1. ODINAFRICA Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa

2. 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,

3. 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

4. ODINAFRICA Participating Countries

5. 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: 2001-2004 May 2000  20 countries meet in Dakar, Senegal to finalise planning of activities for 2001 January 2001  Implementation starts

6. 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

7. 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

8. ODINAFRICA participants at a Data Management training session Casablanca, Morocco

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.