A review of open access policy options for development research funders

"Openly accessible research is critical to advancing global development and open access policies are the main tool available to research funders to ensure access. This policy paper reviews open access policy options for development research funders, providing evidence in the areas of Access, Reuse, and Costs. The analysis considers policy implementation, value for money, and impacts on Global South researchers and institutions. To contextualise future policy development, we assessed the landscape of open access publishing over the last decade. Looking at research articles from a sample of 21 research funders with an Official Development Assistance (ODA) or development component to their portfolio, and the same funders’ current open access policies, we found: • A decline in open access in recent years within our sample of research funders. This is aligned with trends across all research (Herb, 2025). This suggests there is more research funders can do to support Open Access, both within their research grants and across the research system. • Sampled funders spent between US$74 million and US$81 million in 2023 on Article Processing Charges (APCs) to support open access publishing. This is a considerable sum which, alongside a decline in Open Access, brings into question the value for money of the current pay-to-publish open access model. • Eleven of the 21 funders mandate both immediate access to published articles and open licensing. This shows that current open access policies could be stronger on both Access and Reuse. • Over half of the sampled funders (11) cover APCs for all journal types. Five funders only cover APCs for fully open access journals, with the Gates Foundation being unique (within the sample) in no longer covering APCs. This shows stark differences in the extent to which funders are willing to support open access publication costs. ..."