By ASNS
Rising costs of publishing scientific research are creating financial barriers for African researchers, with nearly two-thirds of respondents in a new study identifying Article Processing Charges (APCs) as a major challenge to participating in scholarly publishing.
The study, released by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), examined the experiences of 761 researchers across Africa with Open Access publishing, the costs associated with disseminating research and awareness of alternative publishing models.
The findings raise questions about whether current Open Access publishing arrangements are providing equitable opportunities for African scientists to share their findings with the global research community.
According to the study, 87% of respondents had published in Open Access journals, demonstrating the widespread adoption of publishing models that allow readers to access research without subscription fees. However, 62.9% identified rising APCs as a significant challenge.
Article Processing Charges are fees that some scholarly journals require authors or their institutions to pay to make research articles openly accessible. Although the model can improve public access to scientific findings, the costs may disadvantage researchers who lack institutional funding or dedicated publication grants.
Publication costs shape research decisions
The study found that publication fees can influence how researchers decide where to publish and whom to collaborate with.
Some respondents reported using personal funds to meet publication costs, while others described collaborating with co-authors who could cover the charges.
These experiences point to a potential tension within the Open Access movement: research may be freely available to readers while remaining financially difficult for some researchers to publish.
For African institutions operating with limited research budgets, publication fees can add another layer of pressure to already constrained funding for research, laboratory infrastructure, fieldwork and graduate training.
The findings also raise concerns about whose research receives international visibility. If publication opportunities depend partly on the ability to pay, researchers with fewer financial resources may face additional obstacles in disseminating their findings, regardless of the scientific value of their work.
Diamond Open Access offers an alternative
The ASSAf study examines Diamond Open Access, a publishing model under which research articles are freely available to readers and authors are not charged publication fees.
Unlike APC-based models, Diamond Open Access seeks to remove direct publication charges for researchers while maintaining open access to scholarly knowledge.
The report identifies this approach as a potential pathway towards more equitable scholarly publishing in Africa. However, it also highlights challenges that must be addressed to strengthen the model’s reach and sustainability.
These include improving the visibility of Diamond Open Access journals, strengthening publishing infrastructure, developing sustainable funding arrangements and ensuring that researchers receive appropriate recognition for publishing in such journals.
Without adequate financial and institutional support, journals that do not charge authors may struggle to maintain the technical systems, editorial processes and quality assurance required for sustainable scholarly publishing.
Research evaluation and funding need to change
The study’s recommendations extend beyond the costs of publishing individual articles to the systems that support and recognise scientific research.
It calls for stronger support for equitable Open Access publishing, including better visibility for Diamond Open Access journals, improved publishing infrastructure and more sustainable funding models.
It also highlights the importance of research evaluation systems that appropriately recognise high-quality research published through Diamond Open Access platforms.
Such changes could help reduce the pressure on researchers to prioritise journals based on their publishing models or perceived prestige rather than the suitability of the outlet for their research.
For African universities, research institutions, funders and policymakers, the findings offer an opportunity to reconsider how publication costs are covered and how locally relevant research is supported in reaching policymakers, practitioners and the wider public.
Strengthening alternative publishing models could also help African scholarly institutions retain greater influence over the production and dissemination of knowledge generated on the continent.
Building a more inclusive research ecosystem
The findings contribute to wider discussions about the future of scholarly communication and the role of Open Access in making research more accessible.
While removing reader subscription barriers is an important objective, the study suggests that attention must also be paid to the financial barriers researchers encounter when seeking to publish their work.
For Africa, where research findings can inform responses to health challenges, climate change, food insecurity and other development priorities, equitable access to publishing opportunities is an important consideration in strengthening the continent’s research ecosystem.
The challenge is therefore not simply to make scientific knowledge freely available, but also to ensure that researchers have fair opportunities to contribute to that knowledge.
The ASSAf study provides evidence for discussions on how governments, universities, research funders and scholarly publishers can support publishing systems that are both financially sustainable and inclusive.
Read the full report: ASSAf Research Repository — DOI: 10.17159/assaf.2026/127