Igol version 3

7.Capacity Building

7.1.Background

Capacity building is a priority for all governments and organizations and issues encompassing human, scientific, technological, organizational, institutional and resource capabilities should be core components of the mandate and work of IGOL.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (United Nations 2002) reconfirmed the priority of building capacity to assist developing countries to obtain their sustainable development goals. Over thirty-five references are made to capacity building in the WSSD Plan of Implementation. WSSD recommended providing financial resources to developing countries to meet their capacity needs for training, technical know-how and for strengthening national institutions. The issue of capacity building has become a major priority within the global environmental Conventions. However, the current capacity building efforts remain highly fragmented and uncoordinated.

7.2.Principles

The contemporary view of capacity-building goes beyond the conventional perception of training. The central concerns are to manage change, to enhance coordination, to foster communication and to ensure that data and information are shared – these require a broad and holistic view of capacity development. The basic rationale for capacity building include: closing the digital divide, fostering economic growth, enhancing social mobility, promoting equity, and spreading democracy in relation to access to information and participation in the decision-making process. Broad operational principles for effective capacity building includes ensuring national ownership and leadership, basing capacity building efforts on national priority issues, integrating capacity building in wider science and technology inputs to sustainable development efforts, promoting partnerships, accommodating the dynamic nature of capacity building and adopting a learning-by-doing approach.

7.3.Elements of capacity building

Within the context of land observations, generally speaking, capacity building encompasses following:

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  Development of national research, monitoring and observations capacity, including training in observations, assessment and early warning;
  
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  Support to national and regional institutions in data collection, analysis and monitoring of trends;
  
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  Access to scientific and technological information, including information on state-of-the-art technologies;
  
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  Education and awareness raising, including networking among universities with programs of excellence in the field; and
  
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  Production and communication of data and information content that supports programs and policies.
  

Land observation partners could contribute towards all of them with various degrees of intensity and depending upon specific requirements of countries.

7.4.Principal actions needed

Currently there are a number of barriers related to collection of land-based observations in developing countries which needs to be overcome. Some of the specific capacity building actions needed are:

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  Educational and Enabling Activities.
  
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  Training of more personnel, training of trainers in in situ data collection, spaceborne imagery processing and interpretation and web mapping tools.
  
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  Training in standardized land cover and ecosystem classification systems.
  
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  Fostering of twinning arrangements between appropriate North-South and South-South institutions by sponsors of IGOL.
  
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  Strengthening of capacities of selected universities in land observations. Provision of standardized data collection and analysis manuals, high quality teaching and promotional materials, support to the development of distance learning modules.
  
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  Facilitating adequate dialogue, by organizing workshops and development and dissemination of outreach materials etc, between decision makers and technical personnel as most of decision makers are not aware of potential benefits of such tools and technologies. Build upon the success of portals such as Google Earth and NASA World Wind.
  
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  Mobilize resources. Assist in mobilizing financial resources to meet the high costs of equipment and maintenance particularly for the African region. Also explore potential use of low cost technology e.g., US$100 laptops being developed by MIT.
  
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  Assist in establishing community of users by funding internet based discussion groups and blogs and networks.
  
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  Improve access to data, models and tool kits.
  
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  Disseminate information on best practices and case studies related to integration of data sets from multiple sources for solving real life problems.
  
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  Space agencies in cooperation with international organizations should provide free high quality, cloud, orthorectified satellite data and ultra-fine resolution DEMs at an affordable cost and preferably free to developing countries’ institutions.
  
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  Research agencies in partnership with international organizations should provide access to appropriate rapid mapping, modeling and decision support system (DSS) tools kits to users in developing countries.
  
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  Advocate for integration of various information systems following common standards and protocols for improved interoperability.
  
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  Advocate for investments in establishing operational land cover monitoring capabilities instead of ad hoc observation exercises.
  
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  Advocate for improved Internet connectivity to research institutions and universities in collaboration with the private sector for faster access to satellite observations and other derived products.
  
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  Improve coordination and partnerships based so far as possible on existing regional networks.
  
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  Provide a platform for interagency cooperation within each country.
  
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  Develop synergies with GEO and other capacity building efforts.
  

A successful example aiming towards bridging existing gaps in collection and exploitation of satellite-based land information in Africa is provided by TIGER (http://www.tiger.esa.int), led by ESA in the framework of a CEOS initiative. GOFC-GOLD with support from NASA (through START), CSA, and the EC amongst others has fostered the enhanced use of satellite products in several networks throughout the world (Brady and Naydenov 2006).

It is recognized that many of these recommendations are common to the needs described in other themes. It is clear that a more coordinated approach to capacity building is needed for earth observations in general.