The Open Access Repository Capacity Strengthening Programme for Africa (OA-RCSP) aims to facilitate access and use of knowledge by strengthening the capacity of academic and research institutions in Africa to establish open access digital repositories. The program focuses on developing digital repositories, library automation, content management systems, and digitization of heritage materials. It produces an Institutional Repository Toolkit, training modules, an online knowledge sharing platform, workshops, and communities around related tools to strengthen capacities. The collaborative program is led by KIT Information & Library Services and the Association of African Universities, with contributions from universities, library consortia, and other organizations across Africa.

1. Open Access Repository Capacity Strengthening
Programme for Africa (OA-RCSP)
www.ir-africa.info
Peter Hessels

2. KIT Information & Library Services - International
•International information services
•Capacity strengthening in developing countries
Capacity strengthening and research project focus on:
• Digital repositories (theme of the
presentation)
• Library automation
• Content Management systems
• Digitization and heritage materials

3. Open Access Repository Capacity Strengthening
Programme for Africa (OA-RCSP)
A collaborative programme between;
&
www.kit.nl www.aau.org
Other collaborators;
• Individual institutions e.g. KNUST; UoG; UEM, etc.
• National Consortia e.g. CARLIGH/Ghana, CEARL/Ethiopia, ZULC/Zimbabwe,
etc.
• Regional and International organizations e.g. INASP, eIFL, IDS, UNESCO etc.
Overall objective
Facilitating access and use of knowledge, through strengthening the capacity of
academic and research institutions in Africa to establish open access digital repositories.

4. Programme's Key activities & products
• Toolkit
• Training modules
• Knowledge sharing platform
• Training and advocacy workshops
• Building communities around related products
• Resource mobilization/ fundraising
Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.kit.nl

5. The IR Toolkit 1.0
Is the collection of guidelines, tools and other resources,
particularly in an academic and research institutions’
environment in Africa, on how to;
• Conceptualize;
• Start;
• Implement; and
• Operate
an Institutional repository
…Development process
•Community based development, KIT as coordinator of
versions.
•Individuals and organization across the globe have
contributed to the development of the toolkit, particularly
from Africa.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.kit.nl

6. Access and dissemination
• The IR toolkit is open for everyone to access and use.
• Open to everyone to contribute and improve it further…
into IR Toolkit 2.0
Logical steps addressed within the Toolkit
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4
Initiation Planning Implementation Management
Copyright management
Case building Staffing Installation
phase Promotion
Policies
Choice Matrix
Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.kit.nl

7. Knowledge sharing platform
• It is – www.ir-africa.info
• Online facilitation of exchange and use of IR knowledge
• Programme information dissemination channel
Key features
• IR toolkit online version
• Resources
• Forums Knowledge sharing and Networking
• Who is Who – Online community
Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.kit.nl

8. Training and Advocacy activities
Examples
• Sensitization / Advocacy workshop – Accra, Ghana
• FOSS tools for knowledge sharing seminar – Dar es salaam, Tanzania
• IR advocacy and technical training – Dar es salaam, Tanzania
• IR technical training – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.kit.nl

9. Community building - Stakeholders’ engagement
• Bring together group of interested individuals around product
development eg. Toolkit, LiveCDs etc
• Contribute to toolkit development
Work with consortia in African countries;
•On need and gap analysis
• Develop collaborative projects.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.kit.nl

10. Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.kit.nl

11. Peter Hessels
KIT ILS
P.Hessels@kit.nl
?
T +31 (0)20 568 8535