Ethiopian Journals Online EJOL

History and Founding

Ethiopian Journals Online (EJOL) was launched in 2013 as an open access publishing platform hosted by Addis Ababa University (AAU), with foundational support from EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries). The platform was developed to increase the visibility of Ethiopian academic journals internationally and to provide a sustainable, no-fee open access infrastructure for locally published journals. Its creation was a product of broader advocacy for open access in Ethiopia that began in earnest around 2008, when EIFL and the Consortium of Ethiopian Academic and Research Libraries (CEARL) organized the country's first national open access workshop.

Platform and Collections

EJOL operates using the Open Journal Systems (OJS) software and provides hosting, technical support, and guidance to Ethiopian journals. As of 2023, the platform hosts approximately 34 open access journals covering a wide range of disciplines, including education, social sciences, humanities, health, engineering, law, and development studies. Key journals include the Ethiopian Journal of Education (founded 1967), the Ethiopian Journal of the Social Sciences and Humanities (EJOSSAH), and the Ethiopian Journal of Development Research. EJOL has also facilitated adoption of open access policies at four Ethiopian universities: Addis Ababa University, Jimma University, Arba Minch University, and Hawassa University.

National Open Access Policy

EJOL's growth contributed to Ethiopia's adoption of a national open access policy by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in June 2019, which mandates open access to all published articles, theses, dissertations, and research data resulting from publicly funded research at over 47 universities. The platform is aligned with the National Digital Repository of Ethiopia (NADRE), launched in 2020 with repositories at 12 universities.

Access and Usage

All journals on EJOL are freely accessible online without charge. Researchers, students, and the public can browse and download articles through the platform at ejol.aau.edu.et. EJOL provides training for journal editors, reviewers, and authors on the full use of OJS features for editorial management and peer review.