VISIBILITY ANALYSIS OF AFRICAN INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORIES FOR GLOBAL IMPACT

Purpose: Institutional repositories (IRs) serve as vital platforms for showcasing African research, intellectual contributions, and development, helping to elevate them to a global audience. However, the effectiveness of IRs in achieving this goal heavily relies on their visibility, which is notably low in the case of African repositories. This paper explores the development trajectory of IRs within selected universities across various sub-regions of Africa to uncover their global impact. Design/Method/Approach: The study is a case study focusing on the four regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Using mixed methods, a visibility analysis was conducted using interviews and a questionnaire to elicit information from the IR managers. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis were utilised. Findings: The findings indicate that the content of the Institutional Repositories (IRs) is comprehensive and supported by a deposit policy. While most materials are open access, some are embargoed. The IRs maintain high metadata quality to enhance the reliability, discoverability, and usability of research data. All platforms support Dublin Core metadata, can export records in formats like XML or MARC, and adhere to metadata harvesting protocols such as OAI-PMH. Despite challenges like insufficient researcher awareness, limited infrastructure, and financial constraints, the repositories are promoting global engagement with African scholarship and fostering collaboration beyond national borders. Originality/Value: This study highlights the importance of African repositories in boosting the global visibility of scholarly communication. It reveals the underutilisation of Institutional Repositories (IRs) in Africa, which could enhance the dissemination of research outputs, given the large population of the continent. The analysis of several Sub-Saharan African IRS emphasises the need for institutions to develop and maintain these repositories to improve global visibility of their academic contributions. Implication: African institutional repositories are increasingly enhancing the global visibility of research from the continent, despite facing challenges. They offer open access to valuable local knowledge and help preserve institutional memory. To maximise their impact, it's essential to advocate for improved visibility and interoperability. Keywords: Africa, Institutional Repository, IRs, Visibility Analysis, Global Impact