1. IW:LEARN
TDA/SAP
Training Course
Module 2: Developing the TDA

2. Section 3: Data/Information
Collection and Analysis

3. +
Where are we?
Defining
system
boundaries
Collection
and analysis
of
data/informat
ion
Identification
&
prioritisation
of the
transboundary
problems
Determination
of the
impacts of
each priority
problem
Analysis
of the
immediate,
underlying,
and root
causes for
each problem
Development
of thematic
reports

4. +
In this Section you will learn about….
 What is Data, Information and Knowledge
 Issues for the TDA
 Scope of data and information needed
 Project to project differences
 Sources of information
 Stock taking exercise
 Advice from the field

5. +
Data, Information and Knowledge
DATA - the volume of the
Pacific Ocean
INFORMATION - a book on
the oceanographic
characteristics of the
Pacific Ocean
KNOWLEDGE - a report
containing practical
information on the best
way to sail across the
Pacific Ocean

6. +
Issues for the TDA
 The amount of data and information available
will vary from project to project - some regions
are data rich whilst others are data poor
 In general the aim of the this step is to identify
high quality data, preferably with some degree
of quality assurance, quality check or peer
review

7. +
Issues for the TDA
 For most IW projects, it is likely that data and
information for the TDA:
 Will come from multiple sources
 May often be difficult to access
 May not be entirely appropriate
 Will often be uncoordinated in its generation and use
 May be intentionally or unintentionally inaccurate
 Aggregated with other data sets
 Disaggregated if national data needs to be examined at
a more local/basin level

8. +
Scope of Data and Information
 Data and information will be needed to confirm
the findings in the TDA. In particular, it is
important to substantiate the:
 General situation in the water system
 Priority transboundary problems
 Key impacts, both environmental and socio-economic
 Causal chains – Immediate causes, underlying causes
and root causes
 Governance analysis

9. +
Scope of Data and Information
The key to understanding
what kind of data will be
required throughout the
TDA development process
is to fully understand the
water system
A good starting point for
this is the Project
Document, together with
the expertise in the Project
Management Unit and the
TDA development team

10. +
River basin projects often require data and
information on water resources, water
quality, biodiversity, land use etc.
Project to Project Differences
A TDA for an LME project may require data
and information that links to the LME
modules – pollution and ecosystem health;
productivity; fish and fisheries; socio-
economics; and governance.

11. +
Sources of Information
Type Examples
Government
departments (both
national and
local/provincial)
Environment
Health
Employment
Trade
Industry/Mining/Agriculture/Fisheries/Transport
Finance/Economic Affairs
Government agencies Marine
Fisheries
Water
Environment
Economic Development
International
organisations
Other UN Agencies (Including WHO, IMO etc)
World Bank
European Union
International development organisations (e.g. SIDA,
CIDA, DFID, USAID, amongst others)

12. +
Sources of Information
Type Examples
NGOs Local
National
Regional
International (e.g. WWF, IUCN)
Commercial sources Consultancies
Corporate organisations (e.g. oil and gas, agro-
industry, construction, minerals etc)
Academia and research
organisations
Local
National
Regional
International (e.g. NOAA for LME's)
Other on-going or
completed International
Projects
Other GEF focal areas (biodiversity, Climate,
Chemicals, Land Degradation, Sustainable Forest
Management)
World Bank projects
International Development Organisation projects
EU projects

13. +
Stock Taking Exercise
 Identify all sources
 Ascertain the availability of the data and information
 Assess the compatibility and comparability of data sets
and information
 Identify where there are gaps
 Analyse the quality of data and information
 Assess how verifiable the data is (e.g. is it cited or peer
reviewed?)
 Determine cost implications (if there are any)

14. +
How to Access Information
HOW TO ACCESS
INFORMATION
Project
Document
Project staff
TDA Team
members and
hired experts
Country Focal
Points
Agency Country
Representatives
Interministry
committees

15. +
Advice from the Field
Always consider the hierarchy of the data and information
available
Be creative and think laterally - If the answer is always no,
particularly to raw data, ask for analysed data or reports
Develop a network of contacts
Don't be frustrated by lack of data - Many regions are data poor
so think creatively
Manage your assumptions regarding data – perceived vs.
factually supported

16. +
Group Exercise
In groups of 5:
 What are the key data and information sources
for this water system?
Timing: 15 minutes