ODINAFRICA Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa

ODINAFRICA Aims at enabling IOC member states in Africa to  Develop national capability to manage ocean data & information  Develop national capability to prepare ocean data and information products & services  Provide access to ocean data and information available from the global IODE data centre network,

ODINAFRICA AND !  To promote indigenous ocean research through the development of African ocean and information databases and related products  To fully integrate African ocean science and expertise in the global research environment

ODINAFRICA Participating Countries

ODINAFRICA The Planning 1999  18 countries jointly draft project proposal  Proposal submitted to Government of Flanders and approved same year: US$ 2.3 M provided  Project duration: May 2000  20 countries meet in Dakar, Senegal to finalise planning of activities for 2001 January 2001  Implementation starts

ODINAFRICA Structure ODINAFRICA Structure National:  An institution to be the National Oceanographic Data (and Information) Centre (NODC)  Staff to be trained in data and information Management  National Coordinator who ensures that project activities are implemented in the country as planned  Annual national coordination workshop Regional  Regional Coordinators (1 for each region)  2 Information Service Centres  Annual review and planning workshop

ODINAFRICA Activities Implemented Establishment and operation of NODCs in participating member states Provision of hardware and software packages Data and Information Management Training and follow-up Development of databases, data products and services

ODINAFRICA participants at a Data Management training session Casablanca, Morocco

ODINAFRICA Information Centre Services, Products Bibliographic search services  Document delivery services (ILL)  Development of library catalogue  Database of aquatic science publications published in/about the country/region  Directory of marine/freshwater professionals  Directory of marine science related institutions

ODINAFRICA Data Centre Activities  Data locator service  National Marine metadata-bases  Collection of all data related to the country’s waters from international data centres  Enrichment of database with locally available data  National Marine Atlas  National data CDs

ODINAFRICA Challenges Differences in Focus of designated institution  Educational, Research, Resource Management  Narrow focus (e.g. Oceanography or Fisheries)  Broad coverage (e.g. University) Differences in Size  one person dedicating only part time  Several people

ODINAFRICA Challenges Differences in Background of personnel dedicated  basic skills versus proficient (how to organize training relevant to all?) Communication Infrastructure  dial up internet access  Dedicated line

ODINAFRICA Future Focus  Improvement of communications (broadband)  Aggregation of national into joint regional databases  Development of products for ICAM (using remote sensing imagery and GIS)  Advanced training programme focused on product development  Promoting collaboration between institutions

ODINAFRICA Received positive evaluation ODINAFRICA stresses importance of applying data centres for development of user-focused ocean services and products aimed at sustainable management of the coastal zone.