International Council for Science : Committee on Data for Science and Technology

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C O D A T A

Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC Countries

Approved by the CODATA 25th General Assembly, Beijing 2006
Renewal approved by the CODATA 26th General Assembly, Kyiv 2008

Objectives of the Task Group

To determine the current status regarding the nature, volumes, preservation and accessibility of scientific and technical data for sustainable development in the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), combined where possible with regional workshops.

The main activities include:

Consider and apply the recommendations of the CODATA TG 2005 workshop for SADC countries;

Apply recommendations of the CODATA TG 2007 (14 – 15 May 2007)

Promote accessibility to scientific data, through identification of institutions that produce data of scientific and scholarly interest; and make reliable data sources more accessible through electronic resources for the global community.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: CODATA TASK GROUP ON DATA SOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SADC COUNTRIES

The CODATA Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC Countries held its initial organising workshop in Pretoria, South Africa on 14–15 May 2007. The National Research Foundation hosted the workshop, which was attended by 31 delegates. The workshop was convened in collaboration with the ICSU Regional Office for Africa (ROA), the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, the CODATA Task Group on Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries, the South African National Committee for CODATA, and the United States National Committee for CODATA.

The objectives of the workshop were to:

• Consider the main recommendations from the September 2005 CODATA Workshop on Strategies for Permanent Access to Scientific Information in Southern Africa: Focus on Health and Environmental Information for Sustainable Development and discuss specific actions and initiatives that could be taken in response.
  
• Designate appropriate offices/officials in the SADC countries to actively support the initiatives of the CODATA Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC countries that are of regional interest.
  
• Promote mutual reinforcement with the converging goals of the ICSU ROA, the SADC and NEPAD Secretariats, and other regional organisations, as appropriate and coordinate actions in order to leverage resources.
  
• Establish a work plan for the CODATA Task Group for 2007–2008.

The outcome of the workshop was the recommendation of the following set of actions for the period 2007–2008 for the CODATA Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC:

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.

Other information

The Task Group chair and secretariat is hosting the 1^st African Digital and Information Curation Conference and workshop in Pretoria on the 12 – 13 February 2008, followed by the TG closed meeting to address the project proposal on the 14 February 2008.

Current Membership

Dr Daisy Selematsela, Chair (South Africa), daisys@nrf.ac.za
Ms Henda van den Berg, Secretariat (South Africa)
Dr Naresh Sentoo, South Africa
Mr Odido Mika, Kenya
Dr Stanley Mukanganyama, Zimbabwe
Dr Lischen Hoses-Gorases, Namibia
Dr Sosten Chiota, Malawi
Dr Alfonse Dube, Tanzania
Dr Anthony Cooper, South Africa
Mr Leluma Matooane, South Africa
Mr Paul Ulhir, US Academies (Consultant)
Prof Steve Rossouw, South Africa (Consultant)