GLOBEQUITY

Background and aims

The SSPH+ journals are global in scope and strongly encourage contributions from authors based in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where many of the most important public heath challenges are experienced. Unfortunately, the move to open access (OA) has been problematic for these authors, who often experience difficulties obtaining funding to cover Article Processing Charges (APC) for gold OA publications. The aim of the GLOBEQUITY project was to provide LMIC+ based scientists with equitable access to OA publication of high-quality research papers in the two SSPH+ journals, IJPH and PHR.

The original project ran from 2021 to 2025. We defined LMIC+ countries as all Research4life category A and B countries, plus other selected countries where scientists have limited access to APC funding. Funding for the project was provided by swissuniversities with matched funding from SSPH+. The funding was used to provide authors in qualifying countries with APC waivers or discounts for publications in PHR and IJPH.

Outputs

At the close of the project period in 2025, the GLOBEQUITY program had delivered a total of 125 APC waivers and discounts to LMIC+ author teams. 104 of these waivers and discounts were delivered to authors of papers published in IJPH, and a further 21 were delivered to authors of papers published in PHR. Demand for the waivers was such that we applied for and were granted additional project funding in 2023. The last of the funding was allocated in December 2024, and the journals ceased offering new waivers at this time.

Impact

The project led to a large increase in publications from LMIC+ based authors. During 2021, prior to any manuscripts being published with GLOBEQUITY support, IJPH published 19 LMIC+ manuscripts and PHR published 7, a total of 26. This figure subsequently increased to at least 50 LMIC+ publications for each of the years that the journals offered waivers and discounts via the GLOBEQUITY project.

At the close of the project, we assessed the impact of the funding via a survey of all authors who had applied for GLOBEQUITY funding. The major findings of this survey are as follows:

• 88% of respondents stated that the GLOBEQUITY project helped them to publish in a respected journal
• 85% stated the project removed financial barriers to publishing that they had experienced
• 40% stated that the project helped them to build a network with other researchers internationally
• 20% stated that the project helped them to build a network with other researchers nationally
• 97% believe that full APC waivers for LMIC authors are an effective way to address global inequality in scientific publishing

In sum, the GLOBEQUITY project was highly effective in increasing publications by LMIC+ based authors in the SSPH+ journals and has had a highly positive impact on these scientists and their careers.

Sustainability

The original GLOBEQUITY project ended in 2025 in the absence of continued external funding from swissuniversities or elsewhere. Following the success of the project, however, the SSPH+ journals have committed to continuing a GLOBEQUITY scheme. Each year, a portion of journal revenues will be reserved for use as waivers and discounts for LMIC-based first authors. The exact amount of funding will be determined annually and is dependent upon journal revenues. We also continue to search for additional sources of funding to allow LMIC+ based authors greater access to OA publications in the SSPH+ journals.