[SDI-Africa] ICSU National Members (Africa): Invitation for the Implementation

[Kate Lance]

via UNEDRA List

------------ --------- ------- Original Message ------------ --------- -------
Subject: ICSU National Members (Africa): Invitation for the Implementation
of the ICSU ROA Science Plans
From: "Sospeter Muhongo" <s.muhongo at nrf. ac.za>
Date: Mon, December 10, 2007 2:20 pm
To:
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Dear Colleagues: some of you have asked me on how they will be involved in
the implementation of the 4 ICSU ROA Science Plans for the sub-Saharan
Africa. Please let me take you through the main stages which have bought
us to this juncture of our long journey towards the deployment of STI for
the benefit of the African society:

Stage I: On 1 September 2005: The ICSU ROA secretariat was inaugurated in
Pretoria, South Africa
Stage 2: September 2005-January 2006: ICSU Regional Committee for Africa
(ICSU RCA) identified 4 priority areas for its Regional Office (ICSU ROA),
established 4 Scoping Groups, and gave the Terms of Reference (ToR) to the
Scoping Groups. The work to prepare the 4 science plans began
(electronically) . The 4 priority areas for sub-Saharan Africa are: (i)
Sustainable Energy (science plan is published,
http://www.icsu-africa.org/), (ii) Natural and
Human-induced Hazards and Disasters (science plan is published,
http://www.icsu- africa.org/), (iii) Health and Human
Wellbeing and (iv) Global Change
Stage 3: April-June 2006: Scoping Groups held series of physical meetings
in Pretoria to finalize the preparation of the 4 draft science plans.
Stage 4: 25-27 September 2006: A Regional (Africa) Consultative Forum was
held in Boksburg, South to interrogate the suitability and the workability
of the 4 science plans. Endorsement was given by the attendees
(participation: 33 countries and about 150 scientists and engineers, about
80% being African participation) to this Forum.
Stage 5: March 2007: official approval of the 4 science plans by ICSU RCA
and their implementation commenced in April 2007
Stage 6: April-December 2007: preparation of large-scale, long-term and
high quality project proposals. African experts are championing this
process (including those in the Diaspora) and task teams have been created
for this purpose.
Stage 7: Early 2008: Implementation commences

Who is supposed to take part in the implementation of the 4 science plans
and their concomitant projects? It is the ICSU family and partners
(www.icsu.org), African experts including those in the Diaspora and those
residing and working on the continent (and African governments,
institutions/ organizations and companies). Africa's development partners
are also invited to be part of the implementation teams of the projects.

How do you make contacts? There are 2 ways of involvement at 2 different
stages: (a) preparation of the project proposals. One may wish to make an
input and thus electronic contributions should be to be submitted directly
to the Task Teams (see below) and (b) Active Implementation of the
prepared projects. Contacts have to be made to the ICSU ROA secretariat
(contact: Mr. Bongani Mahlalela: b.mahlalela@ icsu-africa. org & Dr. Achuo
Enow: a.enow at icsu-africa.org).
A 1-2 page (max length) CV is required for your name to be in the
database.

The leadership of the already formed task teams is as follows:

Task Team I: Energy models and scenarios for sub-Saharan Africa (Chair:
Prof Ogunlade Davidson, Sierra Leone:
ogunladedavidson at hotmail.com)

Task Team II: Biofuels for sub-Saharan Africa - Increase in access to high
quality, reliable and affordable energy in a sustainable manner in
sub-Saharan Africa
(Chair: Dr Erhard Seiler, South Africa:
eseiler at germanchamb er.co.za)
Sub-Project I: Electronic library and knowledge network in the
Biofuels sector (Coordinator: Prof Romeela Mohee, Mauritius:
rmh at uom.ac.mu)
Sub-Project II: Biofuels technology, piloting and testing
(Coordinator: Prof Leon Lorenzen, South Africa:
ll1 at sun.ac.za)
Sub-Project III: Energy efficiency in public transport
(Coordinator: Prof Geoffrey John, Tanzania:
grkjohn at uccmail.co.tz)

Task Team III: Geo-hazards and disasters in sub-Saharan Africa (e.g.
earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunamis). The Chair is Prof Genene
Mulugeta, Ethiopia/Sweden
(gmulugeta at hotmail.com / genene.mulugeta at balticuniv.uu.se)

Task Team IV: Hydro-meteorologica l hazards and disasters in sub-Saharan
Africa (e.g. floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, wildfires). The Chair is
Prof Abdourahamane Konare, Cote d'Ivoire:
(konarea at yahoo.com)

You may now make the necessary contacts and your active participation is
highly appreciated. The other 2 science plans (Health and Human Wellbeing
& Global Change) will be published before March 2008 (end of our financial
year). As expected our project proposals will attempt to answer the
classical research questions such as, what has to be done? Why and how
will it be done? Who and where will it be done? For how long and at what
cost (budget)? What are end products/deliverabl es to the communities in
Africa?

May the New Year of 2008 be characterized by better health, greater
motivation and greater prosperity for you and your families: "new vision,
new vigour and new zeal for Africa's development and prosperity!
MERRY CHRISTAMS

With my best wishes,
Sospeter Muhongo

Prof Sospeter Muhongo
Regional Director
ICSU Regional Office for Africa (ICSU ROA)
P.O.Box 13252
Hatfield, Pretoria
0082 South Africa
http://www.icsu-africa.org

Tel: +27-12-481 4139 (office)
+27-12-481 4090 (office)
+27-82-555 8326 (mobile)
E-mail: s.muhongo at icsu-africa.org


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