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African challenges to western-centric metrics in evaluating international research collaboration
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DOI：10.1080/07294360.2025.2564980.png)
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Abstract
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The western-centric metrics on which international evaluations of research collaboration hinge reinforce a culture of academic and epistemic dependence that sidelines African scholars and their knowledge systems. Such metrics, including bibliometric indices and citation counts, favor Global North standards and often ignore those of African epistemologies based on relational ethics and knowledge production in the community. This systemic structure perpetuates structural inequalities where African researchers are relegated to the margins and research agendas aligned with western priorities above local needs. The article critiques the political economy of knowledge production, which points out disparities in funding and publication barriers, as well as North–South imbalance in partnerships that limit visibility of African research. It further advocates for ‘Made in Africa’ evaluation frameworks, such as the metaphor of the African Evaluation Tree, constructed to center indigenous methodologies within equitable collaborations. These alternative evaluation practices will value epistemic diversity and local relevance, hence empowering African scholars to speak into the global academic discourse while promoting epistemic justice and sustainable scholarly ecosystems.
Keywords:
Academic dependency
African epistemologies
epistemic misrecognition
international collaboration
Western centric metrics
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