ITOCA: Fiesole Retreat workshop 

Information Training & Outreach Center for Africa (ITOCA) is committed to empowering the African research community by providing training and support for library and information professionals. Through innovative programs and partnerships, ITOCA aims to bridge knowledge gaps and foster professional development across the continent. With this partnership, ITOCA and the Elsevier Foundation work together to elevate early-career librarians’ roles, contributing to societal impact goals and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

What We Do 

This partnership focuses on supporting early-career librarians from low- and middle-income countries by providing them access to the prestigious Fiesole Retreat conference. The initiative aims to address the underrepresentation of librarians from these regions and nurture diverse perspectives essential for advancing the SDGs and achieving greater equity in research ecosystems. With a dedicated workshop, we strive to stimulate dialogue among early-career librarians, and leading library and information industry participants. We focus on: 

• Offering travel grants to African librarians for the Fiesole retreat. 

• Creating a dedicated workshop for early-career librarians from the global South. 

• Providing networking, mentoring and competence-building opportunities. 

How We Deliver 

Our approach ensures that early-career librarians gain valuable knowledge, skills, and networks through targeted activities: 

• Travel Grants: Providing financial support for underrepresented librarians to attend the Fiesole Retreat conference. 

• Capacity Building Workshop: Hosting a dedicated workshop titled “Empowering Early Career Research Librarians from the Global South,” featuring hands-on sessions to develop essential competences and innovative thinking. 

• By combining these structured learning activities with ongoing evaluations, our partnership aims to empower early career librarians to apply their new skills and knowledge effectively, enhancing their contributions to their respective research communities and advancing the SDGs.