Codata workshop

SESSION 6: WORKING SESSION

Preparation of working document on how the recommendations are to be implemented

Facilitator: Mr Paul Uhlir (US National Academies of Sciences)
The workshop recommended the following set of actions for the period 2007–2008 for the CODATA Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC:
CODATA Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC

Preliminary recommendations of workshop: 14–15 May 2007

WHAT	WHO	WHEN
1. Develop an inventory of scientific databases across SADC Extension of SA Data Archives(SADA) directory of data producers in South Africa With ICSU/CODATA ‘wrapper’/ front end The task group must determine sustainability strategy and data fields Link to ICSU and CODATA outreach activities	The task group would be responsible for the workplan, proposal and raising resources with the guidance of the ICSU Regional Office for Africa Funds would be needed for a full-time staff member Seed funding available from CODATA must be used to source sustainable resources Involve people with databases Key role players: Explore international and domestic sources of funding ICSU Africa SADC science desk SA Department of Science & Technology African Union Collaborator per country as part of CODATA outreach and recruitment	Proposal: end June 2007
2. Develop an inventory of scientific researchers (data professionals) across SADC	Subset of projects 1 and 3 and related to an existing ASSAf initiative – Network of African Science Academies (NASAC)
3. Develop an inventory of online training and instructional materials on data management	UN GAID e-SDDC has taken international responsibility for this initiative The task group to liaise, take material on board and see it is followed up Universities represented at the workshop are partners
4. Better understanding of IP and open access. (cf Chile initiative) Strategy by a coalition of library and research organisations	Paul Uhlir to provide background information for the task group to consider and possibly set up a meeting in Washington of potential partner organisations
5. Establish open institutional repositories: tool kits, open source software, business plans, funding for institutions Possibly link to NRF database of theses/ dissertations Link associated data on data sources and experts and possibly link with other players in a System of Systems approach Develop capacity in secondary data analysis, particularly of collated data from SADC government sources	Potential coalition partners: Task group, IAP, ASSAf, e-IFL (Electronic Information for Libraries), higher education institutions, NRF, Association of Commonwealth Universities, Association of African Universities, science councils Potential funders: Open Society Institute Shuttleworth Foundation UNESCO Partnership for Higher Education International Development Research Centre (IDRC) EU Gates Foundation
6. Malaria research and environmental data and information network (pilot initiative)	The task group to liaise with other researchers regarding proposed network, to be formed through a bottom-up initiative of interested researchers/research groups Potential funders: Gates Foundation Numerous others	SAMI to be asked to take the lead: Dr van Deventer (CSIR) and Dr Pienaar (University of Pretoria) to speak to SAMI (Prof Jane Morris)

The Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC would be the lead task group for the initiative and would develop a proposal on the basis of the input received at the workshop. The task group would report on progress at the 2008 CODATA General Assembly, by which time the task group would have to be in a position to demonstrate deliverables if it wishes to continue for a further term.

Closure: Prof. Sospeter Muhongo (ICSU Regional Office for Africa)

If the task group keeps meeting and talking without any outcomes, people will not take it seriously. Tangible products are required, and it is hoped that the task group is now on the right track.

With respect to my concluding remarks, CODATA has its own objectives, and should have a strategic plan. It is essential for the task group One to move forward in realising CODATA’s targeted goals. Africa is always lagging. It is a challenge to the task group to move forward and allow other parts of the world to copy what is being done here. The first thing is for the Task Team to realise its own objectives.
Science has to serve society. CODATA has a key role to play because data are always needed for planning, and much planning is currently not based on evidence. It is not possible to produce evidence without data. The ICSU Regional Office for Africa is obliged to ensure that CODATA functions well and realises its objectives on the African continent, because CODATA is part of the ICSU family.
ICSU has four priority area, which are interlinked, namely:

• 
  Sustainable energy
  
• 
  Health and human well-being
  
• 
  Natural and human-induced hazards and disasters
  
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  Global change.
  

Experience shows that Africans generally do not participate well in international projects, because they do not conceive and conceptualise the projects and are not fully acquainted with the targets and goals. ICSU is therefore calling for project proposals.

ICSU hopes that CODATA, through its membership, will be part of the process. Capacity building for Africa is an ongoing objective for the ICSU Regional Office for Africa. Once ICSU has approved fundable, well-written project proposals, it proposes forming a consortium of different organisations.
The entry point for ICSU global is the International Polar Year, of which CODATA Africa could consider being part. There is also the International Year of Planet Earth, for which ICSU is requesting proposals both in the realm of scientific research and outreach.