UKCDS | DFID latest to announce new open access policy

“DFID have launched a new open access policy that will require research partners to publish their findings for free online, as well as making supporting data available within 12 months of publication. This decision, announced by International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, on 26 July, is the latest in a string of such announcements. The Wellcome Trust, the World Bank and all the UK's seven research councils have recently unveiled new or revamped open access policies for research that they fund. DFID's policy is effective from 1 November 2012, but current researchers are strongly encouraged to adopt the policy wherever they can. UKCDS Director, Dr Andrée Carter, welcomes the announcements: ‘Congratulations to the DFID, the research councils and the Wellcome Trust on this significant policy change, which will make a real difference to research impact in low- and middle-income countries. Open access removes an often serious cost barrier to publishing in peer reviewed papers and also to accessing the latest scientific research. so I am very happy that our members will require the sharing of knowledge funded by them for others to use and build upon. The UKCDS Research Capacity Strengthening Group has made increasing access to research a key priority, and has been instrumental in bringing development issues to the forefront among its members. We are currently preparing to convene key stakeholders for a workshop in preparation for the event Open Access Africa 2012. In the words of one of our BRAVE collaboration champions, Tatek Kebede, national coordinator of the Ethiopian National Youth Coalition on Climate Change: 'Human beings are capable of solving any problem - that is what our scientific evidence so far shows us...  so if you have the skills, please share it. If you have the knowledge, please again share it. Sharing is what makes us human’”.