Institute for African Alternatives journal: New Agenda

Submitted by Jean_F on Wed, 2025-11-05 10:34

The Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA), based in Cape Town, South Africa, has initiated a project to improve the quality and sustainability of its flagship Diamond open access journal, New Agenda.

The focus of New Agenda encompasses South African, African and international developments in social and economic research and policy.

The project will improve New Agenda’s digital capacity, profile and quality. Traditionally the journal has published both activist commentary and academic research, but since late 2022 the aim has been to enhance academic content. The project will improve the journal’s visibility, reach and impact, enabling it to expand its target audience, including reaching the emerging generation of academics. As a result, the journal will contribute to developing creative discourse around innovative social and economic policy and possibilities, thereby empowering and mobilizing readers within the academy, civil society and government.

The journal has recently begun using Open Journal Systems software for managing and publishing scholarly journals online, and the editorial team needs training to use the platform effectively. The project will also upgrade the journal’s website and use of social media, and train staff to maintain an improved digital profile.

The project is one of 30 that have received grant support through a three-year project to strengthen no-fee open access publishing in Africa implemented by EIFL, AJOL (African Journals Online) and WACREN (the West and Central African Research and Education Network), with funding from Wellcome.