Geoscientific data (geodata) represents just one of the components required to make informed, strategic decisions to drive economic and social development and ensure environmental protection.
Working in partnership with the African Union Commission and the Ugandan Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, the BGS facilitated a workshop in Entebbe, Uganda, to bring together multiple stakeholders from government, international organisations and the private sector across Africa to identify innovative ways of managing and delivering geodata that contributes to social and economic structural transformation, wealth creation and poverty reduction.
Over the two days of the workshop, six key topics were discussed:
- data requirements
- data management and technology innovation
- business case
- business model (public–private partnership)
- capacity building
- future research
A major outcome of this workshop was the decision to implement a geodata portal pilot study using using Ugandan data for the Jinja and Mbarara regions. Subsequently developed as a public–private partnership (PPP) in the African Resource Geoscience Initiative, the portal will aid communication and collaboration between government, industry and the public through the free availability of geodata, providing increased understanding of the region. In addition to the BGS, the stakeholder team includes:
- African Union Commission
- Geosoft
- Uganda Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines
- Ugandan Chamber of Mines and Petroleum.
The portal is cloud hosted by The National Information and Technology Authority Uganda.
You may also be interested in
Integrated resource management in Eastern Africa
Our current activities build on the BGS’s extensive research experience in this region, contributing to welfare and future economic growth by the responsible use of natural resources.