Research4Life
To solve the complex challenges outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, it is critical that researchers from around the world can fully contribute their ideas and solutions. Since 2002, has worked to enhance the scholarship, teaching, research and policymaking of researchers, faculty, scientists and medical specialists in the world’s least-resourced countries.
As a unique public-private partnership between UN agencies, universities and publishers, Research4Life provides free or low-cost access to research for publicly funded institutions — aiming to reduce the knowledge gap, stimulate productive and effective research, and promote international collaborative research.
As of 2025, Research4Life has provided researchers at more than 11,500 institutions in over 125 lower- and middle-income countries with free or low-cost online access to up 203,000 leading journals and books in the fields of health, agriculture, environment, applied sciences and legal information.
By 2030, Research4Life's aims to significantly increase the participation of all researchers as both consumers and producers of research, providing the necessary capacity building through targeted training, local networks and partnerships.
Country Connectors program
Since 2022, the Research4Life program has additionally supported user communities by equipping national representatives to deliver a targeted program to strengthen the capacity of information use and management, building robust local communities of evidence.
Through robust networks and partnerships with local organizations, Country Connectors empower research communities and evidence users right where they are needed most.
Goals
- Provide life-saving access to peer-reviewed research;
- Expand training initiatives that help level the playing field for researchers in lower- and middle-income countries;
- Significantly increase awareness and usage of the resources offered by the Research4Life publishing partners;
- Facilitate the research communication process.
Domiziana Francescon, Co-Chair Eligibility Committee, Research4Life