-------------------------------------------------------------------- SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE AFRICA UPDATE VOL 1, NO. 12 - 22 NOVEMBER 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Spatial Data Infrastructure Africa (SDI-Africa) is a free email newsletter for people interested in GIS, remote sensing, and data management issues in Africa. To subscribe to SDI Africa, unsubscribe, or change your email address, contact: klance@usgs.gov If you're subscribing, please indicate your institutional affiliation and how you learned about the SDI-Africa newsletter. I began putting this information into a newsletter in an effort help provide information to colleagues in Africa (particularly since surfing the web can be costly in Africa). I am involved in a number of projects that aim to build SDI capacity in Africa; however, there is no project or organization that is called SDI Africa. I will send out issues as time permits. If you have news or information related to GIS, remote sensing, and spatial data infrastructure (e.g., workshop announcements, publications, reports, websites of interest, etc.), kindly send me the materials so that I can include them in the newsletter. This will ensure that issues are sent more frequently. The newsletter depends upon your continued interest and input. You are welcome to forward this message onto colleagues who may find the information useful. If you do so, please include the newsletter contact information at the bottom of this message so that others will know about the newsletter and subscribe themselves. Back issues of the newsletter are at the GSDI and GISD websites: GSDI: http://www.gsdi.org (go to GSDI newsletters) GISD: http://www.opengis.org/gisd (go to 'What's New') Best regards, Kate Please note: Some long URLs (internet addresses) may occupy 2 lines. In that case, copy both lines into your browser. -------------------------------------------------------------------- INPUT TO THIS ISSUE -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to Michael Arunga, International Livestock Research Institute (Nairobi,Kenya), Shu Manka, CAMGIS (Cameroon), Michelle Anthony, USGS/EROS Data Center (USA), Roger Longhorn (Belgium) and Hugh Williams, SKE (Canada) for their contributions to this issue, -------------------------------------------------------------------- SDI NEWS, LINKS, PAPERS, PRESENTATIONS - HAVE YOU READ? -------------------------------------------------------------------- The International Livestock Research Institute is in the process of developing a spatial metadata for a range of Spatial data layers collected over the last ten years most of which are related to livestock distribution and livestock health and production. Others cover more general topics such as population density, climate and infrastructure. They currently have a website running at http://www.ilri.cgiar.org/gis which is a first step towards SDI. Let them know what you think and how they might improve the website. Also, feel free to create a link to this page from your own website. For more information, contact Arunga Michael, m.arunga@cgiar.org http://www.iggi.gov.uk/achievements_deliverables/prinmeta.htm The Intra-governmental Group on Geographic Information (IGGI), UK has published The Principles of Good Metadata Management http://www.iggi.gov.uk/achievements_deliverables/prinprac.htm The Principles and Practice of Sharing & Trading Government Information. An IGGI Working Group has been in investigating the sharing and trading of government information. The results are a Summary Guide (Adobe PDF:36kb) giving a quick introduction to the subject and a Main Guide (Adobe PDF:124kb) for those with a stronger interest. http://serveurcse.cse.sn/senegal/index.htm Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) registered the first metadata clearinghouse node in Senegal in November 2002. [To see a map of all the metadata Clearinghouse nodes in the FGDC/GSDI Registry, go to http://registry.gsdi.org/registry/browsefunctions.asp and select the "View on Map (Map Objects IMS)" link. This map is created straight from the registry so it is always up to date with the registered nodes]. The CSE clearinghouse node will collect and update metadata covering atmospheric and climatic data, administrative and political boundaries, fresh water resources and characteristics, base maps, scanned maps and charts. Contact: Amadou Moctar Dieye, dieye@cse.sn [To seach registered metadata nodes for information about existing data, this URL is an entry point: http://130.11.52.184/servlet/FGDCWizard] http://www.fgdc.gov/cirs/cirs.doc 614 KB http://www.fgdc.gov/cirs/cirs.pdf 1.1 MB Value of Civil Imagery and Remote Sensing As a step toward building a national strategy to improve the efficiency of remote sensing use across the civil government, the US Federal Geographic Data Committee Civil Imagery and Remote Sensing Task Force provides a report on the value of remote sensing to the Nations economy, security, and quality of life. The Task Force includes representatives from 15 Federal agencies and coordinates with numerous related national organizations and communities. The report cites numerous cost-saving applications and recommends steps necessary to develop approaches and strategy alternatives to help meet civil agency remote sensing needs from airborne and spaceborne sensors. A successful strategy should enhance efficiencies and cost avoidance through the coordination of data acquisition, management, archiving, and applications in the context of agency missions and national policies. http://opengis.org/techno/guide.htm http://opengis.org/techno/guide/guide980615/toc.htm Introduction to Interoperable Geoprocessing and the OpenGIS Specification (view on-line or download), Third Edition, 1998. The Guide is not a programming manual or detailed specification document, but it provides the conceptual foundation needed by programmers and technical managers who are preparing to implement software interfaces that conform to OpenGIS Implementation Specifications. -------------------------------------------------------------------- GIS TOOLS, SOFTWARE, DATA -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.intergraph.com/gis/ogc/interop.asp Intergraph's Open Interoperability Grant Program is designed to stimulate the use of open interoperability standards through the support of organizations desiring to build Web services using OGC standards as well as organizations wishing to publish their data in XML/GML (file) format. One hundred grants will be awarded to qualifying organizations. Applications will be accepted from October 1, 2002, until April 1, 2003. If you have any additional questions, email interop@intergraph.com. http://www.state.wi.us/agencies/wlib/sco/metatool/mtools.htm Website describing a range of metadata tools http://www.ungiwg.org/docs/iso19115toolgeneric.zip FAO - ISO 19115 MetaData Collection Tool The files contain the final version of ISO 19115 Metadata Collection Tool which was developed at FAO. It shows the profile of ISO metadata fields being used at FAO. Everything necessary to install and use the tool, including an instruction document, is contained in the ZIP file. http://safari.gecp.virginia.edu/ SAFARI 2000 Synthesis Workshop, Oct. 6-11, 2002, Charlottesville, VA, USA. The EO-1/Landsat-7 tandem image pair over the SAFARI 2000 Skukuza site (announced in the second SAFARI Newsletter) is now available for publec release from the Landsat-7 Project Science Office. The Earth Observing 1 (EO-1) Advanced Land Imager (ALI) and Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) data sets cover part of the Kruger National Park on May 30, 2001 and were collected only a minute apart. The data are available on CD-ROM and by FTP. The following link provides additional details about the tandem data set: http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/IAS/tandem/Read_Me_1G.html. Contact Richard Irish (Richard.Irish@gsfc.nasa.gov) to obtain a copy. For futher information about SAFARI 2000, see http://www.safari2000.org/ http://www.photogrammetry.ethz.ch/general/persons/jana/isprs/tutrs/index.html Tutorial: New developments to extract information from RS data. Peter Zeil, Stefan Lang (Center for Geographic Information Processing ZGIS, Salzburg, Austria, from ISPRS Conference in Dar Es Salaam, 25-28 March, 2002 http://www.skeinc.com/DKW/DynamicPublisher.htm Dynamic Publisher is available for download from the SKE Inc. web site by registered users. Dynamic Publisher is available to registered users of Dynamic Knowledgebase. Dynamic Publisher enables one to package an Atlas(es) onto CD / DVD and that will then automatically import the atlas onto clients computers from the CD and will install Dynamic Maps if the client doesnt have it. It is automated and customizable with one's own message or web link for information. For futher information, contact Hugh Williams, email: hwilliams@skeinc.com. Free and commercial tools for generating statistics on use of your institution's website (to assess use of your website): http://www.freestats.com/ FreeStats will track your web sites' statistics around the clock and you can check them at any time using a web browser http://awstats.sourceforge.net/ - AWStats stands for Advanced Web Statistics. It's a free tool that generates advanced graphical web tatistics. http://www.webstat.com/ - WebSTAT.Com http://www.stats4you.com/products.asp - Stats4You.Com - web site statistics, quick stats and visitor tracking http://www.web-stat.com/ http://www.webtrends.com/ http://www.hitslogster.com/ http://www.hitbox.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------- GEOSPATIAL RESEARCH / APPLICATIONS / REFERNECE MATERIAL -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.camgis.com CAMGIS Lmt. is an NGO whose origins are with Helvetas Cameroon. They operate in three folds. They own a cyber cafe,a restaurant and a GIS Department which was the initial intention of the organisation. This year, they formed part of the team that drew up the Master Plan for Sustainable development in Cameroon. For more information, visit their website. http://www.grida.no/climate/vitalafrica/ Other vital graphics go to: http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/index.htm Vital Climate Graphics Africa is the title of the newly launched vital graphics package by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and GRID-Arendal. The package features 25 explanatory graphics on among other issues water availability, biodiversity and ranges of infectious diseases. This set of 25 graphics focuses on the special challenges that Africa faces due to expected long term changes in climate. The Vital Climate Graphics for Africa is based on the most recent scientific data provided by the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2001) and other data reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Group. Policymakers, teachers, experts, media professionals and students who are making efforts to address the root causes of environmental degradation and climate change should find this publication a useful tool in their work. http://www.desertification.it/doc/Workshop%20Alghero/2-data%20problem/Feoli.htm Data Integration and Scenario Simulation in a Degraded and Degrading Area of East Africa (Tigray, Ethiopia). A SDSS was developed with a case study in the Adwa district (Tigray) to understand and to prevent degradation of the rural systems of East African highlands. The case study was carried out within a project funded by European Commission (INCO-DC). The utility of a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) is synthetically described by three examples of application in a degrading rural area of Tigray. The problem of data collection and data integration is discussed in light of the SDSS design. It is recognised the difficulty of collecting "good" data; however, the availability of an open SDSS allows one to work by successive approximations based on incremental updating of all its components, including data, software, hardware and methods. http://www.wrem.udsm.ac.tz/publications/berhanu.html Berhanu, F.A., Development And Application Of A GIS-Based Regional Hydrological Variability And Impact Assessment System (RHVIAS) for the Southern African Region. A GIS-based regional hydrological variability and environmental impact assessment system (RHVIAS) links the different components for analysis of regional water resources availability, variability and environmental impact assessment (EIA) of possible climate change on water resources at a regional scale. http://www.itc.gm/html/news.html The International Trypanotolerance Centre A Geographical Information Unit was established with the arrival of Dr Stanley Adams at International Trypanotolerance Centre . The Unit is a collaboration between the Center and IAO, Italy, with input from FAO. It aims at establishing training capacity and analytical capacity for research and development activities in the region (e.g., Spatio-temporal changes of land cover/land use types in the Greater Banjul Area, using RS and GIS techniques (a methodological introduction / overview). -------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES / AWARDS / SUPPORT -------------------------------------------------------------------- [Note from Kate: proposals for the grant below are due by Dec. 1 - just a few days away] Grants to Institutions in the South for Joint Research Projects http://www.ictp.trieste.it/~twas/TWNSO_RG.html The Third World Network of Scientific Organizations (TWNSO) with financial support from the OPEC Fund for International Development has established a competitive Research Grants scheme designed to encourage and support joint research projects involving 2-3 competent research and training institutions from different countries in the South. To ensure maximum benefit to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), it is required that at least one of the cooperating institutions in any proposed project should be from the LDCs. A list of these countries is available here http://www.ictp.trieste.it/~twas/LDC.html http://www.ifad.org/ngo/ecp/ecp.htm IFAD/NGO Extended Cooperation Programme (ECP) Grants. The purpose of the grant programme is to enhance IFADs direct collaboration with NGOs in the promotion of participatory and community-based rural development and poverty alleviation and to encourage recipient governments to build upon the experience and know-how accumulated from the activities of NGOs and to engage, themselves, in dialogue and collaboration with these organizations. http://www.carnegie.org/sub/program/intl_development.html The International Development Program (IDP) of Carnegie Corporation seeks to enhance the capacity of selected African universities and public library systems to contribute toward national development. The overall strategy is to provide institutional support to selected universities in Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. By focusing on these five countries, IDP will be able to concentrate resources, provide larger grants, maximize impact and create models replicablepelsewhere. The Corporation accepts requests for funding at all times of the year. There are no application deadlines. For more information on how to apply for a grant, see: http://www.carnegie.org/sub/program/grant.html. Grantseekers who would like to approach the foundation with a preliminary request for funding are encouraged to submit a letter of inquiry. http://www.codesria.org/Links/Training%20and%20Grants/small_grants_2003.htm Small Grants Programme for Thesis Writing 2003 sponsored by The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA). The grants are intended to contribute to funding primary research conducted by students and professionals, as means of promoting the development of social sciences in Africa and of strengthening the research capacity of African Universities. The grants are also aimed at funding field work, the acquisition of books and documents, data processing and printing costs of theses. The Programme is open to African professionals and graduate students registered in African universities preparing their theses in all social science fields and other disciplines involving social or economic analysis. Application deadline is 30 March 2003 and the Selection Committee will meet in April 2003. -------------------------------------------------------------------- TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.aucegypt.edu/graduate/Graduate_Studies/Tution___Financial_Opportuniti/Fellowships/African_Graduate_Fellowships/african_graduate_fellowships.html#Eligibility African Graduate Fellowship is a competitive fellowship program for bright, highly motivated African students interested in pursuing a master's degree at American University in Cairo. [Note from Kate: You will need to inquire about GIS courses; however, Computer Science is one of the areas of studies. For information on the academic aspects of the graduate program, send an email to: cscigrad@aucegypt.edu] Each year, fellowships are offered to nationals of African countries (not including Egyptians) for study in any of the graduate programs offered at American University in Cairo. http://www.aucegypt.edu/graduate/Graduate_Studies/Graduate_Admissions/Application/application.html Ms. Sawsan Mardini - International Graduate Program Coordinator e-mail: sawsanmr@aucegypt.edu , Tel. (20-2)797-5530 http://www.unigis.org/ UNIGIS is a worldwide network of educational institutions which offer distance learning courses in GIS. http://www.up.ac.za/academic/gis/upgis.htm University of Pretoria, Centre for Geoinformation Science Study Programme in Geographic Information Science (GIS). The programme offers various pathways to an interesting career in Geographic Information Science. Many of the programme options are available via the Internet and supported by a full range of workshops. Email: unigis@postino.up.ac.za http://tutor.petech.ac.za/unigis/Default.asp Distance Learning in Geographical Information Systems, Port Elizabeth Technikon, South Africa. UNIGIS is a network of Universities co-operating in the design and delivery of distance learning in GIS. Members of the UNIGIS network offer postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and Masters courses in Geographical Information Systems. Core course resources are adapted, translated and supplemented with additional materials to support the needs of local students. Members of the UNIGIS network also work together in research and curriculum development activities related to GIS education. For further information contact the UNIGIS Office, Faculty of Computer Studies, PE Technikon, unigis@petech.ac.za ITC has organized Refresher courses in Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana for its alumni and project partners. http://www.itc.nl/alumni/services/refresher_courses/nigeria.asp Refresher course, 1 October 2002 - 13 October 2002, RECTAS, Ile Ife, Nigeria http://www.itc.nl/alumni/services/refresher_courses/_info_south_africa.asp GeoSpatial Information Infrastructure in Southern Africa (GDISA) Refresher course, 20 October - 2 November 2002, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa. http://www.itc.nl/alumni/services/refresher_courses/ghana.asp Refresher course, 2 December 2002 - 13 December 2002, Ghana, Accra-Legon, University of Ghana. -------------------------------------------------------------------- CONFERENCES - YOU'RE INVITED! -------------------------------------------------------------------- November 30, 2002 - Expression of Interest due http://www.ihdp.uni-bonn.de/Pdf_files/YSC_Circ1.pdf 1st International Young Scientists' Global Change Conference, 16-19 November 2003 Trieste, Italy. Submissions of papers and posters are invited from young scientists (age 35 years or less) on the physical, biological and human aspects of global change. Abstracts not exceeding 300 words are due on Friday 14 March 2003. Expression of Interest form due 30 November 2002. November 30th, 2002 - Call for Papers http://www.jkuat.ac.ke/other/ce2003/default.htm International Civil Engineering Conference on Sustainable Development in the 21st Century (August 12-16, 2003, Nairobi, Kenya). Those who wish to make oral/poster presentations are requested to submit three copies of an abstract of not more than 500 words, outlining the content and conclusions of their paper, no later than Nov. 30, 2002. December 10, 2002 http://www.gsdi.org/docs/SDIA/Landscapes_of_Africa4.doc Call For Oral And Poster Presentations For A Special Session On "The Changing Landscapes Of Africa". International Association of Landscape Ecologist, (IALE) World Congress. Contact hbulley@calmit.unl.edu by December 10, 2002 to express your interest in participating in this special session and/or inauguration Africa-IALE chapter. All abstracts for oral and poster presentations need to be submitted through the IALE 2003 conference web site at http://www.iale.ntu.edu.au by January 31, 2003 December 2002, Yaound‚, Cameroon http://www.paris21.org/htm/regional.htm#africa Central Africa Workshop - Statistics The workshop will comprise the six members of CEMAC (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon) plus Sao Tom‚ and Principe; each country delegation will include up to six participants. January 2003, Dakar, Senegal (third week of January 2003 proposed) http://www.paris21.org/htm/regional.htm#africa West Africa Regional Workshop(s) -- Statistics. The workshop will be split into two parts comprising seven to eight countries each. The two parts will be held on different dates and in different locations. Every country will be invited to attend both parts, but the delegations for countries to which the workshop relates directly will include up to six delegates, and the other countries will send one or two delegates. The first group will be composed of: Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone. The second group will include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo. The second West African workshop has been proposed for February 17-21, 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria January 22-24, 2003, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa http://www.cig.ensmp.fr/~iahs/conferences/2003Stellenbosch.htm 2nd International Symposium on Integrated Water Resourcs Management - "Towards Sustainable Water Utilisation in the 21st Century. February 17-21, 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria http://www.paris21.org/htm/regional.htm#africa West Africa Regional Workshop(s) -- Statistics. See above (January 2003) February 17-21, 2003, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand http://www.iucn.org/themes/fcp/activities/transboundary1.htm Increasing effectiveness of Transboundary Conservation Areas in tropical forests. Upcoming workshop organized jointly by ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organization) and IUCN. The workshop will bring together practioners involved in the implementation of ITTO's transboundary conservation areas (TBCA) programme, and experts from IUCN and other interested organizations. TBCA Meeting Secretariat: transboundary@iucn.org March 10-12, 2003, Paris, France http://www7.nationalacademies.org/usnc-codata/OpenAccessWorkshop.html International Workshop on Open Access and the Public Domain in Digital Data and Information for Science May 12-16, 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The 3rd Meeting for the Committee on Development Information Theme: Information for Governance United Nations Conference Center (UNCC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia http://www.uneca.org/eca_resources/Conference_Reports_and_Other_Documents/di sd/codi/codi_iii__advance_announcement.htm http://www.uneca.org/codi May 14 - 16 , 2003, Cape Town, South Africa http://www.ausimm.com.au/whatsnew/apcom.doc The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy will host the 31st International Symposium on Computer Applications in the Minerals Industries (APCOM). Karen du Toit, The Symposium Co-ordinator, APCOM 2003, apcom@saimm.co.za, http://www.saimm.co.za May 18 - 23, 2003, Montreal, Canada http://network.idrc.ca/ev.php?URL_ID=3964&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC International Forum on Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health The goal of the Forum is to provide a platform for a discussion of the ecosystem approach to human health, the evidence from the field, and the relevance of the approach to improving health and well-being. The Forum offers the opportunity for researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and civil society representatives from around the world to share knowledge, and for institutions to consider strategies for a way forward. May 22-23, 2003, GFAR Conference in Dakar, Senegal http://www.egfar.org/tools/special2002/specialcontents.htm#2003 Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the Senegalese National Organising Committee to hold the 2003 GFAR Conference on May 22 & 23, 2003. The GFAR Conference follows closely behind the 2nd FARA General Assembly which will now take place on May 19 & 20th, 2003 in Dakar, Senegal. In between the FARA and GFAR meetings, there will be an Agricultural Day scheduled for May 21st, 2003, during which the host, the Senegalese NARS, will show us some of the work they have been doing. GFAR Secretariat, gfar-secretariat@fao.org May 22-23, 2003. Berlin, Germany http://tlc.unipv.it/urban_2003/index.html 2nd Joint Workshop on Remote Sensing and Data Fusion over Urban Areas (URBAN 2003) May 26-30, 2003, Bonn, Germany http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/shared/template/livelihoodconference.asp International Conference on Rural Livelihoods, Forests and Biodiversity. An international conference on the role of forests in supporting rural livelihoods in developing countries and on the maintenance of biodiversity. Key objectives are to survey current knowledge and identify policy lessons and a future research strategy. May 27-30 2003, Semmering, Austria http://isess.crle.uoguelph.ca/2003.html International Symposium on Environmental Information Systems (ISESS 2003) is the 8th event in the conference series organised by IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing) Working Group 5.11, "Computers and Environment". The purpose of the symposium is to present and discuss the progress and actual trends in Enviromatics in terms of methods, tools and state-of-the-art applications. July 9-11, 2003, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA http://www.spatial.maine.edu/~ssdbm03/ SSDBM2003, 15th International Conference on Scientific and Statistical Database Management June 14-20, 2003, Marrakech, Morocoo http://www.iaia.org/ IAIA '03 Conference: Impact Assessment and Capacity Building July 7-11, 2003, San Diego, CA, USA http://www.esri.com/events/uc/index.html ESRI International User Conference 2003 July 12-14, 2003, Okinawa, Japan http://www.iscgm.org/html4/index_c1_s1.html#doc2_org.iscgm.schedule.gmf03 Global Mapping Forum 2003 in Okinawa (GMF03), sponsored by the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping. The objective of the Forum is to exchange ideas, experiences and information among data users and data providers concerning global or regional scale geographic information. July 13-17, 2003, Darwin, Australia International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) World Congress. A special session on Africa is being planned for 2003. The proposed theme for this session is, "The Changing Landscapes Of Africa". The session is also intended to be a starting point for an Africa-Chapter of IALE. All those with interest in landscape analysis, resource data and projects in Africa are encouraged to be part of this process. If you are interested in the special session and Africa-IALE, contact: Henry N.N. Bulley, CALMIT, University of Nebraska - Lincoln Tel: 402-472-4973; Email: hbulley@calmit.unl.edu July 20 - 25, 2003, Cambridge, U.K. (by invitation only) http://www.cambridgeconference2003.com/index.htm National Mapping - Shaping the future. A newsletter, giving more details about the conference, has been sent out to potential delegates. Ordnance Survey hosted the first two conferences (1995, 1999), which by design aims to get together the senior people in national mapping to discuss, in a relatively informal setting, the challenges facing national mapping around the world. In recent years, the conference has also, not surprisingly, focused on SDI's, training, public private relationships etc. for senior representatives of national mapping organisations of the world. Each time, about 200 delegates from 70 to 80 countries were represented at the conference July 21 - August 1, 2003, Durban, South Africa http://www.ru.ac.za/institutes/rgi/irc2003/IRC2003.htm International Rangeland Congress August 4 - 11, 2003, Bloemfontein, South Africa Water Conservation Technologies for Sustainable Dryland Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (WCT). This event is organized jointly by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Water Research Commission of South Africa (WRC), South Africa's National Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the ARC-Institute for Soil, Climate and Water (ISCW). This event was initiated by ISCW and the Optimizing Soil Water Use (OSWU) Consortium which is part of the Systemwide Soil, Water and Nutrient Management (SWNM) Programme of CGIAR. August 10 - 16, 2003, Durban, South Africa http://www.icc2003.gov.za/ 21st International Cartographic Conference & 12th General Assembly of the International Cartographic Association ICA and the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association will offer spatial data infrastructure workshops in conjunction with the International Cartographic Confernce August 12-16, 2003, Nairobi, Kenya http://www.jkuat.ac.ke/other/ce2003/default.htm International Civil Engineering Conference on Sustainable Development in the 21st Century. Organized by: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT) August 13-20, 2003. Berlin, Germany http://www.isi-2003.de International Statistical Institute, 54th Biennial Session (includes meetings of the Bernoulli Society, the International Association for Statistical Computing, the International Association of Survey Statisticians, the International Association for Official Statistics and the International Association for Statistical Education). Email: isi@cbs.nl September 8-17, 2003, Durban, South Africa http://wcpa.iucn.org/wpc/wpc.html Vth World Congress on Protected Areas September 17-19, 2003, Quebec, Canada. http://www.gfis.net/showannoun.php?id=24 Information Interoperability and Organization for National and Global Forest Information Systems. The goal of the conference is to bring together international scientists, practitioners, administrators, and information professionals to discuss and announce recent research and advances in the use and organization of information within national and global forest information systems. October 19-31, 2003. Bonn, Germany 6th Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification. Contact: CCD Secretariat; Tel 49-228-815 2800; Fax 49-228-815 2898/99; secretariat@unccd.int; www.unccd.int November 2003, Dakar, Senegal. AfricaGIS '03. Check EIS-AFRICA website for more details as they become available. http://www.eis-africa.org November 10-14, 2003, Honolulu, HI, USA http://www.symposia.org 30th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment December 1- 5, 2003. Morocco FIG Regional Conference for the Arab Countries and Francophone Africa. Organised by FIG, Ordre National des Ingenieurs Geometres - Topographes ONIGT. Co-sponsored by FIG Commissions 2, 3 and 5. Contact: FIG Office, email: fig@fig.net -------------------------------------------------------------------- EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.iucn.org/about/vacnepad.doc C/ordinator for the New Partnership for Development in Africa (NEPAD). Initially based in Nairobi, Kenya. To apply for the above position, interested candidates should submit a letter of application, detailed CV and names and contact details of two referees before 25 November 2002. http://environment.harvard.edu/lists/archives/envjobs%2Dl/msg04154.html http://www.cdc.info Manager, Conservation Planning. Location: Nairobi, Kenya This position is being re-advertised (previously as NRM Planning Programme Officer). CDC asks that you do not apply if you have already submitted an application. The Conservation Development Centre (CDC) is a service centre providing specialist technical support for governments, development agencies, conservation NGOs and community-based organisations working to reconcile nature conservation and human development. Since many of CDC's planning initiatives involve local stakeholders that are the custodians of key natural resources, the Manager will spend a significant amount of time working closely with communities and local agencies, including participatory appraisal exercises and decision-making workshops. Another important area will be the application of GIS techniques for identifying and analysing natural resource use patterns and management zoning. See website for further details, position requirements, and application instructions. http://www.macfound.org Program Officer The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation seeks a Program Officer in its Program on Global Security and Sustainability. The Program Officer will be primarily responsible for designing a strategy and developing a portfolio of grants to conserve biological diversity and strengthen institutional capacities in select regions of Africa. Some travel in Africa is required. Qualifications include a graduate degree (Ph.D. preferred) in a field relevant to biodiversity conservation and natural resources management; at least five years experience working as a conservation practitioner or doing applied conservation research; extensive knowledge of and experience with universities, research institutes, and national and international organizations and NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous grantmaking or grantseeking experience and time spent living and working in Africa preferred. Strong English writing skills required. Mail, fax or email cover letter, resume and salary history by December 16, 2002 to: Search Director, MacArthur Foundation, 140 S. Dearborn, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60603; Fax: (312) 920-6284, jobs@macfound.org . http://jobs.oneworld.net/ads/index.cfm?job_id=1804 Project Manager, Open Knowledge Network, Africa - Sub-Saharan Closing Date: 25-Nov-2002 Start Date: January 2003 The Open Knowledge Network is an initiative of the G8 Digital Opportunity Taskforce (DOTForce) linking together existing grassroots information and knowledge-sharing initiatives to promote both the creation and the exchange of local content as widely as possible across the South, supported by a range of different information and communication technologies (ICTs). The programme is coordinated by OneWorld International and its network of southern offices. The Project Manager, located in Africa, will be responsible for planning, coordinating and delivering OKN activities in the region, based on building solid relationships with a range of stakeholders (especially at grassroots level) in a pan-African context. Candidates must have at least five years' experience of working in Africa in development-related activities, creating a deep understanding of African development issues; significant, proven experience of project management and administration especially in the international development field ú Experience of developing projects with an ICT component. This post will involve considerable travel in West, East and Southern Africa in the initial stages of the project. OneWorld's African office is located in Lusaka, Zambia, and this is where office space would be available if/when required, though working from home is also possible at the beginning. A permanent base for the OKN in Africa will be selected and established after the Project Manager has been in post for several months. To receive an application pack, email jobs@oneworld.net. Deadline for completed application forms: 5pm, Monday 25 November. Interviews: 3 and 4 December, by phone for overseas candidates. http://www.iied.org/people_jobs/jobs/nrira.html Research Associate, International Institute for Environment and Development. The newly created post is a joint venture between the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) and The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). The Research Associate's duties will include taking lead responsibility for reviewing research and project material on land, assisting in the development of a series of good practice guidelines for DFID, (UK Department for International Development) and other partners on a variety of land related issues and organising an IIED workshop on land policy in West Africa, to be held in 2003. Other duties will include undertaking documentation searches and short pieces of desk research, assisting with the content, editing and placement of land policy related publications by NRI and IIED staff and contributing to the IIED land tenure research projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. See website for more details and requirements, or e-mail HR@iied.org. Closing date for applications is 25 Nov 2002. [Note from Kate: would be nice to have someone with knowledge of geospatial technology applications/needs at the African Development Bank...] http://www.afdb.org/about_adb/vacancies/vn_adb02_86e.htm Division Manager, African Development Institute [Ref. VN ADB/02/86] Under the general supervision of the Director, Development Research Department, the manager of the African Development Institute will be involved in developing policies and identifying strategic priorities for the Bank training activities in Regional Member Countries (RMCs). He/She will also be responsible for the efficient implementation of the Bank's training programs in RMCs. In addition, he/she will have overall responsibility of the day-to-day management of the Institute. Selection Criteria -- at least a Master's/ Post-graduate degree (preferably Ph.D.) in a development related field including agriculture, education, economics, social studies or related area. At least eight (8) years of combined relevant and progressive experience (3-4 years of which in a managerial position) in development activities specifically related to capacity building, training and management. See link for more details. Closing date for applications: Nov. 25, 2002. GIS Database Officer Organisation Survey Action Center (http://www.sac-na.org) Job Location Angola. Closing date 01 Dec 2002 The Survey Action Center (SAC) is an international organization focusing on humanitarian mine action and serves as the coordination point for the Global Landmine Impact Surveys (GLS). The GIS Database Officer shall maintain and manage the GIS (currently ESRI ArcView) and all contained map datasets (country datasets and relevant metadata) as well as the survey database. The GIS Database Officer shall provide technical backstopping and training to survey staff. For more information, contact Ms. Carli Numi, Human Resources, jobs@sac-na.org http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/unmee/body_unmee.htm Organization: United Nations Mission in Asmara, Eritrea Title: Chief, Geographical Information Systems Cell (P-3) Location: Asmara, Eritrea Application Deadline: not specified Posted: 2002-11-14 The Chief of Geographical Information Systems Cell will form part of the Joint Geographical Information Systems Cell, comprising of six international staff and six military officers. The Joint Geographical Information Systems Cell would serve as the focal point for all geographic information matters within the Mission and would prepare and maintain geographical information for the Head of Mission, the Force Commander and the Chief Administrative Officer. Under the direct supervision of the Chief, Integrated Support Services (CISS), the Chief of Geographical Information Systems Cell is responsible for the overall management, planning, scheduling and monitoring of GIS-related matters in UNMEE. Qualifications and Experience: Post-graduate degree in the field of Geographic Information System (GIS), Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering or equivalent. At least 5-7 years experience in GIS field on planning, GIS integration, geographic/terrain analysis, remote sensing, surveying, mapping; project design/ development; minimum 5 years of experience (including GIS) in planning, project management, field operation and development of engineering works or projects. Hands-on experience with the following GIS software: ArcGIS (ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcView); ArcIMS, ArcSDE and ArcPAD; ERDAS Imagine Advantage and OrthoBase; familiarity with GIS system design/development, GIS tools and data, database management system and web technology. For details of the position, contact Human Resources Planning and Development Section, PMSS/DPKO, dpko-missions-internalva@un.org, referring to vacancy number MEE-02-015 RECIRCULATED. http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/unmee/body_unmee.htm Organization: United Nations Dept of Peace Keeping Operations Title: Remote Sensing Technician \ Trainer Location: Asmara, Eritrea, NE Africa Length of Contract: Consultant position, original terms are 3 months with possible extension(s). Open Date: would like to fill this post by 15 Dec 02. Joint GeoCell (UNMEE), Joint GeoCell is providing Geographical (GIS) support to the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. They are seeking GIS/Remote Sensing Technician \ Trainer to work in cooperation with the Unit Chief supporting routine requirtments for GIS support in the mission area. The staff will also work cooperatively both Military Force and civilian GIS personnel in a joint concept environment, laterally the GIS/Remote Sensing Expert will liase with sister UN agencies and other collaborative partners. The selected candidate will apply his/hers experience in managing remote sensing and geographic information system projects to address environmental, military management, logistical and other decision-making issues characteristic of a Peace Keeping mission. Approximately 25 percent of the experts' role will entail remote sensing software training to various personal with ranging level of prior skill in RS. Must have BA/BS degree (Geography, Computer Science, or related discipline) in the field of GIS or equivalent, and subsequent specialization in Information Technology (IT) for operating in minimum three (3) years experience in GIS (GIS software, GIS analysis, auto mapping (AM), facility management (FM), and etc.). Also, must have experience with ERDAS Imagine 8.5 and ER Mapper, ESRI software packages, ArcMap 8.1, ArcInfo, ArcPlot, ArcEdit, TIN, GRID, AML, ArcView, 3D Analyst, Avenue, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. For more information about the position, contact: chinnici@un.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/LUC/JB-Report.pdf Climate Change and Agricultural Vulnerability. A recent report commissioned by the United Nations for the Johannesburg Summit integrates spatial agro-ecological evaluations of all countries, developed and developing, into a world economy and trade policy general equilibrium model. http://www.digitalgovernance.org Digital Governance project. The core aim of DigitalGovernance.org is to explore, customize and advocate innovative models of e-governance that are applicable for developing countries. The underlying principle of the e-governance models displayed on the website is strategic use of information so as to bridge the gap between people and policymakers. More often than not, people in developing countries are often far removed from governance processes that affect their lives. Inception of new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the area of governance, however, can make people more active participants in the governance process. You can stay updated about Digital Governance project by sending a blank email to: digitalgovernance-subscribe@yahoogroups.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- The inspiration for this newsletter came from the Forest Information Update (www.foresters.org/portal), and follows the same format. Thank you Gyde! You are welcome to forward this message onto colleagues who may find the information useful. If you do so, please include the newsletter contact information at the bottom of this message so that others will know about the newsletter and subscribe themselves. If you have news or information related to GIS, remote sensing, and spatial data infrastructure (e.g., workshop announcements, publications, reports, websites of interest) kindly send me the materials so that I can include it in the newsletter. This newsletter depends upon your continued interest and input. This newsletter is supported through the Geographic Information for Sustainable Development Project GISD (http://www.opengis.org/gisd). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Kate Lance EROS Data Center/International Program Address: Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Secretariat USGS 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Mail Stop 590 Reston, VA 20192 Email: klance@usgs.gov Tel: 703-648-4564 Fax. 703-648-5755 Website: http://edcintl.cr.usgs.gov/ http://www.gsdi.org/