on-line learning –Online learning replacing distance education E-resources on CWNs for university communities –Shared learning resources –reduction of isolation Strategic partnerships: –Experienced online publishers & African content/scholar/writers –Information disseminators, writers and publishers

Issues Globalization and competition Digital divide African Publishing as opposed to consumption Online journals from Africa lack of information( need for advocacy, awareness etc)

Celebration of success:AJOL To provide access to research undertaken and published in Africa to enable the results of research carried out in Africa to become more widely known to strengthen the African academic publishing sector to assess the impact of using the Internet to promote African publishing journals

Components of AJOL Journals in various subjects access to TOCs and abstracts links to full text keyword search of journal contents information about journal document delivery links to related sites

Usage statistics Registration: 3189 April 2002 Hits (in 2002) March 48, 275 April 51, 885 May 53,567 Free photocopying (Sep,00-Jun 02, 296) Paid photocopy requests 35 April 2002

Is AJOL sustainable? Problems: –Poor journal management –poor content quality –lack of full text online access –no international journal e-dissemination

Is AJOL sustainable? ( cont.) Remains the issue Provides a model Outcomes of hand over search Report of evaluation

Conclusion Macro framework exists Space for African content Collaboration between players Objective assessment of issues and concerns Political will, financial commitments and advocacy Value strategic partnerships The end