Botswana Open Science Open Data Case Study/Julius Atlhopheng
- 1. Botswana Case Study Prof Julius R. Atlhopheng (University of Botswana) The Open Data Open Science in Botswana ā the developments so far Data for citizen empowerment; creating opportunities and resolving economy/industry needs.
- 2. The Rationale for Open Data Open Science ā¢ World Bank, Government of Botswana and the Botswana Innovation Hub ā conduct an assessment, on Botswanaās readiness. ā¢ The report concluded in 2015, and affirmed Botswana was ready. ā¢ That Botswana stands to benefit from the open data initiative, as data impact would improve services and development. ā¢ The report indicated the national institutions that must take a lead on the initiative e.g. Ministry of Transport, National Strategy Office, Statistics Botswana, Botswana Innovation Hub, as strategic foci entities. ā¢ Ministry of Transport, recommended to take the lead.
- 3. OPEN DATA OPEN SCIENCE ā Botswana ā¢ Data is essential to knowledge economy, data is for development, data metrics help us measure impact of our interventions etc. ā¢ Thus the world has come up with ādata impactā ā and Botswana is at the bottom 10 i.e. there is limited impact of data. ā¢ Data drives initiatives, the National Development Plans and leads to efficient systems (so much time lost on seeking data/information) ā¢ Thus data leads to better services, more efficient development, hence data is the new currency. ā¢ There is need for legislative framework in Botswana, data protocols/standards, National Research and Education Networks (NRENS), data repositories etc.
- 4. ICSU-CODATA, RDA Visit to Botswana ā¢ The CODATA_RDA visit to Botswana in 2016 started a new wave of interest, effort and awareness on the initiative e.g. private entities such as Joint Minds playing a facilitative role, with UB hosting most of the events. ā¢ A national adhoc committee was formed ā i.e. National Steering Committee, chaired by UB. ā¢ A number of activities, in addition to weekly meetings included extending the initiative to Ministry of Tertiary Education Research Science and Technology. ā¢ The drive was for policy development, to help with coordination of national efforts.
- 5. Open Data Open Science initiatives-Botswana ā¢ āOpen Dataā is data that can be freely used, re-used and redistributed. ā¢ It emanates from the concept āOpen Scienceā which itself aims to promote transparency in experimental methodology, observation, and data collection. ā¢ This is to ensure public availability and reusability of scientific data. ā¢ FAIR data principle = Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable. Botswana held first ever national forum on data in October, 2017. The outcome document highlights the following gaps: Need for awareness and discussion on open data. Need to highlight the current data situation in Botswana. Need for legislative framework on open data, for coordination.
- 6. What are the data needs/gaps for Botswana ā¢ Policy implementation requires transparency (data), i.e. to demonstrate that national efforts have impact. ā¢ Data is needed to achieve set targets of the National Development Plans etc. require data for their monitoring, evaluation & reporting. ā¢ Lack of access to data leads to poor performance i.e. inability to solve problems. Loss of opportunities. ā¢ Data access enhances efficiency and better coordination. ā¢ Botswana needs a data policy ā to meet data needs, coordinate them better i.e. better data impact for the nation.
- 7. Activities on Open Data Open Science ā¢ A national action plan was drawn, on how to effect open data initiatives nationally. Activities included a National Forum (October 2017). ā¢ It was noted that, Botswana needs to consider several aspects relating to data: ā¢ Data Management & Repositories ā what are existing repositories and whether they meet data protocols & standards. Data capacity low. ā¢ Data Awareness & Capacity Building ā with Botswana pursuing knowledge economy, it was imperative data use & re-use values were appreciated. That access and interoperability needed to be built up.
- 8. ā¢ Coordinated Research Data Cyber-infrastructure: data sharing cuts down on costs of āseekingā data; NRENs are important infrastructure for the developing Botswana. It is timeous to take advantage of the BOFINET infrastructure, for better data sharing using FAIR data principles. ā¢ Data Legislation, Governance & Policy: documentation of existing legislation on data; highlight existing coordination which enhances data sharing; and to draft a national policy on open data open science. ā¢ Data for Innovation & Development: connectivity, tariffs; attitudes of sharing data; benefits of open data e.g. jobs, revenue creation. Data needs for development & innovations. Data for driving development & the economy. ā¢ Key international Partners for hand-holding the national initiatives: AOSP, CODATA in giving guidance, motivation, expert advice, funding and for being resource persons.
- 9. NATIONAL FORUM & INTERNATIONAL DATA WEEK 2018
- 10. Botswana National Forum Conclusions 1. Botswana building on her strengths - need to document successes e.g. existing legislation, guidelines, policies etc. on open data open science. Show benefits of data sharing e.g. emanating from reduced duplication; jobs made through data; that data is a resource. Botswana currently seems to have no data sovereignty ā e.g. personal banking data etc. who controls our data (security). ā¢ No data = missed opportunities on benefits of data impact. 2. Priority actions from the forum: Develop capacity in data management and repositories; Profile types of data within institutions and their possible usage; Illustrate revenue creation through data; NRENs developed (National Research Education Networks). 3. Develop a policy on open data open science: Adopt FAIR data principles for better access and impact/equity of data; Data for drive knowledge economy initiatives; develop infrastructure for efficient data access which drives innovations and economies. Develop policy that would lead to a legislative framework. Need for partnerships/funding on all these initiatives.
- 11. National Priorities and Data ā¢ Vision 2036 ā Achieving Prosperity For All ā¢ The kind of Botswana we would have built by 2036 i.e. sustainable economic development; human & social development; sustainable environment; governance, peace & security to have been achieved. ā¢ Transformation and Implementation imperatives of V2036 mean: innovative breakthroughs; multi-stakeholders participation i.e. non- state actors, private and public. Data metrics is essential to implement these. ā¢ Status of innovations, SDGs implementation, national vulnerabilities (e.g. droughts), successes etc. need data (extent, present, future).
- 12. For 2018 and beyond ā¢ National feedback forum conducted in March 2018. High commitment from national stakeholders to complete the roadmap. ā¢ Implementation to be done through leading entities/institutions. ā¢ A lot of enthusiasm during the forum discussions. A national strategy & policy as high priority, so as to enable implementation. ā¢ The knowledge economy, which the nation currently pursues, needs a data anchor. ā¢ Knowledge economy ā through data offers opportunities of interweaving knowledge systems i.e. indigenous & modern scientific knowledge. ā¢ Data is needed to measure the progress in NDP11, Vision 2036, SDGs.
- 13. INTERNATIONAL DATA WEEK 2018 ā¢ Botswana is hosting, for the very first time, IDW 2018. ā¢ International Partners at the helm of coordination and capacitation. ā¢ Africa faces many challenges, which need data innovations to be solved. ā¢ There are challenges to do with health & diseases epidemics; monitoring interventions, storing/protecting records and benefits associated with impact of data. ā¢ The IDW2018 has included key developing world issues such as industry, development, research, education, indigenous knowledge.