The Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa (ODINAFRICA) brings together marine institutions from twenty-five Member States of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO from Africa (Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo and Tunisia). The earlier phases of ODINAFRICA enabled the participating Member States to get access to data available in other data centers worldwide, develop skills for manipulation of data and preparation of data and information products, and develop infrastructure for archival, analysis and dissemination of the data and information products. The goal of the current phase of ODINAFRICA is to improve the management of coastal and marine resources and the environment in participating countries by (1) enhancing data flows into the national oceanographic data and information center in the participating countries; (2) strengthening the capacity of these centers to analyze and interpret the data so as to develop products required for integrated management of the coastal areas of Africa; and (3) increase the delivery of services to end users. The focus is on preparing data and information products to enable the Member States to address the key issues identified in the African Process viz. (i) coastal erosion, (ii) human impacts, (iii) climate change, (iv) pollution, (v) environmental health, (vi) coastal zone (vii) sustainable use of living resources, and (viii) tourism. |
