Barriers to global engagement for African researchers: A position paper from the Alliance for Medical Research in Africa (AMedRA)

Abstract

According to a previous study, African researchers are over three times more likely to encounter visa-related obstacles compared to their North American and European counterparts [7]. [...]their participation rates are much higher, leading to greater knowledge exchange, more networking opportunities, and access to the latest information on current health issues. The issue is not just about missing out on conferences but also about missing out on critical opportunities for professional growth, knowledge exchange, and contribution to global scientific discourse. [...]the isolation caused by these barriers delays the progress of African research, limiting the continent’s ability to influence global health strategies and contribute solutions that are contextually relevant to the African experience. [...]numerous African researchers opt to remain in Western countries for several years after their formal training, navigating the lengthy and complex process of obtaining permanent residency or citizenship.

African researchers continue to face numerous barriers that limit the global dissemination and advancement of their research. These include high open-access publication fees, requirements for publishing in high-impact journals, inability to attend or host international conferences, and limited access to published papers and resources. In this viewpoint, we focus on the specific challenge of attending international scientific conferences hosted in high-income settings and aim to propose practical solutions to address this inequity. The related barriers include visa-related difficulties and prohibitive travel expenses (e.g. non-reimbursable high visa fees, flight tickets, accommodation and subsistence, and conference registration costs).

The ‘indirect’ rationale justifying the need to have African researchers ‘at the table’

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has undoubtedly underscored the need for international collaborations among researchers worldwide, particularly in the health sector. Such collaborations are essential for combining resources, sharing expertise, and effectively addressing global health challenges through collective knowledge and coordinated efforts in a time-efficient manner. International conferences are key in this process, offering a platform for researchers from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas, share findings, and collectively develop strategies for tackling challenging health issues.

The overall visa landscape

Despite relatively higher disease burden in several low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs) [1], high-profile conferences, such as the World Health Summit, the International Society of Global Health Conference, and the International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference, are usually hosted in high-income countries. These HIC host nations commonly have mutual visa waiver agreements with other HICs, but such agreements are rarely extended to LMICs, including African nations (Table 1) [2−5]. This situation leaves researchers from LMICs facing the significant challenge of securing visas for travel.

Table 1

Visa-waiver countries for the USA, UK, and the Schengen region

USA [2]	UK [3,4]	Schengen [5]
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom	Australia, EU countries, USA, Iceland, Canada, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates*	Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela†

*Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates had a waiver of GBP 30.

†Seychelles and Mauritius are the only African countries in the programme.

An overview of visa-waiver programmes for top health conference destinations – USA, UK, Canada, and the Schengen region (including European countries such as France, Germany, and Spain) – shows that no African country is included in the visa-waiver programmes for the USA and UK. Notably, only two African countries, Mauritius and Seychelles, are part of the Schengen visa-waiver programme [6].

Detailing visa-related challenges among African researchers

Most African researchers, whether conducting research within the African continent or abroad, face significant challenges in physically attending these scientific gatherings. These barriers include the stress and uncertainties associated with obtaining visas, in addition to financial challenges. The visa application process, often with a processing period of several weeks or months or even up to a year, is lengthy, preventing African researchers from making timely decisions to attend international conferences. Consequently, their participation in these scientific events largely depends on the visa-issuing authorities of the host countries. According to a previous study, African researchers are over three times more likely to encounter visa-related obstacles compared to their North American and European counterparts [7]. This issue was observed during the 2022 IAS conference, where numerous visa delays and denials by Canadian authorities prevented many registered delegates, including IAS staff, from participating [8]. A survey by the RAND Corporation for the Wellcome Trust identified the duration of visa requests, complexity of application forms, and application costs as the primary complaints among African and Asian researchers [7].

The negative impact of visa-related barriers

A systematic review has reported the underrepresentation of participants from LMICs, which include all 54 African countries, in global health conferences [9]. Persistent visa-related challenges are likely to worsen this underrepresentation, resulting in missed opportunities for African researchers to enhance their knowledge, present their research on a global platform, and establish valuable networking connections with other international experts. In contrast, researchers from countries included in visa-waiver programmes offered by host nations experience fewer barriers to attendance and thus benefit more from these opportunities. Consequently, their participation rates are much higher, leading to greater knowledge exchange, more networking opportunities, and access to the latest information on current health issues. This disparity in participation and opportunity has been referred to as ‘conference inequity’ [9].

The burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa remains a major challenge. NCDs are responsible for 41 million deaths annually, accounting for 74% of all deaths worldwide. Of those, 17 million people die from NCDs before reaching the age of 70, with 86% of these premature deaths occurring in LMICs. In fact, 77% of all NCD-related deaths happen in these regions [10]. The growing prevalence of chronic diseases, coupled with the existing burden of infectious diseases in the African continent, underscores the necessity for African researchers to enhance their skills and integrate into established global networks. This integration would enable the African scientific community to present its research findings and interventional approaches for improving health at the international level.

However, several challenges must be addressed to achieve this, including visa application protocols and associated uncertainties, the rising visa fees, flight ticket costs, and registration fees, all of which are further complicated by fluctuating local exchange rates. Among these challenges, visa processing remains the most critical issue.

Broadening the scope beyond conference attendance: Addressing global barriers to mobility and collaboration

To address the broader issue beyond just the challenges of attending international scientific conferences, it is essential to consider the full scope of barriers that African researchers face when attempting to collaborate globally. The constraints extend well beyond the logistics of conference attendance and include significant obstacles to international travel, research collaboration, and access to global research networks. These barriers are not just administrative or financial, but are deeply rooted in systemic inequities that disproportionately affect researchers from LMICs. The issue is not just about missing out on conferences but also about missing out on critical opportunities for professional growth, knowledge exchange, and contribution to global scientific discourse.

Moreover, the isolation caused by these barriers delays the progress of African research, limiting the continent’s ability to influence global health strategies and contribute solutions that are contextually relevant to the African experience. The global research community thereby loses out on the unique insights that African researchers provide, especially in fields where Africa bears a disproportionate share of the global burden and has developed extensive expertise, such as infectious diseases and emerging NCDs.

To truly bridge this gap, efforts must focus on creating more inclusive and accessible pathways for African researchers to travel, collaborate, and contribute on a global scale. This includes advocating for more equitable visa policies, securing funding for travel and collaboration, and fostering an international research environment that recognises and actively mitigates these barriers. Addressing the broader issue of mobility and collaboration will ensure that African researchers are fully integrated into the global research ecosystem, enriching it with their perspectives and expertise.

The issue of citizenship and brain drain

A persistent and often overlooked consequence of the stringent visa and mobility barriers faced by African researchers is the forced prolongation of their stay in Western countries to secure citizenship. This situation arises because, after completing their studies or research training abroad, many African citizens find themselves in a vulnerable position. Returning to their home countries often means giving up the opportunity to apply for permanent residency or citizenship in the host country, which would facilitate easier future travels and career opportunities.

Consequently, numerous African researchers opt to remain in Western countries for several years after their formal training, navigating the lengthy and complex process of obtaining permanent residency or citizenship. This extended stay is not merely a personal choice, but rather a strategic decision to avoid the recurring visa-related challenges that significantly limit their ability to participate in global scientific engagements.

However, this decision comes at a substantial cost to the African continent. The delayed return of highly skilled professionals intensifies the already critical issue of brain drain, wherein talented and educated individuals are lost to nations that offer more favourable conditions for professional growth and mobility. The resultant effect is a weakening of the research and development capabilities within African nations, which are in urgent need of these skilled individuals to address pressing local and regional health challenges. Moreover, the prolonged absence of these researchers diminishes their immediate contribution to the academic and scientific landscape in Africa, creating a gap in mentorship for the next generation of African scientists. It also delays the potential for establishing robust, locally-led research initiatives that are crucial for Africa’s sustainable development.

Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach. Host countries should consider policy reforms that facilitate the return of African researchers by granting them the flexibility to engage in international research collaborations without the fear of losing residency rights. Additionally, African governments and institutions should provide stronger incentives and support systems to encourage the return of their diaspora, ensuring that the skills and knowledge gained abroad are reinvested into the continent's development.

Ultimately, the goal should be to create an environment where African researchers can thrive both at home and abroad, without being forced into difficult decisions that contribute to the brain drain phenomenon. This requires global recognition of the unique challenges they face and concerted efforts to remove the barriers that drive them away from their home countries.