Page 46 - CIWA Water Data Revolution Overview Report

technologies such as RS data. This data includes products for the collection, management, and
analysis of RS data and fit-for-purpose water management analytical tools. This initiative will help
countries across Africa to improve their capacity to collect, store, and analyse information and to
make evidence-based decisions regarding water by reducing the cost and complexity of using
water data and by establishing connections with data products and tools that facilitate the
translation of information to improved decisions. A schematic demonstrating linkages from RS
data to data platforms, analytical tools, and end users is provided in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Data products and analytical tools assist in the translation of raw RS data into decisions and actions as
depicted in this step-by-step sequence. Data products facilitate the collect of RS data and transform raw RS data
into analysis-ready formats, which is then used as an input into fit-for-purpose analytical tools, such as for flood
forecasting and drought monitoring. Decision makers use the output information from the analytical tools to
formulate decisions and strategize action plans.

The WDR is organized into three strategic pillars to accomplish its objective. Pillar A is an
assessment on the status, availability, and use of data among African RBOs and ROs. This
assessment is designed to elucidate current data uses and needs for effective transboundary
water management as identified by organizations. Pillar B is focused on improving the use of RS
data and to build more user-friendly data products and analytical tools. Trainings and workshops,
developed based on the needs of organizations, will build capacity of organizations to use existing
and developed technologies and platforms for data collection, management, and analysis. Lastly,
Pillar C involves assisting specific organizations with applying data products or analytical tools
using RS data. This component will facilitate the adoption of low-cost technologies for data
collection, storage, and analysis based on prior findings of organizations’ priorities and needs for
data-driven decision-making for transboundary WRM (Pillar A), while promoting the sustainable
use of data products and analytical tools presented in the workshops and capacity building
sessions (Pillar B).

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