eGYAfrica Workshop: better Internet connectivity eGYAfrica Workshop: better Internet connectivity for research and education in Africafor research and education in Africa

Accra, 24-25 November 2010Accra, 24-25 November 2010

Dr Daniel NYANGANYURAICSU Regional Office for Africad.nyanganyura@icsu-africa.org

www.icsu-africa.org

The Development of Research and Education Networking in Africa in sub-Saharan Africa: current and planned

LIVELIHOOD IN AFRICA: Facts & Figures

■ Population: ~ 1B (14% of world Pop.)■ 35 of the WORLD's 50 least developed

countries are on the AFRICAN continent■ About 70% of the African population

LIVES on less than US$ 2 a day■ 75% of the population in sub-Saharan

Africa don’t have access to ELECTRICITY (Africa 73%, China 1.5%)

■ About 40% of the African population has no access to safe and clean drinking WATER

■ Internet users sub-Saharan Africa (7.4%)■ Telephone access sub-Saharan Africa:

1.6% (mobile 40% : Africa above 50%)

AFRICAN CHALLENGES• African problems are transboundary in nature

(health, energy, pollution, food security, climate change, communication)

A map of the world with the areas of countries reshaped in proportion to their scientific growth

Courtesy : James Wilsdon – Physics World October 2008

African countries contributing 1.70% of world share of ISI-listed S&E papers

Scientific Research in Africa

Scientific Research in Africa• Number of scientists/engineers vs. population

(Less than 1 per 10,000 inhabitants)

• Scientists don’t talk to each other(few networks; little research collaborations; different voices; compete for funds)

• Government/private sector/universities have no coodinated activities: scientific research carried out by non-scientists

• Politicians don’t put money into research

Scientific Research & Educational Networks – Not growing fast enough- Scientists weakly connected - Limited access to information

Scientific Research & Educational Networks: Current (active and in plan)

Financial Support• Grants and inkind from some institutions (IDRC, PHE, ACBF)

• No visible government hand

NRENs by Geo Area• East & Southern Africa – Alliance of NRENs (UbuntuNet); 12 countries

• West & Central Africa – WACREN-Alliance in formation

Scientific Research & Educational Networks: Undersea Cables around Africa (2012)

Expansion of e-infrastructure in & around Africa

Scientific Research & Educational Networks: the future

• Establishment & implementation of NRENs – priorities internet connectivity in academic & industrial research institutions/partners

• Establishment of NRENs at national and regional level – NREN RREN RREN global - full potential use of digital infopowerful enabler for research cooperation, sustainable dev., & prevent brain drain

• Establishment & implementation -NRENs & government • Involvement of CSOs & others

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National Research & Educational Networks: the Future

• Terrestrial infrastructure in Africa taking over from the expensive narrow band satellite links

• Institutional benefits – national & regional networks

• Linked NRENs with other existing regional networks, initiatives and organizations networks (AU/NEPAD/ECA)

• High performance communication environment -time & distance not limiting

The Future NRENs – based on collaborative effort

For more information and up-dates, visitICSU global website: www.icsu.org ICSU ROA website: www.icsu-africa.org

Thank You

High-Performance High-Performance Communication Communication Environment: A Environment: A Strategy for Strategy for Collective Action Collective Action and Connectivity in and Connectivity in AfricaAfrica