Collection Development in Africa

CDiA Background

Informal, Collaborative Professional Gathering

The Collection Development in Africa Series, in collaboration with ITOCA, CLIR, Casalini Libri, and Charleston Hub, will hold its 3rd edition in Cape Town, South Africa, on 8-10 September 2026. This significant event will continue the legacy of the Fiesole Retreat Conference, which successfully brought together international scholars and professionals in Cape Town in 2025.

Committee Members

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Conference Venue

University of Cape Town (UCT)

We are pleased to announce the confirmed venues for the CDiA 2026 series:

08 Sept: Library Leadership Summit
Venue: Hlanganani Junction in the Main Library, UCT

09-10 Sept: Main Convening
Venue: Snape Library Learning Lounge (LLL), UCT

If you have any questions or require assistance, please feel free to reach out and contact us at cdia@itoca.org.

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CDiA Background

Fostering Collaboration in African Scholarly Communication

Since 1999, the Fiesole Retreat series has brought together key stakeholders—libraries, publishers, bibliographic agencies, aggregators, and vendors—to foster collaboration and dialogue in the scholarly communication sector. The Collection Development in Africa Series focuses specifically on the collection challenges and opportunities within academic and research institutions on the African continent.

CDiA Background

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Global partners

Organizations supporting this initiative

Be part of this initiative: Stakeholders, libraries, publishers, bibliographic agencies, aggregators and vendors.

CdiA 25 Series Registration

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Accommodation

Suggested Hotels

For your convenience, we suggest the following nearby hotels located close to the University of Cape Town (UCT) venues:

All Africa House (0.8km)
Located on Middle Campus and run by UCT. Ideal for close proximity to the summit and main convening venues.
Southern Sun Newlands (3km)
A premium hotel offering comfortable accommodation, located within short driving distance of UCT.
Doubletree by Hilton Cape Town Upper Eastside (2.5km)
Stylish and modern hotel located close to the campus, offering great amenities and convenience.

CDiA 25 Series

Programme Committee

Executive Director ITOCA, Johannesburg, RSA

Gracian Chimwaza

Dr. Chimwaza holds a PhD in Information Science from the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree from Thames Valley University (United Kingdom). He has an electronic engineering background. In the last 20 years, Gracian has led extensive capacity development and research projects in many African countries focusing on digital libraries, knowledge exchange, data management, e-resources access, and information literacy programs. He serves on the Research4Life Executive Council, and is on several journal editorial boards. He has been an invited speaker in many international, regional and national-level policy meetings that address ICTs, knowledge sharing and capacity building in Africa.

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University Librarian at National University of Lesotho, Lesotho

Buhle Mbambo-Thata

Dr. Buhle Mbambo-Thata is one of the most distinguished librarians in Africa. She’s currently University Librarian at the University of Lesotho, having previously served as Executive Director, Library Services, University of South Africa (UNISA), and as University Librarian at the University of Zimbabwe. Dr. Mbambo-Thata currently chairs the board of the Council for Library and Information Resources (CLIR). She’s also served for many years with a wide range of organizations, including the African Library and Information Association and Institutions (AfLIA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the Board of Directors of the National Library of South Africa, the Library Network of Association of Commonwealth Libraries, E-Knowledge for Women in Southern Africa (EKOWISA), and others.

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Charlestone Hub, USA

Leah Hinds

was appointed executive director of the Charleston Hub in 2017 and has served in various roles with the Charleston Information Group, LLC, since 2004. The Charleston Hub was acquired by nonprofit group Annual Reviews in 2023, and Leah has served as a director on their management team since then. She is also editor of Against the Grain, managing editor for Katina Magazine, and part of the executive team for the Charleston Briefings publication series, and is part of the program committee for the Fiesole Retreat series. She hosts, attends, and presents at library and scholarly communications events worldwide.

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Director, Offline Internet Consortium, USA

Ann Okerson

Most recently, Ann Okerson is serving as Director of the Offline Internet Consortium, an organization devoted to bringing network-quality information to the half of the human race that does not have broadband. Ann previously joined the Center for Research Libraries in fall 2011 as Senior Advisor on Electronic Strategies, working with that organization to reconfigure and redirect various existing programs into digital mode. She has worked as INASP Associate, responsible for that organization's agreements between developing nations consortia and publishers.

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Continued

Programme Committee

Digital Information Specialist, RSA

Michael Chimalizeni

Michael Chimalizeni is a specialist in knowledge management and digital information, possessing a wealth of experience in areas such as library technology, metadata management, and the curation of digital content. He has collaborated with a range of organizations, including Research4Life, CABI, and ITOCA, where he has taken the lead on initiatives focused on metadata interoperability, research support, and the development of capacity. As a recipient of a NISO Scholarship Award, he remains actively involved in the latest developments in open research, scholarly communication, and digital knowledge systems.

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Chief Director for Library and Information Service, North-West University, RSA

Matthew Moyo

Dr. Moyo has advanced degrees in Information Science, along with other qualifications in Knowledge and Information Systems Management and Leadership. With over 30 years of academic experience, Matthew also contributes as a researcher in the Social Transformation Research Area within the Faculty of Humanities. His work interests include Governance and Leadership, Mentorship, Capacity Building, Teamwork, and Strategy. His research focuses on Information Literacy, Research Data Literacy, and Knowledge and Information Systems Management. Mathew is involved with several professional organizations and serves as the General Chair of the International Conference on Information Literacy (ICIL-Africa), which is linked to the European Conference on Information Literacy (ECIL).

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Deputy University Librarian, Women’s University in Africa, ZW

Nancy Kwangwa

Nancy played a key role in shaping digital literacy education at the University of Zimbabwe, helping develop a university-wide module and the MSc in Information Science and Knowledge Management. She contributed to UNESCO’s Abuja Declaration on media literacy and founded ZITET, a national NGO advancing access to information and digital equity, benefiting over 10,000 people through training and resources. Holding a PhD from the University of Cape Town, she chairs the Zimbabwe Library Association (Mashonaland Branch) and actively participates in international leadership programs, including those by the U.S. Department of State.

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Associate Director: Information Resources, Access & Operations: University of the Witwatersrand

Kgaladi Kekana

She holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science and an Advanced Diploma in Marketing Management from UNISA. With over 28 years of practical experience, she brings extensive senior managerial and leadership expertise in academic libraries, with a strong background in Technical Services, Collection Management, Library Systems, Financial and Compliance Management, as well as Strategic Planning and Quality Management. Prior to her current role, she was the Director: Library Systems and Support Services at UNISA, overseeing governance of library support services, including Acquisitions. She is deeply committed to aligning library services with institutional strategic goals and is known for creating work environments that foster motivation, job satisfaction, and high performance.

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