The document summarizes the landscape of open science in Africa based on a mapping conducted by the African Open Science Platform (AOSP). Some key findings include: 1) AOSP has compiled a register of Africa's data collections and services, key role players, potential partnerships, sources of content, and collaborations to inform its focus areas. 2) There are currently only 22 registered data repositories in Africa, with only one having the CoreTrustSeal for trusted data repositories. Challenges include lack of policies, incentives, skills, and coordination across the continent. 3) AOSP is working to address these challenges by developing open science policy frameworks, engaging stakeholders, building capacity through training programs, and coordin

1. The Landscape of Open
Science in AfricaProf Joseph Wafula and Mrs Susan Veldsman
AOSP Stakeholder Workshop, Saint George’s Hotel and Conference
Centre, Pretoria, SA
3 - 4 September 2018
The Landscape of
Open Science in Africa
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2. Mapping the Landscape informing AOSP
• Based on the AOSP database a landscape
overview has been compiled on the following:
Register of Africa’s data collections and services
Register of key role players
Identified potential partnerships to deliver services
Identified sources of content
Show related content
Identified collaborations
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3. • Mapping of data collections and services to
inform AOSP focus areas
• Identified potential speakers, workgroups,
invitations to meetings
• Connecting researchers working in the same discipline
• Informing funders towards research being done
• Increasing the visibility of research, services and the work of
AOSP
• Mapping will be ongoing….
• Adding more contacts, projects and building the network
• Assisting in raising awareness
• Further interpretations of the landscape
Mapping the Landscape informing AOSP
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4. Data Intensive Research on Continent
https://www.targetmap.com/viewer.aspx?reportId=56245
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5. Challenges facing research
infrastructures in Africa
Challenges
Facing
Research
Infrastructure
in Africa
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6. Slide Credit: Laura Merson, IDDO
Data during Outbreaks e.g. Ebola
The government-led response to the West African Ebola outbreak
included many different international organisations.
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7. Slide Credit: Laura Merson, IDDO
Data during Outbreaks e.g. Ebola
When the outbreak ended and organisations left the region, the
data was scattered globally.
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8. Currently 22 data repositories registered in Africa
Country coverage in re3data.org (registry of data repositories) accessed September 2018
Global Registry of Data Repositories
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9. Only one data repository in Africa has CoreTrustSeal
Location of repositories having acquired CoreTrustSeal (accessed September 2018)
Trusted Data Repositories
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10. What is the African Open
Science Platform doing?
What is the
African
Open
Science
Platform
doing?
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11. Cloud Computing and Networked Services
• NRENs providing connectivity to research institutions in Africa
• AOSP now recommend NRENs to offer including data
management services and cloud services
 AOSP had engagement with infrastructure providers, NRENs: workshops
and presentations at UbuntuNet and WACREN conferences in 2017 in
Ethiopia
 Prepared them for development of AOSP roadmap for research data
infrastructure
 Highlighted the important roles of NRENs, research institutions and
research domains
 Key components for additional services: data repositories, data ecosystem
(identifiers, metadata), collaborative environments and analysis tools,
platform approaches and provision of software/tools/etc
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12. ASREN
WACREN
UbuntuNet
Funding through
AfricaConnect2
– high capacity
Internet networks
connecting 37
countries across
Africa
Connecting the Continent
AfricaConnect2 coordinated regions (accessed Sept. 2018)
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13. • Proposed AOSP Framework to build taking into
consideration the existing ones:
• SADC Cyberinfrastructure Framework
• National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System (SA)
• Emphasis on data computing and high performance
centers and their role in data collection, hosting and
visualisation
• Task Team consists of members of NRENs, researchers
in data intensive research projects, large
collaborations GBIF and H3ABioNet
• AOSP ICT Research Infrastructure Framework and
Roadmap to be in place 2019
Cloud Computing and Networked Services
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14. National, Institutional OS Policy Instruments
• Principles, policies and practices, and
publication tools have been collated in AOSP
• Open Science Policies:
• Various meetings held with stakeholders and countries
making progress: South Africa, Botswana,
Madagascar, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda
• OA Institutional Repositories: 31
• Institutional Open Research Data Policy: JKUAT
• Funder policies: National Research Foundation (SA)
on open data repositories
• AOSP Policy and Framework for Open Science to be
finalised by Nov 2018
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15. • Factors hindering buy-in to share research data
• IP, confidentiality, ownership
• Issues relating to individual credit (scooping, misuse)
• Confusing and conflicting requirements
• Lack of time and expertise and resources
• Governance
• Political
• No one has asked me?
• Important to look at what will incentivise researchers to contribute
and share data?
Awards and recognition: The South African National Science and
Technology Forum (NSTF): NSTF Data for Research Award (2017
and 2018)
AOSP Incentives Framework and Roadmap to be finalised in 2019:
Research Data Management: Incentives
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16. Square
Kilometre
Array
H3ABioNet
Genomics Data
GBIF
Biodiversity
Data
Collaborative Initiatives
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17. • Current activities in AOSP are stimulating thinking
about the next major data intensive programmes
• Identified areas where Africa is data-asset rich:
 Hydrology
 Resilient Cities
 Disaster Risk Reduction
• Potential to attract collaboration and develop
African research base
• These programmes should build on existing
activities and critical mass
• AOSP can assist in enabling critical mass and
contributing to modern data approaches
Interdisciplinary Programmes
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18. Network of Education, Capacity, Training
• Different skills are required during different stages
of the research and data lifecycle
• Skills need to be developed between various key
stakeholders
Training workshops in Madagascar (Sept 2017)
Engagement with training initiatives (particularly at
CODATA-RDA Data Schools, Data Carpentry)
Sponsored participation for some TAB members and
stakeholders
• AOSP has already compiled an inventory of
initiatives and training programmes: GODAN, RDA
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19. Network of Education, Capacity, Training
• Interdisciplinary repositories and networks have
their own context specific capacity building and
training in data (AIMS, H3ABioNet, SASSCAL)
• Focus have to move to be more inclusive of
schools, universities and professional levels
• Identification of core curriculum and preparation
for work on a curriculum framework to be finalized
in 2019
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20. • First 18 months focussed on
• Creating awareness on the need for research data
• How data should be curated in a trusted and responsible way
• Workshops were hosted, meetings were attended
across Africa regarding Open Science/Open Data
• International and continental linkages were
formed
• NRENs
• Interdisciplinary programmes i.e. H3ABionet, GBIF
• Governments i.e. Botswana, Uganda, Madagascar, Ethiopia, South
Africa
• Internationally i.e. AIMS, GODAN, RDA, WDS, EU Open Science Cloud
• Other stakeholders i.e. AfLIA
• AAU and NEPAD
• And later in 2018, Global Research Council and Annual Meeting of
African Science Academies (AMASA-14)
Network for Open Science Access & Dialogue
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21. • Bursaries for training and capacity building
• Funding for research i.e. AOSP Policy Frameworks
• Funding workshops for individuals from AOSP
network to attend key conferences
Network for Open Science Access & Dialogue
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22. • AOSP needs to develop the community
further
To ensure access to information, data and
scientific expertise
Scientists to be engaged in cross societal
collaborations
Network for Open Science Access & Dialogue
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23. UN Key Message
Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development,
Dakar, May 2018
UN: Economic Commission for Africa
“79. The creation of an African platform for research
and innovation exchange will enable the
dissemination of goal-relevant African research and
innovation to governments and citizens. It could
form the basis for linking researchers and innovators
with the funding required to scale up their work. The
proposed platform would showcase and share
Africa’s efforts to develop goal-relevant research
and innovation and could be coordinated with the
Global Innovation Exchange.”
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24. Thank You
• SA Department of Science and Technology
through the National Research Foundation for its
financial support
• Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
• Dr Simon Hodson (ISC CODATA)- for his support,
collegiality and leadership
• Project Team: Mrs Ina Smith and Me Nozuko
Hlwatika for leadership, enthusiasm and support
• AOSP Technical Advisory Board
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25. http://internationaldataweek.org/
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