Presentation at the Taylor & Francis Editors Indaba on 24 March 2015 in Cape Town by Dr Abiye Daniel of The Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA)

1. OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHALLENGES
IN PUBLISHING
FOR
EASTERN AND
SOUTHERN AFRICA
2015
CAPE TOWN

2. Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and
Southern Africa (OSSREA)
 History: Established in 1980; initially concentrated on Eastern
Africa, but later expanded to Southern Africa.
 Headquarters: Housed in its three-storey building located on the
Main Campus of Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
 Geographic Reach: It operates and has Liaison Offices in 25
countries in the sub-region. These are: Angola, Botswana,
Burundi, Djibouti, Comoros Islands, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan,
Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
 Focus: Interdisciplinary research; training in research
methodology and gender mainstreaming; policy dialogue,
academic debates, special issue journals and disseminating
research outputs.
 Membership: Open to individuals, organisations and
government agencies interested or engaged in research.

3. INTRODUCTION
As a research and capacity building
institution, OSSREA:
promotes African scholarship
conducts independent social science
research
 encourages dialogue, cooperation
and collaboration between
researchers, practitioners and policy
makers in Africa.

4. Research Grant Programmes
OSSREA promotes Research and
Capacity Development through:
 1. Young Scholars Research Grant
 2. Senior Scholars Research Grant
 3. Sabbatical Research Grant
 4. Post- Doctoral Fellowship
Research Grant
 5. Gender Mainstreaming Training
 6. Research Methodology Training

5. Long Term and Short Term Book
Projects
 OSSREA has now started new research
grant modalities including short term (6-
12 months) and long term (12—18
months) research grants. The research
projects are based on the thematic areas
identified in its strategic plan and
culminates in books published by regional
and international publishers, policy briefs,
journals, monographs and policy
workshops, which are used by policy and
research communities as well as academic
institutions in Africa

6. CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES
Research Methodology Training
 The program is aimed at building the capacity of
young academicians and researchers in social
science research methodology in the region; and
enabling research grantees of OSSREA gain and
develop necessary research skills and techniques
relevant to their thematic areas. Since 2011 this
program is subsumed under a new project known
as the Research School in Eastern and Southern
Africa (RESSESA), which has the objective of
fast tracking PhD training programmes in
eastern and south African universities through
providing social science research methodology
training and other supports for PhD candidates
and building capacity of PhD supervisors and
trainers.

7. Training on Gender Research
 This program aims to avail state of the art
knowledge and research skills in gender
mainstreaming, especially in
comprehensively addressing the problems
of gender power imbalance and gender-
related concerns in various social, political
and economic arenas. The program
commenced in 2005 and is run at
OSSREA member countries and regional
levels. As part of this program, OSSREA
has published teaching materials to be
used at graduate level gender studies
programs in Africa

8. PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATION
Books and Journals
 OSSREA disseminates, through its various
publications, the research results of its projects
and of other affiliated scholars. The main
publications include Eastern Africa Social
Science Research Review (a bi-annual journal),
OSSREA Bulletin (tri-annual), abstracts,
monographs, books, research reports series,
workshop reports, proceedings and policy briefs.
We also use ABC, MSU, ProQuest, AJOL,
EBSCO, and African Portal for dissemination.
For a list of publications, please visit our website
(http://www.ossrea.net).

9. Conferences and Policy Workshops:
 Several workshops, seminars and conferences are
organised each year. Participants include academics,
researchers, policy makers, and representatives of CBOs,
NGOs, donor agencies and international organisations. In
addition, national chapters also organise their seminars
and workshops. Through its policy workshops OSSREA
disseminates research findings of OSSREA Programmes
for use by policy-makers, development planners, advocacy
groups, CBOs, CSOs, NGOs, donor agencies and
international organisations. It also facilitates the creation
of a policy and research interface in OSSREA activities;
ensures that its research findings are utilised by the widest
cross-section of the society; and encourages that policy-
making and development planning are informed by
research-based knowledge.

10.  The Directorate is in charge of publishing all grant
research papers that have been reviewed as well as the
journal and bulletin series.
HARD PUBLISHING
 Single publications: Migration, Good Governance,
Climate Change, Social Protection, Land Deals,
Human Rights etc.
 Series Publications: PRSP,HIV, DHP, Conflict etc.
(Gender and Social Science series No. 26 and No.36)
 Joint Publications: with IDRC, FSS, Leiden-African
Studies Centre, BICC-Bonn etc.
 Chapter Publications

11. Thematic Areas Number of
Publications
1. HIV/AIDS 35
2. Natural Resources Management(NRM), Agriculture
and Environment
37
3. African Conflicts, Migration, and peace 13
4. Good Governance, Democracy and Human rights 11
5. Dry-land Husbandry Project(DHP) and Pastoralism 13
6. Poverty Reduction Strategies(PRSP) 7
7. Trade, Investment and Economic Development 13
8. Miscellaneous 41
9. EASSRR- 57
10
.
Chapter publications 22
11
.
OSSREA Bulletin 27
Total 276
OSSREA Publications by thematic areas (1985-2012)

12. East African Social Science Research Review
(EASSRR)- Bi Annual
• Been in existence since 1985
• ISSN Number
• E-ISSN Number
• Flagship of OSSREA
• Volume 31
• Special Issues
• Special Issues Journals in Universities:

13. Summary Hits 2013
 Days resource(s) accessed 365
 Articles (full-text) viewed 6584
 HTML Articles (full-text) viewed 1878
 PDF Articles (full-text) viewed 4706
 TOCs viewed 4469
 Journals viewed 1
 IPs used to access database 7871

14. No. Country Articles TOCs
1 USA 1552 653
2 United Kingdom 746 247
3 Ethiopia 726 129
4 Netherlands 483 125
5 Canada 353 34
6 Kenya 334 48
7 Australia 295 61
8 Zimbabwe 239 19
9 India 198 19
10 South Africa 160 60
11 Norway 147 53
12 Pakistan 85 4
13 Sweden 79 15
14 Uganda 63 14
15 Germany 57 44
16 Ghana 30 0
17 New Zealand 30 3
18 China 25 0
19 Malaysia 25 15
20 Belgium 24 16
21 Denmark 21 17
22 Bangladesh 20 1
23 Ireland 18 3
24 Switzerland 17 2
25 Indonesia 15 0
Usage by Country

15. SPECIAL ISSUE JOURNALS
 The Special Issue Journal has also been another success
story where OSSREA’s 2010-2014 performance on this
special issue journal project was a success. It has managed
to achieve the intended objectives of the project, which is
giving African scholars opportunity to publish peer
reviewed articles as well as produce and disseminate social
science knowledge that affects the region and the countries
under study. Through this project, OSSREA has supported
more than 200 authors, who are faculty members of
universities and members of OSSREA in universities of
Eastern and Southern Africa, in their career development
at a low cost and within a relatively short time. The articles
address issues of concerns in the region and are being used
by research and academic institutions as reference and
teaching materials as well policy input by governments.
This project has continued till today and also gives the
opportunity to over 12 counties to publish in international
and local languages: French, Arabic and English

16. Title of the journal/ volume/Number
1 Sudan Journal of Economic and Social Studies, Vol. 9 no. 1, 2011
2 Journal of Social Development in Africa, special issue on Socioeconomic Development in
Botswana Vol. 26 no. 1, 2011
3 Egerton Journal of Humanities, Social Science and Education Vol.9 , 2010, Kenya
4 Mawazo, The Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Makerere University vol. 10 no. 1,
2011 Uganda
5 Mawazo, The Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Makerere University vol. 11 no. 1,
2012 Uganda
6 Tanzania Journal of Development Studies vol.9 no. 1&2, 2009
7 Tanzania Journal of Development Studies vol.10 no. 1&2, 2010
8 Ethiopian Journal of Development Studies vol. 33 no. 1, (October, 2011)
9 Ethiopian Journal of Development Studies vol. 33 no. 2 (April, 2011)
10 Ethiopian Journal of Development Studies vol. 34 no. 1 (April, 2012)
11 Rwanda Journal volume 22. Series B, 2011
12 UNISWA Research Journal Vol. 26 December 2011 Swaziland

17. Title of the journal/ volume/Number
13 Politique Sociale et Development-Madagascar 2012/2013/14
14 The Utafiti Journal. Journal of the College of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Dar es
Salaam. Vol. 9 Nos. 1 and 2 2012.
15 Journal of Social Policies and Development, Special Issue Vol. 2. Mauritius 2013/2014
16 Africa Education Review, Vol. 9 Supplementary Issue 1. South Africa.2012
17 Ethiopian Journal of the Social Sciences and Humanities, special issue Vol. IX No. 1 and 2.
2013.
18 Southern Peace Review Journal, Vol. 2 Number 2. Zimbabwe 2013.
19 UNISWA Research Journal Vol. 27, 2014 Swaziland
20 Journal of Social Development in Africa, Special Issue. Vol. 26. No. 1. Botswana. 2011
21 Journal of Humanities. Zambia. 2012.
22 Journal of Sudanese Studies. Vol. 9. 2013
23 Journal of Social Sciences. Special Issue Vol. 37. No. 2. South Africa (India) 2013

19. The OSSREA Bulletin
 Tri-Annual
 Feature Articles
 Less Formal
 Volume XII
 Platform for publication
 Formally Published in 2004 before that in
News letter form.

20. Ethiopia 2
Kenya 1
Zimbabwe 4
South Africa 1
Foreign 2
OSSREA Bulletin Vol. VIII No.1, 2&3- Authors’
Distribution by Country 2011

21. AfDB PUBLICATIONS
 The PRSP Series specific objectives were to :
 Assess the core element of the poverty reduction
strategies with respect to the desired targets;
 Analyze the feasibility of envisaged approaches in
implementing the strategies and sustainability of
outcomes;
 In relation to the above, to assess the monitoring and
evaluation indicators as well as the institutional
aspects of the implementation of startegies;and
 Analyze the role of IMF conditionalities and other
regional and global issues relevant to the process,
including debt reduction, market access and foreign
investment.

22. Assessment of Poverty Reduction Strategies in
sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Zambia
Author: OSSREA
Year: 2008
Publisher: OSSREA
Assessment of Poverty Reduction Strategies in
sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Uganda
Author: OSSREA
Year: 2008
Publisher: OSSREA
Assessment of Poverty Reduction Strategies in
sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Rwanda
Author: OSSREA
Year: 2008
Publisher: OSSREA
Assessment of Poverty Reduction Strategies in
sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Malawi
Author: OSSREA
Year: 2008
Publisher: OSSREA
Assessment of Poverty Reduction Strategies in
sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Kenya
Author: OSSREA
Year: 2008
Publisher: OSSREA
Assessment of Poverty Reduction Strategies in
sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Ethiopia
Author: OSSREA
Year: 2008
Publisher: OSSREA

23. The Country Specific Cases were:
 Ethiopia
 Kenya
 Malawi
 Rwanda
 Uganda
 Zambia
In 2009 a Synthesis Report was done were it was
suggested that:
“PRSP assessments should be undertaken on a
continuous basis and the political will necessary to
steer the required process should be fostered and
developed in a manner that creates an overall
enabling environment with regard to broad-based
active participation and involvement of all
stakeholders”

24. OSSREA WEBSITE (Soft Publishing)
 General Information
 Open Access for previous and present Research
Output
 Windows for the 25 Chapters to publish in their
own language
 Call for papers
 Repository (Annual Reports, Abstracts, members,
Proceedings etc.)

26. Services Jan-Dec
2011
Jan-Dec
2012
Jan-Dec
2013
Jan-Dec
2014
Number of page hits for
www.ossrea.net
3,852,754 5,247,054 8,756,30
9
7,441,485
Number of page hits for
publications.ossrea.net
1,719,356 2,034,629 3,508,94
1
3,982,231
Number of page hits for
members.ossrea.net
123,400 197,363 675,090 851,357
Number of E-Mail Subscribers List
8,912 18,683 33,611 15,876
Number of OSSREA’s Face book
Page Fans
848 966 1,119 1,261
Number of Twitter Followers - 519 606 698
Other Information (Jan - Dec 2011-2014)

27. Rank Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec
1st Ethiopia
Ethiopi
a
Ethiopi
a
S.
Africa
Ethiopi
a
Ethiopi
a
Ethiopi
a
Ethiopi
a
Ethiopi
a
Ethiopi
a
Ethiopi
a
Ethiopi
a
2nd Kenya Kenya
Zimbab
we
Ethiopi
a
Kenya
S.
Africa
Kenya Kenya
Zimbab
we
Zimbab
we
Kenya Kenya
3rd Zambia Zambia Kenya
Zimbab
we
Zambia Zambia
S.
Africa
Zimbab
we
Kenya Kenya
Zimbab
we
Zambia
4th Zimbabwe
Zimbab
we
Zambia Kenya
Zimbab
we
Kenya Zambia
S.
Africa
South
Africa
South
Africa
Zambia
Zimbab
we
5th
South
Africa
South
Africa
Tanzani
a
Zambia
S.
Africa
Zimbab
we
Zimbab
we
Zambia Zambia Zambia
South
Africa
Tanzani
a
6th Tanzania Uganda Uganda Uganda Zambia
Tanzani
a
Uganda Uganda Sudan Uganda
Tanzani
a
Uganda
7th Uganda
Tanzani
a
Botswa
na
Tanzani
a
Uganda Uganda
Tanzani
a
Tanzani
a
Uganda
Tanzani
a
Uganda Sudan
8th Sudan Sudan Sudan Sudan
Tanzani
a
Botswa
na
Sudan
Rwand
a
Tanzani
a
Botswa
na
Rwand
a
Rwand
a
Chapters rank according to website access (hits) in 2014

28. Rank Jan Feb March April May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec
1st Canada Canada Canada Canada Canada Canada Canada Canada Canada Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine
2nd USA
Luxemb
ourg
Ukraine
S.
Africa Ukraine
Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine
Canada Canada USA
3rd Ukraine USA USA US
USA
US USA USA China
China Turkey Canada
4th China
Thailan
d
China Ukraine
China
China Ethiopia Turkey Turkey
USA China China
5th Russia Turkey
German
y
Russia
Russia
Brazil Finland Russia USA
Britain France Brazil
Top five countries from where OSSREA’s website is accessed in 2014

29. DISSEMINATION
• ABC-Print on Demand
• EBSCO
• PROQUEST
• AJOL
• Project Muse
• Africa Portal
• 25 Chapter universities (MoU)
• Stakeholders Meetings, Dissemination workshops,
Radio Programmes, Policy Briefs
• OSSREA Website

30. Think Tank Rankings for OSSREA-2014
 - Top Think Tanks Worldwide (U.S. and non-
U.S.) - 138
- Top Think Tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa - 27
- Top Health Policy Think Tanks - 22
- Top Global Health Policy Think Tanks - 17
- Top International Economic Policy Think Tanks
- 34
- Top Social Policy Think Tanks - 35
- Best Managed Think Tanks - 41
- Think Tanks with the Best Use of the Internet -
35
- Think Tanks with the Most Significant Impact
on Public Policy - 66

31. THE REVIEW PROCESS
1) Call for papers
2) In house Selection
3) Peer Review
4) Re-sending to Authors
5) Correspondence with Authors
6) Editorial Board
7) Selection
8) Editing and Type Setting
9) Press
10) Dissemination
11) Challenges

32. 1) Call for Papers
 OSSREA’s Vision
 To remain a centre of excellence for the creation and dissemination of
social science knowledge as well as linking social science research
with public policy and practice in Eastern and Southern Africa.
 OSSREA’s Mission
 To enrich an African research tradition that responds to national and
regional challenges and opportunities through building capacity of
and opportunity for social science scholars in Eastern and Southern
Africa.
 OSSREA’s Goals are to:
 Enhance the capacity of and provide opportunities for African scholars
to conduct social science research and promote the expansion of an
African research tradition.
 Enhance the visibility of OSSREA through networking and
disseminating its research outputs.
 Facilitate dialogue, cooperation and collaboration between
researchers, academicians and policy-makers in Africa and strengthen
the interface between public policy and social science research

33. 2) In house Selection
 Guidelines for Selecting Journal Articles for
Reviewers
(Only manuscripts with points 75%
and above qualify to be sent to
reviewers)
ORIGINALITY OF THEME (10%)
THE RESEARCH FRAMEWORK
(85%)
LANGUAGE AND WRITING (5%)

34. 3)Peer Reviewers
a) Data Base
b) Inside the country and outside
c) Conflicting reports then sent to
a third reviewer
d) Portfolio of the Editorial Board

35. 4) Re-sending to Authors
a) Depends on the response of reviewers
b) Depends on how fast authors respond
c) Depends on whether they make the
changes
d) Depends on the time frame
5) Correspondence with Authors
a) Continued till publication
b) Plagiarism Declaration
c) After publication

36. 6) Editorial Board
 Duties and Responsibilities of the
Editorial Board
a) To be fully involved in the selection of
articles and give editorial advice;
b) To ensure the topicality and relevance
of issues raised in the articles
selected;
c) To ensure that the EASSRR meets
international standards; and
d) To suggest ways of improving quality

37. 7) Selection
a) Country Representation
b) Multidisciplinary Topics
c) More than one Author
d) Topicality and Variety
e) Based on the Strategic Plan
f) Gender Representation

38. 8) Editing and Type Setting
a) Maintaining Standards
b) Same Formats and Colours
c) Quality Paper
d) The Chicago Manual of Style
e) ISBN Numbers
f) Publishers Page

39. 9) Press
a) Eclipse Publishers ( Local Publishers)
b) A person in charge of OSSREA publications
c) Meeting deadlines
d) Proofs
e) Off prints
You give local publishing a chance to grow
and you are more in control.
International Publishers
James Currey, International Books,
Fountain Publishers, Palgrave Macmillan,
Routledge-Taylor and Francis group
More time consuming and demanding
 The only problem is that you don’t have
copyright

40. 10) Dissemination
a) AJOL
b) Project Muse
c) EBSCO
d) PROQUEST
e) ABC Publishers for our other
publications
f) Shama Publishers
g) OSSREA Website
h) African Portal
i) 25 African Universities

41.  OPPORTUNITIES
 a) The platforms for publishing increasing,
everyone wants good publishers;
 b) Many universities are coming up in the region
with academics who want to publish;
 c) Many languages;
 d) Theses
 e) Trainings for editors
 f) Trainings for writers

42. 11) Challenges
a) Quality articles
b) Meeting Deadlines
c) Submissions that follow the style
d) Lack of a proper research framework for the social
sciences more of a literature review
e) No proper systematic analysis
f) Recommendations not based on the research
g) Open source
h) Financial transaction-payments, e-books etc.

43. The Way Forward
 Complete Open Access (Digital Library)
 More Languages
 Publishing Theses
 More RSS Feeds and access to information
 Promoting Aggressively
 Networking
 Trainings

44. THANK YOU