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Improving National Water Information and Data Management: A Sector Initiative

Dr Heidi Snyman, Water Research CommissionMP Nepfumbada, Dept of Water AffairsM Ginster, WSLG EXCO 18-19 Nov 2009Water Sector Leadership Group

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Improving National Water Information and Data Management: A Sector Initiative

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Recognizing that there are shortcomings (in some cases major gaps) in data and information management, the DWA, WRC and WIN-SA organized a workshop on 2 Sept 2009 to:Establish the sector knowledge and information

requirementsEstablish the sector requirements regarding monitoring and

other data such as water balance data To develop the terms of reference on the way forward for

knowledge sharing and data managementEstablish a National Water Knowledge Reference Group

tasked to steer the implementation of National Water Information and Data Management strategy.

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Sector representation (> 50 participants)

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DWA – Water Services and Water ResourcesWRCWIN-SASASOLBUSASAEONNRFDBSAESKOM

SALGAeWQMSChamber of MinesSAICEWISAeWISATCTADept of Social DevIMESAP-Systems

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Summary of Outcomes and Recommendations- Gaps in data & information management

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The group recognised that some of the sector role players were not present and these need to brought on board as soon as possible.The sector identified gaps in data and information management that need to be addressed. These include:

The long term requirements for hydrological data are not addressed adequately. Long term needs are not addressed and therefore a lack of well planned monitoring plans Data that is collected is not readily accessibleNot realizing the value of data for other purposes other than own and not centralizing it to make it availableIt is not only data accessibility but also the quality, incompleteness, reliability and lack of spatial representatively of data

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Gaps (continued)

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Users often have to purchase data that has been collected using public money- resulting in researchers using old informationProblems related to rainfall data input and rainfall data managementDifferent institutions have different mandates which are not optimized. Data scale and compatibility is therefore problematicConcern over duplication and data quality related to services information and data: National government, researchers and consultants rely on data from WSP and WSA .A serious concern related to the allocation of resources to sustain good monitoring (short to long term) and data management. IT budgeting is a challenge – should be in the order of 10% a knowledge rich environment such as the water sector.Lack of data stewardship and clear communication in some instances such as:

Metadata at country levelcommon data/information repositoryVerification not done at correct level

Inconsistent data collection and data verification needs improvement

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Gaps (continued) – knowledge management

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The sector identified gaps in information and knowledge management that need to be addressed. These include:

Access to information (books and reports) as well as where these knowledge products are located.Packaging of informationLoss of old material that was not electronic.Gap between water science and application i.e. information not well communicated to the citizens. Poor information uptakeFragmentation of research topics ( different organizations doing the same research) leading to waste of resourcesTransfer of knowledge and skills development. Capturing of tacit knowledge and ageing of researchers.Losing institutional memoryAvailability of data/ information in timeEncourage the culture of sharing Technical products must be repackaged to enable decision makers to take proper decisions Use of various and correct media to disseminate knowledge

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Proposed way forward

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It is clear that the sector requires intervention and more resources to manage our data and information better.The following was proposed:

A task team consisting of DWA, WRC and one representative of the WSLG (BUSA representative) was nominated to oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to:

Improve knowledge, information and data collection, management and sharing Create closer links between knowledge rich institutionsCentralise or enhance access to data for further “mining” and interpretationDevelop mechanisms to enhance the flow of information in and between institutions

Present the initiative and challenges to the WSLG and request commitment from the sector leadership to improve data and information management in the sectorFeedback to the sector in Feb 2010

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Thank you for your attention