The Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM) is pleased to welcome the Open Science Monitoring Initiative (OSMI) as a new Strategic Partner, bringing together two international communities committed to advancing responsible, transparent, and inclusive approaches to Open Science.

OSMI is a global, community-driven initiative that brings together researchers, librarians, research support staff, policymakers, funders, infrastructure providers, publishers, and other stakeholders to develop a shared framework for monitoring Open Science. Its work responds to the growing need for internationally coherent approaches to understanding and assessing progress in Open Science, reflected in major international developments including the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and the 2023 G7 Sendai communiqué.

At the heart of OSMI’s work are the Principles of Open Science Monitoring, which provide a common foundation for responsible monitoring practices. The initiative supports their practical implementation through technical recommendations and promotes approaches that are transparent, inclusive, and sensitive to different regional and thematic contexts. Importantly, OSMI advocates for monitoring that supports meaningful understanding and improvement rather than inappropriate rankings or assessments.

Initiated by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Université de Lorraine, Inria, UNESCO, SPARC Europe, PLOS, and the Berlin Institute of Health, OSMI is now led by an International Steering Board. Through its collaborative working groups and growing international community, the initiative is helping build a sustainable global ecosystem for Open Science monitoring.

The new Strategic Partnership with FORM creates opportunities to connect OSMI’s international work with the evolving Open Science landscape across the Middle East and North Africa. Through knowledge exchange, community engagement, and collaboration, the partnership will support greater dialogue around how Open Science progress can be monitored in ways that reflect regional contexts while remaining connected to international principles and practices.

FORM looks forward to working with OSMI and exploring opportunities to bring perspectives from the MENA research community into wider international conversations around Open Science monitoring.

If you would like to learn more about FORM membership and opportunities for collaboration, you can find further information here.