On March 7th, 2025, key stakeholders convened at Zest Garden Lodge in Liwonde, Machinga, to discuss the integration and sustainability of institutional repositories, the role of DataCite, and the establishment of a National Repository. The meeting brought together representatives from selected public universities, particularly ICT professionals, librarians, and researchers, with the aim of enhancing research visibility and accessibility.

The meeting was opened by our CEO, Mr. Solomon Dindi, who provided an overview of the organization’s role in facilitating affordable data access for Malawian universities. “Established in 2005 with the support of MALICO, MAREN has since secured World Bank funding to implement key digital infrastructure projects, including Eduroam and Edugain, with five universities already adopting Edugain. Our significant partnership with DataCite has positioned Malawi’s research for global discoverability,” said Dindi.

Representatives from Mzuzu University – MZUNI, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences – MUBAS, and University of Malawi – UNIMA shared their experiences with institutional repositories, highlighting both challenges and opportunities. Common challenges included outdated hardware, insufficient computing power, limited financial resources, poor connectivity, and restricted bandwidth. Despite these challenges, the institutions have made considerable progress in establishing and maintaining their repositories.

A key outcome of the discussions was the agreement to establish a National Repository as a pilot project, leveraging efforts under the DataCite grant. This pilot phase will serve as a foundational step, allowing stakeholders to assess and refine integration strategies before scaling up. Once successfully implemented, the initiative will be expanded to integrate more institutions, ultimately enabling global discoverability of research outputs from Malawi.

Dr. Dorothy Eneya from MUBAS highlighted the importance of collaboration in repository development, stating, “we are at different levels of development of repositories. Working together, there is a lot to tap from each other and make research more discoverable and accessible.”

Despite strong support for the initiative, challenges remain, particularly in technical expertise. Dr. Eneya pointed out, “the main problem we are anticipating is personnel with adequate skills to manage the repository. However, if we work together, this can be overcomed because we will collaborate and push each other.”

To address the challenges, the following strategies were proposed: developing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for institutional collaboration; appointing a technical focal person from each institution to oversee repository integration; leveraging MAREN’s partnership with DataCite to enhance research discoverability and rankings; positioning NCST as a key stakeholder in repository governance; and establishing a steering committee with Directors of Research (DORs) to oversee repository management.

The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the CEO, who expressed gratitude to all participants for their contributions. Acknowledging the importance of collaboration, the CEO emphasized that the successful implementation of a National Repository will require sustained commitment from all stakeholders. As Malawi moves toward a unified research repository, this initiative promises to enhance research visibility, improve university rankings, and foster greater collaboration among academic institutions.