ODINAFRICA Partnersite

Figure 2 shows the current status of IODE Data Centres in Africa. Whereas we now have 6 Data Centres for 7 Member States in the IOCINCWIO region (Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania) -not including Somalia-, we have only 5 (Ghana, Guinée, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa) for 18 Member States in the IOCEA region. Furthermore of these 5 only a few are operational. There is an additional 1 data centre in Egypt.

IOCINCWIO REGION

Several projects developed by the IOC as far back as 1989 have, to some extent, contributed to responding to the needs included in the ODINAFRICA-II project objectives. In this regard we mention the RECOSCIX-WIO project which, in the IOCINCWIO region, has developed a regional network providing bibliographic information services and producing information products (eg Regional Directory of Marine Scientists, WINDOW Newsletter,…). By creating linkages between institutions as well as scientists in- and well as outside its focus region RECOSCIX-WIO has also acted as a catalyst: whereas RECOSCIX-WIO during its inception was restricted to (bibliographic) information exchange the region, realizing the potential of the network, requested the expansion of the project's terms of reference to include data exchange, leading to the development of the ODINEA project. Formulated by the region and endorsed by IODE-XV, ODINEA was successfully submitted for funding to the Government of Flanders and was started in 1997/98.

The ODINAFRICA Project Document provides extensive information on the planned activities. The ODINAFRICA Annual Report 1998 provides information on the achievements of 1998.

- Operational National Oceanographic Data Centres (or Designated National Agencies) in Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania (we mention that by September 1999 this has been achieved by all countries except Madagascar);

- Operational national and regional ocean meta databases for the IOCINCWIO region;

IOCEA REGION

In terms of data centres very little has been achieved in the IOCEA region. Due to lack of funds both at the local level and at the IOC no substantial efforts could be made to develop data management capabilities in the IOCEA region. The ODINAFRICA-I project's terms of reference did not include data management, only information management .

The existing data centres (Ghana, Guinée, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa) have been formally established but most (except South Africa) are poorly equipped and are in need of equipment, operational support and trained manpower.

The IOC does not have a regional subsidiary body for the Mediterranean nor for the Red Sea area. Nevertheless countries from the Mediterranean region have been given opportunity to partucipate in a number of IODE-related activities such as the 'Training Course on Management of Marine Data and Information for the Mediterranean Region, Malta, 10-21 April 1995'. Nevertheless only 2 data centres have been established in these two areas: Morocco and Egypt.

2- CURRENT STATUS OF MARINE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

As mentioned under 4.1.1 the RECOSCIX-WIO project, developed by the IOC in 1989, following the recommendation by the region at IOCINCWIO-II (1987) and subsequently funded by SAREC of Sida through IOC (1989-1992, 1998-…) and Belgium (1992-1999), has been extremely successful in developing marine information capacity as well as in providing services and developing products. Whereas the training component under RECOSCIX-WIO ended in 1997, additional training has been provided under ODINEA (1999).

Within the framework of ODINEA (ODINAFRICA-I) the following results are expected:

In order to streamline data and information management activities the project will further aim at developing integrated data and information management centres.

Between 12 and 17 April 1999 the ‘IOC-LUC-KMFRI Workshop on RECOSCIX-WIO in the 2000000 and beyond (and training course for librarians)’ was organized in Mombasa, Kenya (within the framework of ODINEA/ODINAFRICA-I). The Workshop made the following recommendations:

The participants noted the achievements made by the RECOSCIX-WIO Project in the region, and expressed their appreciation to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the Government of Belgium through the "Limburgs Universitair Centrum" (LUC), and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) for the support that they have provide to the project.

Recognizing that the next phase of the project should strongly address the agenda of sustainability, future activities must be tailored into a transition phase that would entail the development of a regional information and data exchange network utilizing mainly the Internet. The participants therefore urged the IOC and other donors to provide support for the implementation of this transition phase.

Recognizing further the need for a similar service to freshwater scientists, the participants recommended that ways should be explored to either develop a freshwater component of the project, or formally incorporate freshwater into the project.

Recalling that the project had provided hardware, software and training to the cooperating institutions in the region, the participants noted that with the rapid change in technology most of these equipment are now outdated and should be replaced.

The participants stressed the need for training and retaining personnel to manage the library and information centres in the institutions participating in the project. The participants noted that though the training workshops and the MIST course introduced librarians to various subjects, there is a need for more in-depth training. However, since most of the libraries have limited staff, extended training away from the institutions would adversely affect their operations. Local training opportunities, and distance learning programmes should therefore be considered to strengthen the capacity of the libraries.

The participants noted that the original objectives of RECOSCIX-WIO are still valid.

- provide marine scientists in the region with the necessary scientific information;

- enhance the use of indigenous scientific information in the region;

- promote and facilitate communication between the scientists, both intra- and inter-regionally;

- disseminate information on scientific research activities in the region.

(ii) Converting all the products and services previously developed by RECOSCIX-WIO Project into electronic form and making them available on RECOSCIX-WIO Web-site;

(iii) Document request and delivery should be done electronically where possible;

(iv) With continued support from IOC, the publication of the paper version of the WINDOW Newsletter should continue. Scientists are urged to contribute articles regularly for publication.

(v) Formal agreements should be made between RECOSCIX-WIO and CIs. Such agreements should include a work plan and a budget. Output targets should be clearly specified.

(vi) The CIs should complete the development of their library catalogue using the WIOLib structure agreed on during the workshop.

(vii) CIs will regularly send publications to KMFRI for inclusion into ASFA.

(viii) Adequate provision should be made for training and/or workshops including internships for CIs.

Whereas substantial support has been provided for the development of marine information management capabilities, services and products in the IOCINCWIO region, very little has been achieved in the IOCEA region due to shortage of funds. Despite its endorsement during IOCEA-III no activities were implemented. Fortunately it was possible to include a marine information management (RECOSCIX-CEA) component in the ODINAFRICA-I project, funded by the Government of Flanders and the IOC.

The RECOSCIX-CEA objectives and expected achievements can be summarized as follows:

During the ODINEAFRICA-I project substantial progress has been made in the development of the RECOSCIX-CEA products and services. Furthermore, an agreement was made between FAO, IOC and Cambridge Scientific Abstracts to provide, free of charge and for a period of not less than two years, free copies of the ‘Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts’ ASFA, to African Member States. This represents an in-kind contribution of approximately US$ 2000/country/year.

1- CURRENT STATUS OF MARINE DATA MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA

IOCINCWIO REGION

IOCEA REGION

2- CURRENT STATUS OF MARINE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT