Presentation during the 14th Association of African Universities (AAU) Conference and African Open Science Platform (AOSP)/Research Data Alliance (RDA) Workshop in Accra, Ghana, 7-8 June 2017.

1. African Open Science Platform and
Research Data Alliance Workshop (as
part of the 14th General Conference of
the AAU)
5-8 June, 2017
Accra, Ghana
Introduction to
The International Council
for Science, Regional Office for Africa
(ICSU ROA)
Richard L.K.Glover, PhD
Programme Specialist (Biological
Sciences)

2. About the International Council for
Science (ICSU)
 International NGO
 Founded in 1931
 Membership (across 142
countries worldwide):
 122 National Members
(27 from Africa)
 31 Scientific Unions
 22 Scientific
Associates (2 from
Africa)
Mission: Strengthening International Science for the
Benefit of Society

3. 3
Aim of Regional Offices:
To ensure that the voices of developing
countries influence the international
scientific agenda and that scientists from
the developing nations are fully involved in
international research guided by regional
priorities
ICSU Regional Offices
• Africa (South Africa) inaugurated in Sept 2005
• Asia and the Pacific (Malaysia) inaugurated in
Sept 2006
• Latin America and the Caribbean (Brazil)
inaugurated in Dec 2006 – moved to Mexico in
March 2011, now moved to El-Salvador in Sept
2016.

4. Operational Objectives and
Activities of ICSU ROA
1. Identify and address major science and
technology challenges in Africa
2. Assist the ICSU family in planning and
implementation of scientific activities on the
continent while developing and maintaining links
with national, regional and international partners
3. Facilitate scientific collaboration and networking
as well as free flow of scientists and scientific
knowledge across borders within the continent
and beyond
4. Encourage and improve capacity building in Africa
5. Promote indigenous and traditional knowledge and
skills to showcase science that is being
conducted in Africa for Africa
6. Promote the application of science in policy
4

5. ICSU ROA Action Plan
5
1. African Science Plans
2. Future Earth Initiative
3. Leading Integrated Research In Africa Agenda
2030 (LIRA 2030)Programme

6. ICSU ROA Book Projects
Objectives
 To showcase African success stories
on issues of scientific research and
its development to serve the society
 To show African scientists as visible
players in Science, Engineering,
Technology and Innovation (SETI) for
sustainable development of the
continent

7. Books Published
Titles of other Books under Publication
Food and Nutrition Security in Africa
African Indigenous Medical Knowledge and Human Health
Africa Climate Variability and Change
Energy Technology and Utilisation in Africa: Challenges and

8. ICSU and Open Science
ICSU, in line with its Strategic Plan has
been working through various bodies to
promote Open Data and Open Science
issues worldwide:
 World Data System (http://www.icsu-wds.org/)
 Workshop on Data Initiatives in Africa, 12-13 April
2017 in Grenoble, France to:
– provide WDC with an opportunity to learn about
the many data initiatives in Africa - understand
the associated opportunities and challenges
and
– discuss how WDS can support these initiatives
 Attended by 30 experts, with 10 African
countries represented

9. ICSU and Open Science
 Committee on Data for Science and Technology
(http://www.codata.org/)
 Open Data and Open Science for the SDGs: UN STI Forum
Side Event, 15 May 2017 - with UN agencies, governments,
institutions and partners to create regional Open Science
Platforms in Africa & LAC - digital ecosystems designed to
provide a virtual space for scientists
 Science International (http://www.science-
international.org/)-series of regular meetings of four top-
level representatives of international science (ICSU,
IAP,TWAS and ISSC) to represent the global scientific
community in the international policy for science arena.
 7-9 December 2015 in Pretoria, SA – developed an Accord
on Open Data in a Big Data World

10. Moving Forward………….
 Visit ICSU and ICSU ROA websites and
acquaint yourselves with our programmes and
activities, etc. www.icsu.org;
www.icsu.org/africa
 Form recognisable groups and seek affiliation
with ICSU through ICSU ROA
 Apply to participate in ICSU ROA’s scientific
activities/research consortia (Submit CVs to
r.glover@icsu-africa.org or d.nyanganyura@icsu-
africa.org
 Participate in authorship of books
 Apply to be part of Future Earth Initiative

11. Thank You