Sponsors

African Books Collective

African Books Collective is non-profit organisation, founded and governed by African publishers. Its mission is to disseminate works of African scholars and writers, worldwide. Distribution in North America is through Michigan State University Press.

ABC markets and distributes titles from 124 indigenous African publishers in 21 African countries: scholarly, literary and children’s titles. 1,700 titles, mostly Print-on-Demand (POD), and largely English-language, are available for immediate supply. Select titles are set up as e-books.

Titles are marketed through catalogues, exhibits, e-marketing, and uploads to international bibliographic databases. Additionally POD titles are marketed through digital wholesale channels, spreading information widely over the Internet. www.africanbookscollective.com

APNET

Established in 1992, the African Publishers Network (APNET) is a pan-African, non-profit network with a secretariat in Accra, Ghana. APNET brings together national publishers' associations from 46 member countries, and publishing communities to strengthen indigenous publishing throughout Africa.

APNET's vision is the transformation of African peoples through books, and its mission is to strengthen African publishing through networking, training, trade promotion, and advocacy, in partnership with other stakeholders, to fully meet Africa's need for quality, relevant books.

In its Strategic Plan 2006 - 2009, APNET will utilize its membership network its website, and the African Publishing Review (APR) to become the hub for information exchange. This is intended to become the nerve centre of African publishing.

APNET's overall objective is to ensure that the development of indigenous publishing proceeds smoothly, both materially and structurally. To achieve this, APNET will also offer training, intellectual property workshops, trade promotions, and will plan and organise book publishing related events and conferences. www.african-publishers.net

Book Aid International

Book Aid International is a UK-registered charity, established in 1954 in response to the huge demand for books and journals overseas, where education is the route out of poverty.

Book Aid International:

• Sends over half a million books and journals each year to partners in 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and Palestine
• Works with local partners to ensure resources go where they are needed most
• Supports the local book chain through African book purchase schemes
• Builds local capacity, strengthening the books and information sector in sub-Saharan Africa
• Campaigns for change, to ensure government commitment to the development of libraries and literate environments

We send books in the subjects our partners request - 80% are donated by the UK book trade, so the quality is as new. Our partners include libraries, schools,colleges, refugee camps, hospitals, prisons, and community centres. www.bookaid.org

CODESRIA, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa is headquartered in Dakar Senegal. It was established in 1973 as an independent Pan-African research organisation with a primary focus on the social sciences, broadly defined. It is recognised not only as the pioneer African social research organisation but also as the apex non-governmental centre of social knowledge production on the continent. www.codesria.org

Fahamu/Pambazuka

Fahamu (the word Fahamu means "understanding" or "consciousness" in Kiswahili) has a vision of the world where people organise to emancipate themselves from all forms of oppression, recognise their social responsibilities, respect each other’s differences, and realise their full potential.

Fahamu supports the struggle for human rights and social justice in Africa by:

• Supporting social justice advocacy through the innovative use of information and communication technologies
• Stimulating debate, discussion and analysis
• Distributing news and information
• Developing training materials and running distance-learning courses

Fahamu focuses primarily on Africa, although we work with others to support the global movement for human rights and social justice.

Fahamu comprises a small core of highly skilled and experienced staff based in Oxford (UK), Cape Town (South Africa) and in Nairobi (Kenya). They also have a network of Associates located in Africa, UK and elsewhere. Fahamu also works with a wide range of international partners. Their work is made possible through the commitment of volunteers and interns and through generous support of funders and by individual donations. www.fahamu.org

INASP

INASP (The International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications) is run with a small number of full-time staff based in Oxford, UK, working with, and through, partners and networks in over one hundred countries.

INASP's work focuses on communication, knowledge and networks, with particular emphasis on the needs of developing and emerging countries.

We respond to their national priorities for:

• Access to national and international scholarly information and knowledge
• Capacities to use, create, manage and communicate scholarly information and knowledge via appropriate ICTs
• National, regional and international co-operation, networking and knowledge exchange

We also advise and advocate for improved policy and practice in achieving sustainable and equitable development through effective communication, knowledge and networks. www.inasp.info

The Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT) is a coalition of the major stakeholders in the Nigerian book sector, comprising the Nigerian Publishers Association, Nigerian Book Foundation, Nigerian Booksellers Association, Association of Nigerian Printers, Nigerian Library Association, Association of Nigerian Authors and the Association of Non-Fiction and Academic Authors of Nigeria. NBFT is the organiser of the annual Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF) and National Book Fairs in Abuja, Enugu and Ife. www.nibfng.org

The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) is a not-for-profit professional body of publishers in Nigeria and it is the only collective voice of the publishers in Nigeria. It disseminates relevant and current information about the state and trend of publishing in Nigeria and overseas. These include national and international book fairs, copyright summits, book development conferences and seminars, international workshops, government policies, book review exercises by state governments, anti-piracy measures, etc. Access is also provided by NPA to reference materials for research in the areas of book publishing. The NPA also provides sound professional training to members and non-members on publishing. www.nigerianpublishers.org

Practical Action Publishing

Practical Action Publishing is a not-for-profit publishing company working in alignment with the international development work pursued by the Practical Action group. Since 1974 we have published and distributed books and journals of relevance to the work of development practitioners worldwide. www.practicalactionpublishing.org

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