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Declaration on « Research4Life as an Enabler for the Future of Humanity »

We, the members of the Research4Life partnership, having convened for the first time in Africa at the headquarters of the United Nations Office in Nairobi, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), declare our steadfast commitment to advancing global access to academic and professional peer-reviewed information resources as a critical enabler for the future of humanity.

Preamble

Since its inception in 2001, Research4Life has been dedicated to bridging the information gap by providing free or low-cost online access to more than 200,000 peer-reviewed international scientific and professional journals, books, and databases to institutions in more than 120 countries, areas and territories. Our mission is to empower researchers, educators, policymakers, and students in low- and middle-income countries with the knowledge necessary to drive sustainable development and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Strategic Contributions to Global Development

Empowering Researchers and Institutions

• Research4Life has facilitated access to crucial academic and professional content for over 11,000 institutions, enhancing the quality of teaching, research, and policymaking in health, agriculture, the environment, and other life, physical, and social sciences.
• By providing online access to a vast repository of over 200,000 resources, we support the academic and professional growth of librarians, information specialists, scientists, researchers, and students in low-resource settings.

Accelerating the Achievement of SDGs

• Our initiatives are instrumental in promoting innovation, scientific discovery, and evidence-based policy development, thereby accelerating progress towards the SDGs.
• Through the dissemination of knowledge and training materials, Research4Life empowers communities to address pressing global challenges, including poverty, hunger, health, education, and climate change, and we are proud of the major impact we have had on research outputs in institutions.

Advancing Equity and Inclusivity

• Research4Life is committed to ensuring equitable access to information, reducing disparities between high-resource and low-resource settings, and fostering an inclusive global research community.
• We prioritize the needs of marginalized and underserved populations, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from scientific advancements.

Research4Life: A Pillar of the United Nations’ Vision

Research4Life aligns with the five pillars of the United Nations’ mission:

• Peace and Security: By providing access to knowledge, we promote informed decision-making and conflict resolution, contributing to global peace and stability.
• Humanitarian Action: Our resources support humanitarian efforts by enabling evidence-based responses to crises and emergencies.
• Sustainable Development: We drive sustainable development by empowering researchers and policymakers with the information needed to implement effective, long-term solutions.
• International Rule of Law: Through access to legal information and resources, we uphold the international rule of law and support the development of fair and just societies.
• Human Rights: Research4Life champions the right to information and education, fundamental to the realization of human rights and human dignity.

Commitment to the Future

We now reaffirm our dedication to expanding and enhancing the impact of Research4Life. We commit to:

• Continuously improving access to high-quality information resources.
• Strengthening partnerships with stakeholders, including governments, academic institutions, and private sector entities.
• Advocating for policies that support equitable access to scientific knowledge and the sustainable development of research infrastructures in low- and middle-income countries.

Together, we will continue to harness the power of knowledge to create a better, more equitable, and sustainable future for all humanity.

Issued on this day, 3 October 2024 in Nairobi, Rome and Geneva.

The Research4Life Partnership