Researchers from low-income countries often face significant financial barriers to publishing, particularly in prestigious journals that require high article processing charges (APCs). Here are several strategies they can employ to overcome these challenges:

1. Leverage Fee Waivers and Discounts

• Many journals, especially open-access ones, offer waivers or reduced APCs for authors from low-income or lower-middle-income countries. Researchers can check the publisher's website for specific policies or contact the editorial team directly to request a waiver.
• Organizations like the Public Library of Science (PLOS), Springer Nature, and Elsevier provide financial assistance to researchers from eligible countries.

2. Submit to No-Fee or Low-Fee Journals

• Some reputable journals do not charge APCs, especially those affiliated with academic societies or funded by institutions. Platforms like the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) can help identify these journals.
• Consider publishing in regional journals that may have lower or no fees while still maintaining high academic standards.

3. Apply for Research Grants

• Many research grants include funds for dissemination, including publication costs. Researchers should look for grants from international organizations like the World Bank, UNESCO, TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences), or foundations like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
• Institutions like Horizon Europe and NIH sometimes allocate resources specifically for open-access publishing.

4. Collaborate with International Partners

• Partnering with researchers from high-income countries or institutions can help share the financial burden of publishing. Often, collaborators can access funding sources unavailable to researchers in low-income countries.
• Collaborative projects may also provide access to institutional APC coverage programs or publishing agreements.

5. Institutional Support

• Researchers should check whether their institutions have agreements with publishers to waive or cover APCs. For example, many universities have read-and-publish agreements with open-access publishers.
• Advocate within their institutions for the creation of publication support funds.

6. Use Preprint Repositories

• Platforms like arXiv, bioRxiv, and ResearchGate allow researchers to share their work freely without the need for APCs, increasing accessibility and visibility while bypassing traditional publication costs.

7. Explore Alternative Publishing Models

• Community-driven journals or diamond open access journals (which are free for both authors and readers) are emerging alternatives. Examples include journals supported by academic consortia or institutions.

8. Seek Institutional or National Funding

• National research councils or local governments sometimes provide funding for publishing. Researchers can inquire about available schemes in their countries.

9. Advocate for Structural Change

• Engage with global movements advocating for more equitable access to publishing, such as Plan S, which seeks to make open access the default without relying on APCs.
• Support initiatives like AmeliCA, a collaborative effort to create a more sustainable, non-profit open-access publishing ecosystem.

10. Request Peer Support or Crowdfunding

• Researchers can seek support from their academic networks or even crowdfunding platforms to cover publication costs.
• Online communities, such as those on Twitter (#AcademicTwitter), often share tips and resources on reducing or covering publication expenses.

By combining these approaches and actively engaging in international academic networks, researchers from low-income countries can improve their chances of publishing without bearing prohibitive costs.

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I find that the majority of journals offer waivers as one of the previous answers stated, at least it is an option. Also collaboration kind of solves the problem, because the other coauthors can pinch in (at least this is what I have seen). However, the majority of researchers in low income countries as well have some projects going on anyway, so they can essentially find a way to pay for it. Perhaps not for the top journals, but remember, there are many good journals out there, some charging less then others. My professors from Serbia usually published in low level journals to avoid such elevated costs. They did have their projects, however, when they would pay for the experiment costs (chemicals, sequencing costs, material collecting), they would be left with little money.