Tanzania Takes Bold Step Towards Strengthening Scholarly Publishing with Forthcoming National Guidelines

Dar-es-Salaam, The Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), in collaboration with the Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), the University of Dar-es-Salaam(UDSM), and the Public Library of Science (PLOS), convened a Workshop for Journal Editors at the University of Dar-es-Salaam’s Confucius Institute.

This workshop built upon the outcomes of the Tanzania Open Science Dialogue held on 15th February 2023, hosted by Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), Public Library of Science (PLOS) and the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), brought together diverse stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges of embedding Open Science in Tanzania’s research ecosystem. A key outcome of that dialogue was the recommendation to develop a guideline framework that would help policymakers, institutions, and researchers better understand and strengthen the country’s scholarly publishing landscape.

A glimpse of some of the virtual workshop attendees

The National Journal Editors’ Workshop represented a critical step in this ongoing process, focusing on aligning editorial practices with national priorities for transparency, quality, and accessibility in research. It also provided a platform for editors to contribute directly to shaping the Tanzania National Guidelines for the Recognition and Promotion of Scientific Journals, which are expected to be formally launched in October 2025.

The workshop brought together senior leaders from the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) and the University of Dar-es-Salaam, alongside experts from global research and publishing infrastructure organizations, including African Journals Online (AJOL), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Crossref, ORCID, and PLOS.

Carefully selected based on the priority areas identified by local editors, shared best practices, reflections, and lessons learned from their expertise in different aspects of the publishing process, the presenters highlighted the critical role of persistent identifiers, indexing services, open licensing, and research integrity in aligning Tanzanian journals with international standards. These discussions not only addressed key challenges facing local editors but also created valuable opportunities for them to connect directly with experts and establish new points of collaboration to strengthen their journals.

Built on survey results, the workshop gave editors space to share challenges—such as limited funding, lack of reviewers, and low incentives—while exploring solutions like open access, regional collaboration, and continuous publishing. The discussions underscored that advancing Tanzania’s publishing ecosystem requires not just policies and infrastructure, but also the early inclusion of local actors and practical support to strengthen journals and boost research visibility.

“Visible research is more likely to influence policy and practice, supporting authorship growth and also strengthening the journal`s reputation.”
Joy Owango, Executive Director, Training Centre in Communication (TCC AFRICA)

“The quality of publication depends on the editors, so if you editors can emphasize the quality of submissions, I think we will have quality research which would be useful to inform the policy in the country.”
Dr. Philbert Luhunga, Chief Research Officer at The Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH)

Participants emphasized that national guidelines must be accompanied by concrete support mechanisms to help local editors meet required standards. Above all, the dialogue highlighted the power of collective knowledge and expertise, showing that when shared, it can accelerate the adoption of open science, strengthen scholarly publishing, and enhance the global visibility of Tanzania’s research.

Access the recording here