We are energized to go exploring when we encounter a resource that opens new landscapes, especially on a global level.
So we have indeed been exploring the recently released UNESCO Global Open Access Portal (GOAP).
GOAP “…presents a current snapshot of the status of Open Access (OA) to scientific information around the world.
“For countries that have been more successful implementing Open Access, the portal highlights critical success factors and aspects of the enabling environment. For countries and regions that are still in the early stages of Open Access development, the portal identifies key players, potential barriers and opportunities.”
Funded by the Governments of Colombia, Denmark, Norway, and the United States Department of State, the Global Open Access Portal provides an overview of the framework surrounding Open Access in UNESCO Member States by focusing on:
– the critical success factors for effectively implementing Open Access;
– each country’s strengths and opportunities for further developments;
– where mandates for institutional deposits and funding organization have been put into place;
– potential partners at the national and regional level; and
– funding, advocacy, and support organizations throughout the world.
The portal provides is NOT designed to provide an inventory of repositories, OA journals, and other associated initiatives.
We have been looking in particular at a number of entries for developing nations, and are delighted at the status of the OA movement in many of them. The country level record are well documented and apparently “candid” in their assessment of the state-of-play.
I have also just registered for the WSIS OA Knowledge Community
described as a Community of Practice (CoP) within the platform of WSIS Knowledge Communities. The Open Access community in the platform “enables Open Access stakeholders to discuss and debate issues of common interests, and develop consensus around various issues.”
I will report further as my exploration continues…but much impressed by this important initiative.
David R Curry
8 December 2011