Promotion of the African Cashew Value Chain III

Title: Förderung der afrikanischen Cashew-Wertschöpfungskette III / Promotion of the African Cashew Value Chain III

Vergabeart: Verhandlungsvergabe/5-8 Shortlist fachlich-preisliche Angebo

Art und Umfang der Leistung: Beratung, allgemeine Dienstleistung

Detailed description of project

The “Resilience Against Climate Change” (REACH) Project on adaptation and mitigation to climate change for rural livelihoods in the savannah ecosystem of Ghana has been developed as part of the EU National Assistance. Among others, the project ensures that district and community capacity in climate, smart planning and natural resources management is developed and standardised in 54 districts. This assignment established a searchable, centralised digital library compiling all available information on projects and programmes, funded by various donors, associated with the same objectives of conservation agriculture and natural resource management (NRM). This not only preserves hard won information and processes, but also provides a searchable store of knowledge and a comprehensive background for all ongoing and future project and investment formulation and district planning.

The digital library was mandated to:

Collect and collate information on all economic activities of the district;
Generate a digital database on the natural and economic resources of the district;
Technologically process and present collected data to guide decision making
Spatially present natural and economic resources of the district for easy access by potential development partners especially from the private sector.
District databases were established, including:

Natural Resource endowments: Land use maps, soil suitability maps, population occupation structure, natural tourists’ attractions, water bodies and their location in relationship to agriculture land use sites
Economic resource endowments: Operational industry, energy sources, marketing facilities, roads and their relation to economic activities, potential tourist attractions, banks and other financial institutions
Social: Educational facilities, health facilities, recreation facilities
General: A spatial map of agriculture and agro-based activities in the district
The assignment also included a feasibility study on the technical capabilities and requirements to host the digital library, digitalisation of existing publication data, conceptualization of an updating process, training for local staff, and other tasks related to the success of the digital library. Moreover, a district data infrastructure concept was developed to guide partners through the process of the implementation and management of a geodata infrastructure.

Type and scope of services provided

Conducted a scoping study clarifying the detailed demand, and technical limitations and capabilities for the digital format
Implemented the digitalisation of past and current project and programme publications pertaining to conservation agriculture and natural resource management in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana in accordance with data standards
Established a digital library in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana, including a data collection and dissemination mechanism
Trained digital skills of the local staff for the operation and maintenance of the library
Developed a District Data Infrastructure and offering the content as e-service to stakeholders.
Piloted the District Data Infrastructure with piloting districts
Developed an online training programme for geodata management
Support national ICT staff on overall server management and maintenance.