OSC launches the Greater South Information System in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, February 14, 2024 (F BC) – The Secretary-General of the Organization of Southern Cooperation (OSC), Sheikh Manssour Bin Mussallam, launched Tuesday the Greater South Information System (GreSIS) digital platform during a ceremony held at the Ethiopian Science Museum in Addis Ababa.

The launch of the GreSIS digital platform marks a pivotal milestone in democratising access to knowledge across the Global South and was graced by Ethiopian high level government officials including State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, State Minister of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia, Dr Bayissa Bedada, officials from Member States, Ambassadors of Member States of the Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC), educational institutions, CSOs, development agencies, intergovernmental agencies, researchers, instructors and students.

The Greater South Information System (GreSIS) stands as a ground-breaking digital, open-access, and collaborative hub of academic and endogenous knowledge. Developed by the Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC), GreSIS aims to democratise access to, and the production of, knowledge in the Global South. It is a tool aimed at fostering collaboration and engagement among educational institutions, researchers, instructors, students, government officials, and Indigenous people’s organisations.

During the event, GreSIS platform was introduced to Member States, Associate Members, and key stakeholders. A demonstration session showcased the features, capabilities, and benefits of the digital platform which currently hosts large number of publications from diverse sources including academic, non-academic and endogenous knowledge sources. The platform is expected to grow exponentially in the immediate future to cater for hundreds of thousands of publications which will be open to subscribed individuals, institutions and entities.

The Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC) was established on 29 January 2020 by countries and organisations from across the Global South at the International Summit on Balanced and Inclusive Education held in the Republic of Djibouti. As the first intergovernmental organisation of and by the Greater South, the OSC acts as an instrument of intellectual, technical and financial cooperation and solidarity between its Member States as well as its Associate Members in the pursuit of a Third Way of Development – from the South, for Humanity.