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AFRICAN CHALLENGES African problems are transboundary in nature (health, energy, pollution, food security, climate change, communication)
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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 [email protected]
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
10
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 YouHigh-Performance High-Performance Communication Communication Environment: A Environment: A Strategy for Strategy for Collective Action Collective Action and Connectivity in and Connectivity in AfricaAfrica
