NGOs' experiences of navigating the open access landscape

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Development Studies
• Research Policy

Background:

• Grant-led consortia in global development depend on non-government organizations (NGOs) in low- and middle-income countries.
• Open access (OA) mandates from funders and publishers are primarily designed for large universities and research institutions.
• This mismatch creates implementation barriers for NGOs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the practical challenges faced by health research NGOs in implementing OA mandates within grant-funded consortia.
• To highlight the discrepancies between OA policy design and the realities of NGO operations in global development.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of experiences from a consortium of health research NGOs.
• Focus on the Communicable Diseases Health Service Delivery research programme.
• Qualitative assessment of OA mandate implementation.

Main Results:

• Implementing OA mandates is not straightforward for NGOs, contrary to initial assumptions.
• Existing OA mechanisms and policies do not adequately address the specific needs and constraints of NGOs.
• Significant friction exists in applying OA requirements in resource-limited settings.

Conclusions:

• Current OA policies require adaptation to effectively support NGOs in global development research.
• Funders and publishers need to consider the operational realities of diverse research partners.
• More inclusive and flexible OA strategies are necessary to ensure equitable participation and knowledge sharing.