SPECIAL REQUEST - TO SUPPORT DATA STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION IN AFRICA In an effort to improve capacity building efforts with respect to data standards in Africa, EIS-AFRICA and USGS/EDC ask for your assistance in identifying - existing data standardization activities and priorities (both formal and 'de facto' standards); - specific barriers to data standard development and implementation; - interventions which will assist in overcoming these barriers (e.g, ideas on what can be done to increase standards activities within the geospatial community). http://www.eis-africa.org/DOCS/standards%20questionnaire_v_080503.doc * * * Please download and complete the questionnaire by June 18th. We will synthesize the responses to this questionnaire, publish the results on various websites, and provide recommendations and reference materials to advance geospatial standardization (both national and trans-national concerns). * * * See links on last page of the questionnaire for a 'smattering' of standards reference material . (Note from Kate: the questionnaire is being circulated to 1,500 - 2000 geospatial specialists in Africa. I'm curious to see how many people respond. For me, it will be an indication of how 'ready' the geospatial community is for data standards. There has been a lot of talk about the need for data standards, but thus far, unfortunately, little action. This is an opportunity for action. Let's see what we can make of it - thank you). -------------------------------------------------------------------- SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE AFRICA UPDATE VOL 2, NO. 6 - 30 MAY 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 information into a newsletter in an effort to 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/sdi_news.htm 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 Wilber Otichillo, Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (Kenya); Holger Kolberg, Directorate Scientific Service (Namibia); Daniel Berhanu, ILRI (Ethiopia); Mamadou Fofana, Centre Africain de l'Information Environnementale (Ivory Coast); Doug Nebert, FGDC/GSDI (USA), Chris Ambala, UNEP (Kenya); and Patrice Sanou, Centre SIG et Teledetection (Burkina Faso) for the contributions to this issue of the newsletter. -------------------------------------------------------------------- SDI NEWS, LINKS, PAPERS, PRESENTATIONS - HAVE YOU READ? -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.uneca.org/codi http://www.gsdi.org/docs/SDIA/Recommendations_CODI-Geo_workshop.doc The 3rd Meeting for the Committee on Development Information took place, May 12-16, 2003 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The weekend prior to the Meeting, a workshop was convened during which the formation of a Permanent Committee for Spatial Data Infrastructure for Africa was discussed, as recommended by CODI II. The participants examined the proposed statutes for such a body, prepared by the CODI-Geoinformation Secretariat based on the statutes of the Permanent Committees for the Americas and Asia/Pacific. The participants agreed that CODI-Geoinformation should assume the functions of a Permanent Committee on Spatial Data Infrastructure in Africa considering: - the need to avoid the proliferation of regional and sub-regional organizations with similar objectives; and - the fact that the objectives of the proposed body are already contained or embedded in the Terms of Reference of the Sub-committee on Geoinformation of CODI. See link for further details of the statutes. http://www.ngis.gov.bw/ngis/index.html The web-site of the Swedish government-supported project 'Establishment of a National Geographic Information System' in Botswana has been updated since the first time the URL was provided in the SDI AFRICA newsletter (December, Vol. 1, No. 13). Also, a clearinghouse, metadata, and web mapping workshop was held in Botswana May 5-7, 2003, organized by the University of Botswana, Southern Africa Fire Network (SAFNet), and the Botswana National GIS Coordination Committee. The training was conducted by USGS/EROS Data Center and SADC Regional Regional Remote Sensing Center, with support from USAID (E-INFORM project). Tanzania, Ethiopia and Zambia also conducted SDI workshops in May 2003. Further details will be provided in the next issue of the SDI Africa newsletter. - Tanzania Spatial Data Infrastructure Stakeholders Workshop, Dar es Salaam, May 19-20, 2003 (organized by National Bureau of Statistics, Surveys and Mapping Division, Ministry of Lands and Human Settlements Development, and University College of Lands and Architectural Studies (UCLAS). - Ethiopian Spatial Data Infrastructure Workshop, May 16, 2003, Addis Ababa (organized by Ethiopian Mapping Authority) - Zambia Clearinghouse, Metadata, and Web Mapping Workshop, May 10-12, 2003 (organized by Environmental Information Network and Monitoring System (EINMS)/Environmental Support Programme http://www.unep.org/roa/aein/index.asp Africa Environmental Information Network (AEIN) strategy documents are now available on the web. See website for information about AEIN (i.e. About AEIN, Objectives, Activity areas, Implementation strategy and Networking framework, Activity Matrix, Work Plan etc). This will be the main site from where all AEIN, AMCEN, AEO and NEPAD activities and documents will be found, so note that UNEP will keep improving and populating this site with all the relevant documents, important issues and the activities etc. The idea is to ensure that all the necessary AEIN documents can be available and easily accessed by those who might be interested to know about AEIN and related activities. http://www.povertymap.net/ Poverty Mapping -- Poverty Mapping is a joint initiative by FAO, UNEP and the CGIAR consisting of a network of institutions dedicated to: analyze and map the spatial distribution of poverty; produce and promote the use of poverty maps and shows linkages between poverty and food insecurity, the environment and development; and promote the use of poverty maps in policy making and targeting assistance. The site contains maps, data, publications and links. Three pilot poverty mapping case studies are being conducted in Africa (in Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya) http://www.povertymap.net/casestudies.htm - Nigeria Use of geo-spatial predictive drivers for reducing malnutrition levels of poor rural households in Nigeria - Mapping and Beyond - Improving Welfare Policy Design and Targeting through Spatial Analysis of Poverty and Vulnerability: A Study of Malawi - Kenya Livelihoods and Information Mapping in Kenya https://www.caie.fr.st Centre Africaine de l'Information Environnementale (CAIE) (website is in French -- check for English version, which is also under development) L'objectif majeur du CAlE est la création d'un réseau africain d'échange de données environnementales à travers le continent et le monde par la création d'une bourse de projets environnementaux et d'une fondation de données. Dans cette optique, le Centre s'est fixé comme objectifs : -la création de bases de données environnementales aux niveaux local, national et régional; -la formation de tous les acteurs de l'environnement (décideurs, techniciens); -la formation des responsables locaux des ONG dans le domaine de la collecte, de l'analyse et de la gestion des données et supports de l'environnement; -l'élaboration de stratégies et politiques de gestion de Systèmes d'Information Environnementale; -la mise à disposition de données fiables et à jour relatives à l'environnement. http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/fs/2002/15617.htm http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2003/16811.htm http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/af/usafr/a3031102.htm http://carpe.umd.edu/ The Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), launched by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell at the August 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a partnership of 29 governments, international organizations, environmental and business interests which will be functioning as a part of, and complementary to, the overall CARPE program. The United States plans to invest up to $53 million in the Congo Basin Forest Partnership through 2005. The U.S. contribution to the CBFP, whose primary goals are protection, integrated development and land-use management to promote economic development, improved governance and natural resource conservation, through support for a network of national parks and protected areas, well-managed forestry concessions, and assistance to communities which depend upon the conservation of forest and wildlife resources, will focus its energies on achieving these goals in eleven priority landscapes spanning Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The first meeting of the CBFP partners took place January 21-23, 2003 in Paris, hosted by the government of France. Thirty partners, including 80 representatives from 14 governments, international organizations and civil society are attending the coordination meeting. CARPE will be the primary mechanism by which the US Government will implement its CBFP initiatives. http://www.brgm.fr/JEIDG/jeidgA.htm Synopsis Report: 45th Meeting of the OGC Technical and Planning Committees was held in Orleans, France 7-11 April. (provided by Doug Nebert, Geospatial Data Clearinghouse Coordinator, FGDC/GSDI Secretariat) The First European Symposium on Geographic Data Interoperability was held at the host organization, BRGM, to promote awareness on applying ISO standards and OGC specifications within Europe. Nearly 200 participants were present. It is the first effort within the country to discuss geospatial interoperability and included a broad section of local to national governmental representatives, industry and academia. The BRGM is taking the lead in adopting ISO and OGC technologies to provide web map services through a system called INFO-TERRE (http://infoterre.brgm.fr/) for France. At the OGC Natural Resources Working Group meeting, BRGM gave a presentation on the Africa GIS Project for Sustainable Development that has just begun. Using French foreign assistance funds (no EU partners yet) they have a multi-year program to assist in the mapping of geology and mineral information for 10 countries in Africa -- 7 in West Africa, 3 in East Africa. The plan is to work with the host countries to develop local geologic information and expertise, prepare and publish digital and paper map information, and provide 22 workshops at two host centers to be established in Dar es Salaam and Ouagadougou. These workshops will be on thematic data design, metadata, and related topics. http://www.itc.nl/library/Papers/msc_2002/gfm/redido-cusi.pdf Disseminating Philippine Census Data through the Web, by Daisy Redido-Cusi, March, 2002. Thesis submitted to the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geoinformatics. Includes a review of existing websites of census bureaus from different countries. The main objective of this study is to identify and to create a suitable interface using the web as the medium between the user community and the census bureau. The major step undertaken in this endeavour started by an inventory of existing websites of the national statistical agencies or census bureaus in the world by describing the various functionalities these websites have. Then a few of these websites together with four cartographic viewers of census data were analysed meticulously, noting down their common characteristics, which were used for the implementation of the user requirement surveys and the selection of software and hardware for creating a prototype. http://www.ubos.org/ http://www.ubos.org/newcart.html The Cartographic Unit of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), also known as the Geographic information systems section, made up of Geographers and Cartographers, is charged with organizing and executing of the Mapping Programme of Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Institutionalization and utilization of GIS tools within the Bureau’s statistical system is being realized through the creation of a GIS laboratory (equipped with minimum GIS capability) in a networked IT environment. The digitalization of the Geographical Sampling Area Frame is being compiled for future censuses and surveys and other users and this is going to make it possible for users to obtain hard copy and digital census and/or statistical maps at a fee from GIS Section (Cartography), UBOS. The Uganda Spatial Data Infrastructure (USDI) GIS - NDF updating UBOS to help it coordinate the system - a consultant is expected. In Cartography, UNFPA has agreed to fund Post Census Mapping in two releases - 1st release in April 2003 - $150,000 including expertise. Second release to be determined later. http://www.capetown.gov.za/planning/ Councillor and Community Planning Information Website Ross McDonald, Spatial Planning GIS; City of Cape Town, Ross.McDonald@capetown.gov.za. The Spatial Planning Department, City of Cape Town, is applying GIS as an information tool to inform councillors and the public about relevant information particular to their geographic area. The objective of the website is to assist decision-makers in making informed decisions based on accurate information. The purpose of the Councillor and Community Planning Information Website is to provide the councillors and public with accurate and pertinent information. A GIS was used to synthesize the data to ensure that the derived information is understandable to all users. With the design of the site the principles of clarity, conciseness, and validity were adhered to. -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.sstl.co.uk/news/pr_1050494033.html Hosted by the Nigerian Space Agency (NASRDA), members of the international Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) Consortium from Algeria, China, Nigeria, Turkey and the UK met in Abuja in April 2003. When completed, the DMC will have the ability to revisit ground targets anywhere in the world every 24-hours. In addition to its disaster-monitoring role, each satellite will provide an independent national resource for Consortium members, providing remote sensing services for agricultural monitoring, land use, urban planning, water resource management, coastal desertification and geological surveys. http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/alsat-images/WUSACaNv_120303.jpg Illustrating the unique wide-swath imaging capability of the DMC satellites, this sub-sampled image shows a 600x600 km area stretching from Los Angeles up to the south-eastern region of San Francisco and across Nevada and New Mexico to Utah and the Grand Canyon (The full width multispectral images are very large (~1Gbyte) necessitating sub-sampled and compressed JPEGs for practicality of Internet download. Full resolution tiles from the large image show Las Vegas and the Colorado River below the Hoover Dam: http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/alsat-images/LasVegaszoom_sharp.jpg http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/alsat-images/Coloradoriver_1024.jpg http://www.spacedaily.com/news/eo-03u.html Apr 03, 2003: First Disaster Monitoring Constellation Microsat Images Released. The initial Earth observation images captured by AlSAT-1, the first DMC microsatellite in orbit, have been released. These images demonstrate the remarkable capability and outstanding performance of the new microsatellite, which produces a unique combination of extremely large image area (up to 600x600 km swath width) at a ground sampling distance of 32-metres in three spectral bands. http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2003/02/13/20030213bus07.html Geo-information Necessary to Eradicate Poverty, Says Isoun, Minister of Science and Technology (Nigeria) -------------------------------------------------------------------- GIS TOOLS, SOFTWARE, DATA -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.christine-gis.com/ Christine GIS system is a new free GIS application. This application allows basic mapping and spatial querying, creating and editing tabular data, creating light user's applications by integrated script language, and so on. Platforms: Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP. Christine can display both vector and raster data. Supported vector formats include: ESRI shapefiles (.shp). Supported image formats include: Windows Bitmap (.bmp). http://www.mtholyoke.edu/proj/cel/geog205/files/remote_sensing.pdf Introduction to Remote Sensing and Image Processing. This chapter gives an overview of image processing and its integration with GIS. http://www.enraemed.net ENRAEMED software available The Enraemed software is a freeware client/server or stand-alone metadata software collection tool. Enraemed will allow you to develop, archive and distribute your metadata according to metadata standards such as ISO, FGDC, Dublin Core and GILS. The backend database is Microsoft SQL. The name ENRAEMED (pronounced "en-rah-mid") is the Amharic expression for "Let's walk together!". The acronym ENRAEMED stands for the Ethiopian Natural Resources and Environmental Meta-Database. This metadata software was originally developed through a partnership of major Ethiopian institutions concerned with the generation, storage and dissemination of data related to natural resources and the environment. http://ioc.unesco.org/oceanteacher/resourcekit/index.htm The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) Resource Kit is a comprehensive self-training and resource tool for newly established Oceanographic Data Centres, designed to assist managers and staff members to acquire the skills to set up and run IODE centres. It contains a range of marine data-management and information-management materials, including software, quality control and analysis strategies, training manuals, and relevant IOC documents. The Resource Kit provides a broad spectrum of background information on global data and information archiving activities, specifications for data storage in standard formats, and the software tools to perform many quality-control, subsetting, and analysis procedures. The Resource Kit is accompanied by Training Manuals and regional datasets used in training workshops. http://ioc.unesco.org/oceanteacher/resourcekit/Module2/GIS/Module/index.html Training Modules A. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems B. Spatial Analysis C. The Map as a Model of Geographic Data D. Cartographic and GIS Data Structures E. Project Design F. Data Input G. Topology and Spatial Relationships H. GIS Analysis -------------------------------------------------------------------- GEOSPATIAL RESEARCH / APPLICATIONS / REFERNECE MATERIAL -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.und.ac.za/und/heard/Workshop/GIS%20Workshop_FinalReport.pdf Developing tools to locate and manage the impact of HIV/AIDS, 31 January 2002 2002 Population Census General Report http://www.tanzania.go.tz/census/maps.htm Tanzania Annual Intercensal Population Growth rate by region 1988 - 2002 http://www.tanzania.go.tz/census/map2.htm Population Density by Region 2002 http://www.tanzania.go.tz/census/report4.htm The actual enumeration of the 2002 Population and Housing Census was preceded by the immensely time - consuming cartographic work, which not only constituted a prerequisite for the success of enumeration itself but had equally important uses in other areas of national interest. Transfrontier Conservation Initiatives in Namibia The Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Namibia is currently engaged in two initiatives that will establish parks that cross international borders. Transfrontier Conservation Areas were initiated to establish holistic ecosystem management across international borders and to promote peace between neighbouring countries. Preparations are well under way for the establishment of the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (TFP) between Namibia and South Africa. This TFP will join the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Game Park in southern Namibia with the Richtersveld National Park in northwestern South Africa. It is hoped that the treaty establishing the TFP will be signed at the World Parks Congress in South Africa during September. The second initiative, which is still in its infancy, will join Skeleton Coast Park in Namibia’s Kunene Region with Iona National Park in southwestern Angola. The Directorate Scientific Services of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism is responsible for TFCA initiatives. One of the problems encountered in both areas is the lack of accurate, up to date maps. Satellite images of the areas are used to update GIS information on infrastructure in both areas. The images will also be used to produce vegetation maps for the parks. A major aerial survey of Iona National Park is planned for May 2003. The satellite images were used to lay out the transects that will be flown. This will be the first biological activity in the park for almost 30 years. For further information, contact Holger Kolberg, Principal Conservation Scientist, Directorate Scientific Service, metreper@iafrica.com.na http://www.geogr.ku.dk/research/projects/serein2.htm SEREIN-2000, The Danish Sahel-Sudan Environmental Research Initiative, is a multi disciplinary, multi institutional environmental research programme that started in 1994. After finalising the first 5-year phase, further funding has been obtained. It includes a land use change component and looks also into, e.g. land use histories, tenure aspects of natural resource management. (Senegal, Burkina Faso; funded until 2004, permanently employed staff involved). http://www.dea.met.gov.na/dof/woody/index.htm Mapping and GIS for the Support of Regional Management in Namibia A local operational tool for fire monitoring and management for the Kavango and Caprivi Regions Final report, October 2002. Report for Lux-Development S.A. (Agence Luxembourgeoise pour la Coôperation au Développement) The report presents the results of the consultancy carried out by the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) for Lux-development (Agence Luxembourgeoise pour la Co-operation au Développement). The consultancy set out to support the DoF with the necessary background data to revise fire management practices and to assist in the preparation of a fire management policy scheduled for early 2003. It was asked to: - Prepare a reference GIS Database about woody biomass in 1990 and 2000, based upon Landsat TM satellite imagery of the Kavango and Caprivi regions to define areas of major interest for fire management and to see if frequent fires affect tree cover to a large extent. - Prepare a GIS archive of fire scars between 1989 and 2001 and integrate data about firebreaks to assess (past) efficiency of firebreaks to protect forests. - Develop analysis tools and solutions to maintain this database. These tools and databases should be transferred to DoF, including the regional offices in Rundu and Katima Mulilo. http://www.worldbank.org/nipr/gis/gisother.htm#Chad An Economic Analysis of Woodfuel Management in the Sahel: The Case of Chad http://www.borstad.com/papers/erimmaur.html Towards a management plan for a tropical reef-lagoon system using airborne multi-spectral imaging and GIS (Mauritius). This paper was presented at the Fourth International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, Orlando, Fl, March 17-19, 1997 -------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES / AWARDS / SUPPORT -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.start.org/links/announce_oppo/africa_call.pdf http://www.start.org/links/announce_oppo/africa_call.doc START/PACOM Call for Proposals 2003 A Call for Research Proposals related to Environmental Change tendered to the African Global Change Research Community. START, through funding from the United States Global Change Research Program, is able to offer this Call for Proposals. The objectives of this call are: 1) to directly contribute to global change science in Africa; 2) to enhance the understanding of the impacts and consequences of global changes in Africa, 3) to create long-term, collaborative research partnerships between African scientists and those in developed countries, and 4) to foster the integration of African researchers into the international global change research programmes of DIVERSITAS, IHDP, IGBP, and WCRP. Deadline for submissions is 30 June 2003 http://www.isdb.org/english_docs/idb_home/yrp_e.htm IDB Young Researchers Support Programme The Islamic Development Bank (IDB), aware of the necessity of extending its assistance to its member countries in the important area of Science & Technology, conceived various already operational programmes to that effect, among which the following ones: 1. projects financing and consultancy services inducing technology transfer; 2. capacity building through technical assistance to public and private structures; 3. the financing of experts assignments, training programmes, exchange of scientists, and seminars or workshops under the Technical Cooperation Programme; and 4. the allocation of scholarship grants for M.Sc., Ph.D. and post-doctoral studies. A new programme, recently approved by IDB Board of Executive Directors, is now being added thereto. This programme consists of a support to young deserving researchers attached to research institutions in IDB member countries; it aims at helping keep such young researchers in their home countries through providing them with the means to pursue their research work in a more favourable environment. The applicant must be Ph.D. holder with research work experience of one year or more; not exceeding 35 years of age at the time of application; and a national of a member country of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (http://www.oic-oci.org/). In the first year test phase, about fifteen (15) research projects will be retained for financial assistance through the allocation of up to US$ 15,000 grant from IDB Waqf Fund to each. Applications should be received at IDB headquarters not later than 30 June 2003. IDB members countries include: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda http://www2.alliance-hpsr.org/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/646;jsessionid=0311668270F3A1D27290F2F49527A088?language=en Programme Health System Development and Scaling-Up Priority Services Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research was established in November 1999 as an initiative sponsored by the Global Forum for Health Research in collaboration with the World Health Organisation. The Alliance aims to promote the generation, dissemination and use of knowledge for enhancing health system performance. One of its strategic objectives is to stimulate the generation and synthesis of knowledge, encompassing evidence, tools and methods. To achieve this objective the Alliance has been offering Research to Policy Grants in high priority areas. The Alliance calls for its third round of proposals for Research to Policy Grants aimed to support capacity development, good quality research and its impact on policy in low and middle income countries. Research institutions, government agencies involved in policy making, health service providers and civil society organisations are eligible for funding. For more details see website or contact alliancehpsr@who.int. Closing date 30 Jun 2003. http://www.rics-educationtrust.org/index.html http://www.rics-educationtrust.org/funding/index.html (make an application online) http://www.rics-educationtrust.org/pdf2/etguidance.pdf (guidance notes) The RICS Education Trust exists to provide funding to the surveying research community for new and innovative research projects and to support and encourage a new generation of professionals. The next deadline for applications will be the end of September. The Trust realise its objectives in a variety of ways: awards grants, normally up to £5000, to individuals and institutions for the undertaking of research projects; maintains and fosters links and partnerships with other organisations with similar objectives; offers fellowships to students undertaking higher degrees by research into subjects of interest to the profession (The Trustees do not provide funds in support of research in pursuit of a first degree or Masters degrees); awards one-off grants to educational projects; endows prizes to individuals considered to be undertaking work of particular merit or making a special contribution to the profession. The current executive of the Education Trust is Stephen Brown: stephen@rics-foundation.org http://wcs.org/home/wild/researchfellowship/ http://wcs.org/home/wild/researchfellowship/1267/ The Research Fellowship Program awards small grants to field research projects leading directly to the conservation of threatened wildlife and wildlife habitat. RFP applications must demonstrate strong scientific merit as well as direct relevance to wildlife conservation. The RFP will support field work on a wide spectrum of wildlife species, habitats, and conservation issues. Previous RFP Fellows have conducted surveys of the population status of endangered species, investigated ecological processes in rainforests, savannas, and wetlands, analyzed the effects of habitat disturbance on wildlife, and assessed the impacts of management strategies. The RFP is coordinated through WCS's core programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Research Fellowship Application Deadlines: January 2 and July 1 Awards vary from $1,000 to $25,000 with the average award being $11,000. Application: http://wcs.org/media/general/mime-10068064131.doc [Note from Kate: Make sure you visit the website first to check on fellowship guidelines] -------------------------------------------------------------------- TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.iac.wur.nl/services/training/regular/module.cfm?code=61/50 Facilitating multi-stakeholder processes and social learning (MSP) Advanced course in upscaling participatory approaches 15 September - 03 October 2003 Rural development and natural resources management (NRM) have entered a new era - one of facilitating dialogue, joint learning and collaborative action. A new breed of professional is in high demand. Do you know how to bring different stakeholders together? Can you design and lead processes of critical reflection and learning? Can you help people to understand each other's perspectives and manage conflict? Can you aid in the negotiation of agreements and action between diverse groups? If you would like to develop your skills as a 'new' professional, this is a course for you. The course covers state of the art thinking about participation from the local to the global level and introduces the most up-to-date methodologies and approaches for facilitation and participation. How MSPs and social learning relate to concepts such as dialogue, interactive policy making and adaptive management is fully explored. Multiple stakeholder and social learning processes are, for example, applicable, to: integrated rural development initiatives; river basin management; market chain management; development of poverty reduction strategies; interdisciplinary research programmes; health programmes; food security initiatives; livelihood development; sector wide approaches; interactive policy making; decentralisation programmes; and community-based natural resource management (forestry, fisheries, wetlands). Fellowships are available from the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for nationals of a limited number of countries. The NFP fellowship procedure has been revised. Candidates who wish to apply for such a fellowship should begin the application procedure as soon as possible. Candidates FIRST apply to IAC for admission to the course. Acceptable candidates will receive a letter from IAC indicating that they have been PROVISIONALLY accepted. Candidates then apply for a NFP fellowship through the Netherlands Embassy or Consulate in their own country. Applications for NFP fellowships should be submitted to the Netherlands Embassy before July 1, 2003. Further information: www.iac.wageningen-ur.nl or www.nuffic.nl. http://www.start.org/links/announce_oppo/africa_ideal.pdf http://www.start.org/links/announce_oppo/africa_ideal.doc A Multidisciplinary Course On Tropical Freshwater Ecosystems Conservation And Management. This is a training opportunity for university graduates and postgraduate students from the African Great Lakes Region who are involved in conservation and management of tropical lakes ecosystem and who are interested in following a career in aquatic sciences. Collaboration among IDEAL, the MacArthur Foundation and START-Africa will sponsor the this training program, tentatively scheduled for August 4-31, 2003. Naivasha, Kenya. Deadline for submissions is 30 June 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------- TRAVEL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.isprs2004-instanbul.com Prizes for Best Papers by Young Authors (travel subsidies for SRF2,500 for sole authors, 35 years of younger, of high quality papers presented to the ISPRS Congress, July 12-23, 2004). Deadline for abstracts is 20 September 2003. Deadline for final version of papers is 31 January 2004. Contact Prof. Dr. John Trinder, j.trinder@unsw.edu.au -------------------------------------------------------------------- EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- * HOT ITEM!* http://www.gsdi.org/docs/SDIA/vacant_positions.doc Applications are invited for the following positions at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Nairobi: - Senior Remote Sensing Officer - GIS Officer - Digital Mapping Surveyor Applicants for these positions must be nationals of the Centre's member States only. The closing date for receiving applications will be 15th July 2003. https://jobs.un.org/release1/vacancy/display_vac.asp?lang=1200&vacid={882A4636-16B1-4BBA-8A4D-FB1AF8E376F1} Database Manager, P-3, United Nations Environment Programme Deadline for applications: 2 June 2003 Duty Station: Nairobi. Kenya Vacancy Annoucement No: 03-IST-UNEP-800120-R-NAIROBI Develop, update and maintain the existing ozone database based on the information and data reported by the 184 Parties to the Montreal Protocol; Prepare and generate various analyses of the data on production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) reported by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and liaise with other institutions on data collection for the ozone database; Prepare reports for the meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and its Implementation Committee on production and consumption of ODSs and on the status of compliance of the Parties to the Protocol; - Collect and analyse information needed by the Secretariat in conducting its duties; - Update the computerized information dissemination system for Ozone Secretariat; Co-ordinate office automation needs and management of computer systems of the Secretariat. http://www.fscoax.org/ http://www.fscglobal.net/who_we_are/ Regional Director for Africa, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation committed to the environmentally appropriate, economically and socially responsible management of forests world-wide. With headquarters based in Germany, FSC maintains a global network of regional offices and working groups to provide an international certification and labeling scheme. The Regional Director for Africa will support and guide national initiatives that promote certification as well as the development and implementation of regional and international standards. An essential task will be active fund-raising and subsequently establishing an FSC regional office, which will be located in the Congo basin. For further information about the position and how to apply, contact Ms. Regina Bolz, regina.bolz@ifp-online.de) or Ms. Cornelia Lentge, cornelia.lentge@ifp-online.de. The deadline for applications is May 31st, 2003. Change Management Specialist: Agricultural Research Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda The Government of Uganda is seeking to recruit a Change Management Specialist (CMS) for an initial period of 24 months to support the development of the national agricultural research system (NARS) based on a recently approved policy to a promote a client-responsive approach whilst utilising the private sector's capacities in agricultural technology development and dissemination focusing on smallholder needs. The expert will operate under the supervision of a multi-sectoral core implementation team (CIT), which has been appointed to plan and guide the process of change. Much of this process will focus on transforming the existing National Agricultural Research Organisation into an institution with a different set of functions. The main duties are: - preparing the implementation manual for NARS Reform Programme - recommending and establishing the appropriate institutional structures - finalising the drafting of the Agricultural Research Bill. - formulating a human resources development plan for new NARS. - identifying/formulating/prioritising new research programmes. - preparing and supporting the implementation of a detailed medium-term work plan and budget for the NARS Reform Programme. - designing and implementing a cost-effective system for the planning, monitoring and evaluation of national agricultural research activities, outputs and outcomes. Applicants must be nationals of an African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) or European Union member state with a degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of 15 years' subject-related work experience. Proven experience in institutional development and change preferably in a natural resources/research environment. Applications are invited by 8 June 2003: An application letter, C.V. and contact details of three referees should be sent by mail and/or e-mail to National Authorising Officer, Rm 3.11, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, P.O. Box 8147, Kampala, Uganda. E-mail to: edf.ug@infocom.co.ug with copies to: remy.noe@deluga.cec.eu.int and dgnaro@infocom.co.ug http://www.sac-na.org/pdf_text/jobs/ANG_Survey_Coordinator.pdf http://www.sac-na.org/pdf_text/jobs/ANG_Field_Coordinator2.pdf Survey Coordinator and Field Coordinator for landmine impact survey in Angola beginning in June 2003, sought by the Survey Action Center, Maryland, U.S.A. [closing date: 31 May 2003] -------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.spaceweek.org/coordinators.html The World Space Week Coordinator Network To efficiently build an event of global scale, there is a growing network of national and local World Space Week Coordinators. The role of the coordinator is to: Invite as many organizations as possible across all sectors of society to hold special programs during World Space Week; Collect information on what is planned during World Space Week; Seek media coverage of the resulting World Space Week celebration to impact the entire population; Provide information, photos, etc. for the annual World Space Week report to the UN. Individuals or small committees can successfully serve as National or Local Coordinators. Ideally, a World Space Week Coordinating Committee will represent a wide range of organizations in government, industry, and the non-profit sector which are interested in space or the impacts of space on education, health, and other needs of society. See website for further details on: What does the National Coordinator do? Where are there World Space Week Coordinators now? How can I become a World Space Week Coordinator? http://www.luwrr.com Free Electronic Journal: Land Use and Water Resources Research: dealing with watershed issues, now has more than 1400 registered readers worldwide. http://www2.icma.org/upload/expertises/{4D0CCEBB-6094-4003-8C00-97D47592BEC7}CMAG_CaseStudy_final.pdf http://www2.icma.org/upload/expertises/{01C9FF08-89C5-42BC-ACAF-E85869C65343}final_Mexico_casestudy.pdf Capacity-Building Case Studies for Associations ICMA recently published two new case studies aimed at documenting and sharing the experiences and lessons learned from the creation of the City Managers' Association Gujarat, India (CMAG) and the Asociación de Municipios de México, A.C. (AMMAC). The case studies provide a road map for the development of local government associations that may be applicable in any country. Highlights of the publications include: - Descriptions of the impetus and process of development for both CMAG and AMMAC. Both associations have very different development models that can be adaptable to other jurisdictions or countries. - A summary of how the decentralization process is unfolding in both Mexico and India, and its impact on local governments and the associations. - An overview of the role of local government associations in strengthening local government management. - How the associations have responded to professional development needs of both elected and appointed urban managers. - The use of ICMA's "viability" indicators to evaluate the associations. - Lessons learned that are transferable to other countries and jurisdictions. ICMA developed and published both case studies in cooperation with AMMAC, CMAG, and USAID. -------------------------------------------------------------------- CONFERENCES - YOU'RE INVITED! -------------------------------------------------------------------- Deadline for submissions for AfricaGIS '03 is May 31st! (AfricaGIS will be held November 4-8, 2003 in Dakar) http://www.gsdi.org/docs/SDIA/First_announcement_def.pdf Anyone interested in making a presentation in the form of a paper, poster, workshop, or demonstration should send an abstract or synopsis (no more than three paragraphs of 50-100 words) in electronic format to the Program Committee by 31 May. Les parties intéressées par une présentation sous l’une des formes suivantes : document imprimé, poster, atelier ou démonstration , sont invitées à en envoyer un résumé ou un condensé (pas plus de 3 paragraphes de 50 à 100 mots) en version électronique au Comité chargé du Programme de la Conférence, vers le 31 Mai. http://bremen.unsgac.org/ The Space Generation Congress (SGC) is a meeting of approximately 200 international young delegates to articulate the vision of young people on the future utilization and exploration of space. Over the course of the three days of the SGC, delegates will work together on projects and initiatives on the theme of 'Building an active global community'. The main workshops and sessions of the congress will take place at the convention centre in Bremen where the International Astronautics Congress is being held. http://bremen.unsgac.org/apply/ The application form for the Space Generation Congress [SGC] to be held in Bremen, German, September 26-28, 2003, is now *live and online*. Students and young professionals between the ages of 18-35 who have an interest in space and space policy are encouraged to apply, particularly those from developing countries. African-Space-Science-Network@yahoogroups.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/African-Space-Science-Network/ May 25-30, 2003, Blantyre, Malawi Workshop on Integrated Land Use Change Analysis in Southern Africa: Process Modeling, Impacts and Implications for Sustained Development. Contact: Dr. Paul Desanker, Center for Regional Environmental Studies, Department of Environmental Science, University of Virginia, Email: desanker@virginia.edu 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. June 2-7, 2003, Nairobi, Kenya http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/workshop/degradedlands/index.html VITRI (Univ. of Helsinki), IUFRO-SPDC and ETFRN In view of the overlapping objectives of both the GFIS Africa synthesis initiative on rehabilitation of degraded lands in sub-Saharan Africa, and the workshop on Trees, Agroforestry and Climate Change in Dryland Africa (TACCDA), efforts are being combined for these two initiatives to be conducted together for a greater impact in the sub-region. VITRI, IUFRO-SPDC and ETFRN Coordinating Unit integrated these activities, pooling resources to organize an E-discussion (17 March - 25 April) and a workshop in Nairobi, Kenya 2 - 7 June, 2003. ICRAF and KEFRI have kindly agreed to co-host the workshop in Kenya. The final TACCDA workshop is planned as a side event to the Tropical Savanna Conference, 15 - 20 September 2003 in Edinburgh, hosted by IIED, the main organiser [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/bblza/sav2003/]. ETFRN is providing the web and E- discussion platform for TACCDA and the GFIS-Africa project of IUFRO-SPDC. See for more information and also the letter to participants from Atse Yapi, IUFRO-SPDC Deputy Coordinator for Africa & FORNESSA Secretary: http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/workshop/degradedlands/documents/letterintroduction.doc (English) http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/workshop/degradedlands/documents/letterintroductionfr.doc (French) The IUFRO-SPDC commissioned three background papers for the purpose of the e-discussion. These background papers can be downloaded from this website: http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/workshop/degradedlands/documents.html June 5-6, 2003, Pretoria, South Africa Expert Meeting for Southern African Countries SAC/CSIR is hosting an Expert Meeting on "Low to Medium Resolution Satellite Sensors and Disaster Monitoring" on the 5th and 6th of June in Pretoria, South Africa. It will be a closed meeting bringing together representatives from 25 institutions that are developing or are interested in developing projects in the area of space technology and disaster management. If your institution is interested in participating please get in touch with Helena Bosman hfbosman@csir.co.za or David Stevens david.stevens@unvienna.org. 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 June 15-17, 2003, Antananarivo, Madagascar http://www.scgis.org Asa Soa Ara Jeografika Madagascar (MSCAR) Organizer: MSCAR; Theme: Environment Conservation/GIS June 16-18, 2003, Cairo, Egypt http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory/other/cairo.html The Pan-Arab Regional Conference on the World Summit on the Information Society, at the ministerial level, under the auspices of the League of Arab States organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology June 23-25, 2003, Nairobi, Kenya http://www.atpsnet.org Progress Workshop on "Strengthening ICT Policy in Africa: Governance, Equity & Institutional Issues 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 http://www.iale.ntu.edu.au 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 20-24, 2003, Maputo, Mozambique http://www.pitt.edu/~icpm/icpm.html The Fourth International Conference on Public Management, Policy, and Development (The President of Mozambique is a confirmed speaker at the conference) http://www.pitt.edu/~icpm/pressreleasefrench.html (francais) Conférence Internationale sur la Gestion Publique, les Politiques et le Développement. The Mozambique conference is sponsored by the International Consortium on Public Management, Policy and Development. Its mission is to strengthen and promote public sector involvement in sustainable community development. This mission is achieved via a forum to facilitate institutional linkages, research, dialogue, and cooperative activities among professionals in government, academia, business, and nonprofit groups. http://www.pitt.edu/~icpm/tracks.html Track 4: Natural Resources and Food Security Reviewing policy innovations in forests and water management, policy and effect of international trade in achieving food security. Track 5: Infrastructure and Public/Private Partnerships Integrating physical and social infrastructure needs and priorities, leveraging resources, investing, privatization, and joint ventures. Track 6: Technology and Development Utilizing science and computers, evolving skills and training person to achieve societal sustainable development. July 20-22, 2003, Portland, Oregon, USA http://www.urisa.org/PPGIS/ppgis.html 2nd Annual Public Participation GIS Conference (PPGIS) Portland State University 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. Call for papers: abstracts should be submitted by July 30, 2003. Urban-Rural Interrelationship for Sustainable Development Monde urbain et rural pour un environment durable (see below: December 2- 5, 2003, Marrakech, Morocco) http://www.fig.net/figtree/morocco/ August 8-10, 2003 IC WG II/IV, Durban, South Africa http://geo.haifa.ac.il/~icaupdt/meetings/durban/durban.htm 4th Joint ICA/ISPRS/EuroGeographics Workshop on "Incremental Updating and Versioning of Spatial Data Bases" Dr. Ammatzia Peled(Co-chair IC WG II/IV): peled@geo.haifa.ac.il CC: rjb@rjb-3d.com. Antony Cooper(Co-chair ICA WG on IU&V): accoper@csir.co.za 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 Conference 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 13-16, 2003, Kemer/Antalya, Turkey http://www.ins.itu.edu.tr/rslucoast1/ International Colloquium Series on Land Use/Cover Change Science and Applications - Studying Land Use Effects in Coastal Zones with Remote Sensing and GIS. This is the first conference of a new colloquium series devoted to the issues of changes in coastal zones as related to land use. Contact: Garik Gutman, Land Cover-Land Use Change Program, NASA HQ, ggutman@hq.nasa.gov, Tel: 1-202-358-0276, Fax: 1-202-358-2770 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 August 17-22, 2003, Kruger National Park, South Africa http://safnet.umd.edu/implementation/events/meetings/index.asp Fourth Meeting of Southern Africa Fire Network (SAFNet) Contact: Diane Davies, ddavies@hermes.geog.umd.edu August 25-29, 2003, Abuja, Nigeria http://www.aitecafrica.com/act2002/default.htm The Fifth Annual African Computing & Telecommunications Summit, Mobilising ICT Applications & Projects for effective Corporate, National and Regional Development September 8-17, 2003, Durban, South Africa http://wcpa.iucn.org/wpc/wpc.html Vth World Congress on Protected Areas September 14-20, 2003, Edinburgh, Scotland http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/bblza/sav2003/ International Conference on Tropical Savannas and Seasonally Dry Forests: Ecology, Environment and Development. The aim of this meeting is to bring together leading researchers in savanna and dry forest formations throughout the tropics. The conference will focus on five principal themes: Plant Biodiversity; Animal Biodiversity; Palaeo-ecology and Environmental Change; Environment and Environmental Processes; and Human Ecology and Development. The conference is linked to the June workshop in Nairobi (June 2-7) and the E-discussion (March 17 - April 25) 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. September 21 - 25, 2003, Brno, Czech Republic http://digitalearh03.geogr.muni.cz 3rd Symposium on Digital Earth September 21-16, 2003, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/aetfat/prog_papers.html The theme of the Congress is "Biodiversity, Ecology, Taxonomy and Phytogeography of African Plants". A number of symposia relating to the theme, and a workshop on threatened plants are planned for the Congress. Original research papers (in English or French) on the conservation, floristics, taxonomy, vegetation and ecology, phytogeography, economic botany and forestry in Africa are invited for presentation and submission for the XVIIth AETFAT Congress. September 22-24, 2003, Biskra, Algeria http://larhyss.net/ Oasis, Water and Population Conference This conference will consider issues regarding water resources and population in the Oases, town and country planning, and water quality and treatment in arid zones. Contact: info@larhyss.net; Tel: 213-33-733-204; Fax: 213-33-733-204 September 22-26, 2003, Abuja, Nigeria http://www.lboro.ac.uk/wedc/conferences/29contents.htm 29th WEDC Conference: Towards the Millennium Development Goals - Actions for Water and Environmental Sanitation. Organized by the Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) and National Water Resources Institute, this conference will consider the following topics: water supply; environmental sanitation; institutional issues; water resources; and cross cutting issues such as social exclusion, sustainability, urbanization, sustainable livelihoods, poverty and gender linkages, corruption. Contact: Dot Barnard, Conference Co-organizer, WEDC, wedc.conf@lboro.co.uk September 29 - October 3, 2003, Weimar, Germany: http://www.eumetsat.de/en/area2/conf_work/Weimar/1Ann_Draftrev-2.pdf The 2003 Eumetsat Meteorological Satellite Conference September 29 - October 3, 2003, Moscow, Russia http://wccc2003@mecom.ru World Climate Change Conference. Executive Secretariat (scientific issues): Yu.Izrael@g23.relcom.ru October 2003, Capetown, South Africa (tentative) Science Policy Conference on Global Change and the Vulnerability of Land and Water Resources in Africa. Contact: Eric Odada, eodada@uonbi.ac.ke Also tentativel: START Pan-Africa Regional Committee (PACOM) Meeting Contact: Eric Odada, eodada@uonbi.ac.ke October 1-2, 2003, Paris, France http://www.esrifrance.fr/actu/SIG2003/accueil_sig2003.htm SIG 2003 de la Conférence Francophone ESRI PACI (Palais des Congrès d'Issy les Moulineaux) Email: sig2003@esrifrance.fr October 1-3, 2003, South Africa South Africa's ESRI User Conference 2003 Contact: GIMS, Patrick McKivergan, pmckivergan@gims.com, http://www.gims.com October 6-8, 2003, Sun City, South Africa http://www.saoug.co.za/conference/2003/index.asp Oracle User Group Conference Call for Papers --if you wish to present a paper at the Conference or recommend a potential speaker, you must submit an abstract by 17 April 2003. October 16-18, 2003: 2003. Montreal, Canada http://www.ihdp.uni-bonn.de/html/other/open%20_meeting_2003.htm http://www.ihdp.uni-bonn.de/word_docs/other/5thOpen%20Meeting.doc Open Meeting of the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Research Community. Updated information will be posted at the 2001 open meeting web site: http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/openmeeting/ October 16-18, 2003, Genova, Italy http://www.gisig.it/coastgis/home.htm Fifth International Symposium on GIS and Computer Cartography for Coastal Zone Management. CoastGIS is a collaborative initiative of the International Geographical Union's Commission on Coastal Systems and the International Cartographic Association's Commission on Marine Cartography. 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 October 27-29, 2003, Cape Town, South Africa http://www.nrf.ac.za/saeon/globalchange/saglobal.htm http://www.nrf.ac.za/saeon/globalchange/announcement.htm Global Change and Regional Sustainability in South Africa Symposium The South African Scientific Committee on Global Change (SASCGC) announces a national symposium on the implications of important drivers of global change for national and regional sustainability of human and ecological systems in South Africa. The SASCGC is a national committee of the International Science Union (ICSU), functioning under the auspices of the National Research Foundation. Complete the registration form in full and submit to e-mail before 30 April 2003 if your wish to present at the symposium and on or before 29 August if you wish to attend only. Complete the abstract form and submit to e-mail before 30 June 2003. November 4-8, 2003, Dakar, Senegal. http://www.gsdi.org/docs/SDIA/First_announcement_def.pdf AfricaGIS '03. Check EIS-AFRICA website for more details as they become available. http://www.eis-africa.org. The main theme for AfricaGIS '03 is 'Meeting the Information Needs for the NEPAD'. Le thème principal retenu pour GIS Afrique ’03 est 'vers une satisfaction des besoins informationnels du NEPAD' The deadline for submissions for AfricaGIS '03 has been extended until May 31, 2003. November 4-7, 2003, Washington, DC, USA http://gsdi.org/SDIA/gdinfinal.pdf http://www.gdin.org GDIN2003, Sixth Annual Conference of the Global Disaster Information Network. For questions on gdin2003, send an email to gdin2003@hotmail.com. For questions on GDIN, send an email to gdin@hotmail.com [the GDIN Secretariat is pleased to announce that the Government of South Africa has offered to host GDIN2004]. November 10-14, 2003, Honolulu, HI, USA http://isrse.pdc.org/ 30th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment December 2003, Lebanon Symposium on Water Resources and Desertification As a follow up to the Rabat Symposium which covered this topic for the regions of North Africa and the Sahel in 2002, this Symposium will be held in Lebanon for Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Syria and, of course Lebanon. It will be co-organised with UNESCO and co-sponsored by the United Nation's Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN/OSSA). December 2- 5, 2003, Marrakech, Morocco http://www.fig.net/figtree/morocco/ Urban-Rural Interrelationship for Sustainable Development Monde urbain et rural pour un environment durable 2nd FIG Regional Conference for the Arab Countries and Francophone Africa, and 3rd National Surveying Day. 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 Call for papers: abstracts should be submitted by July 30, 2003. December 8-12, 2003, Tunis, Tunisia http://www.uaps.org/cap2003/cap2003eng/indexcap2003en.htm http://www.uaps.org/cap2003/cap2003eng/appelcom.htm (call for presentations) The Fourth African Population Conference For more information: Mister Mbaye Diouf Ndiaye, cap2003@uaps.org Sub-themes (informal sessions) 1. Community Approaches And Implementing Population Policies(APAC) 2. NGO Partnership In Reproductive Health And Poverty(CEFA) 3. Methods Of Quality Data Collection And Analysis(CERPOD) 4. Governance, Civil Society And Poverty(UNDP) 5. Governance And HIV/AIDS(IDRC/RARS) 6. Geographic Information System From EDS Data(MACRO Internatinal) 7. Access And Use Of Data(MACRO International) December 10-12, 2003, Geneva, Switzerland http://www.itu.int/wsis/ World Summit on the Information Society, First Phase. early 2004, Cape Town, South Africa (dates to be determined) http://www.afrea.org/content/index.cfm?navID=18&itemID=206 Third African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) Conference The theme of the conference is proposed to be Evaluation for Effective Development in Africa Feb 2-6, 2004, Bangalore, India http://www.gsdi.org 7th Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Conference June 2-7, 2004, Orleans, France http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/1st_Circular-CAG20.doc http://cag20.brgm.fr 20th Colloquium of Africa Geology - First circular 20eme Colloque de Geologie Afrique - Cirulaire premiere Symposia topics include: Geodynamics of Africa; Earth Resources and Sustainable Development of Africa; Geohazards, Environmental management, Paleoclimatology and Human Evolution in Africa; and Geoscience Education in Africa. There will also be workshops: 1) The future role of African Geological and Mining Surveys, 2) Earth resources, sustainable development and poverty alleviation in Africa, 3) Geoscientific Maps of Africa including Tectonic map of Africa (CGMW), and 4) Initiative for integrated research projects in Africa (CNRS-INSU, Univ., IRD, IFREMER, BRGM, etc.). July 12-23, 2004, Istanbul, Turkey http://www.isprs2004-istanbul.com Geo-Imagery: Bridging Continents International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing oaltan@srv.ins.itu.edu.tr The organizing committee is providing a limited number of grants and fellowships to deserving attendees from developing countries. See website for further details. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/