The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the collaboration of the Information Training & Outreach Centre for Africa (ITOCA), are supporting African research institutions to enhance the visibility, accessibility, and global integration of their agricultural knowledge through a dedicated capacity- programme under FAO AGRIS.

Africa is rich in agricultural research that is essential for driving food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development. However, despite producing a wealth of valuable data, many research institutions across the continent face persistent technical, infrastructural, and policy-related barriers that limit their ability to share and standardize this data at the global level.

These challenges not only reduce international awareness of regional innovations but also hinder cross-border collaboration, limit citations, and slow the uptake of local solutions into global research and development frameworks.

To address these gaps, FAO AGRIS launched a structured capacity-development initiative built around a series of thematic webinars and tailored outreach support. The sessions strengthen both technical and strategic competencies related to open access and research visibility, covering areas such as metadata standards, OAI-PMH compliance, and repository optimization.

Delivered in English and one in Swahili, the webinars have reduced linguistic and technical barriers that often hinder participation in global knowledge exchange. By combining expert presentations with peer-to-peer learning, they create an interactive environment where participants gain practical skills, share institutional experiences, and build confidence in managing digital repositories.

Beyond technical improvements, the initiative has helped institutions review internal workflows, strengthen data governance, and enhance coordination across departments. The focus on metadata quality has improved how research outputs are categorized, stored, and referenced. Alignment with FAO’s global frameworks has facilitated greater interoperability with international databases and open science initiatives.

The impact extends beyond skills to long-term organizational transformation. Many participating institutions now recognize the value of open data as a shared public good and see themselves as part of a broader network of agricultural knowledge providers. This shift from individual capacity-development to institutional resilience has enhanced motivation and fostered partnerships.

The FAO AGRIS capacity-development programme illustrates how an inclusive and iterative approach to training can connect local expertise with global visibility, reinforcing Africa's central role in shaping the future of agricultural research and innovation.