FORMATION OF AN AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF EDITORS OF SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

African scholarly journals have expanded in number and scope over the past twenty years and are increasingly providing regional and international exposure for the research and development on the continent. Projects, such the African Journals OnLine (AJOL) project of INASP, have contributed a great deal to this dissemination of African scholarship. Additionally, there have been a number of initiatives to improve quality, output, usage and management of scholarly journals in Africa but there is scope for a great deal of improvement.

One of the primary ways in which this can be achieved is through capacity building and networking amongst editors on the continent. To this end, a proposal to form an Association of African Editors was formulated and sent out to journals on the AJOL list. Editors were asked to circulate this to other editors in their countries. Enthusiastic responses were received from about half the contacted editors/publishers.

A formal working group to develop the association was set up, comprising J Hussein (Zimbabwe Science News), R. Oniang'o (African J of Food, Agric, Nutrition & Development), F Oyekanmi (CODESRIA), T Assefa (Publications officer of OSSREA) , O Omoregie ( J of Aquatic Science) , E le Roux (African Insight), A Omigbodun (Trop J of Obstetrics & Gynaecology), U Yakubu ( J of Cultural Studies); M Horsfall Jnr ( J of Applied Science & Environmental Management), A Ngowi (Botswana J of Technology) and J. Limson ( Science in Africa) was created. Prof Ruth Oniang'o has kindly agreed to be the co-ordinator of the working group.

A draft constitution has now been drawn up and a logo designed for the Association. The working group is currently sourcing funding for an inaugural meeting of the association, which is likely to be combined with a INASP workshop in East Africa in mid-2003. Other activities are planned including the setting up of a: email discussion group, a website, a newsletter, workshops and training/development resources linkage with other editorial associations (eg the European Association of Science Editors - EASE)

Those interested in obtaining further information should contact Prof Ruth Oniang'o Email:oniango@iconnect.co.ke