Page 47 - CIWA Water Data Revolution Overview Report

4 Assessment Overview

Many water institutions in Africa are underutilizing products and tools designed to collect, store,
and analyse RS data. Data science experts with extensive knowledge on using RS technologies
develop data products and analytical tools for users such as RBOs and ROs. However, the users
of these emerging platforms may face challenges with applying them proficiently. Technologies
using RS data are often developed with insufficient consultation of organizations like RBOs and
ROs to ensure they are designed according to user needs and context. Consequentially, decision-
makers may lack the resources to access and adapt the new platforms to provide solutions at the
scale they require. Constraints related to financial resources, staffing, reliable internet
connection, computational hardware, supplemental ground data requirements, technical
knowledge, and capacity may affect the ability of institutions to use new products or tools. To
improve the usage of innovative platforms for transboundary WRM, these constraints must be
better understood, conveyed to technology developers, and accounted for in trainings and
capacity building around using data products and tools. Therefore, to reduce the current divide
that exists between developers of RS tools and user groups, the WDR applied a user-centred
approach to determine the leading issues inhibiting the use of RS data, data products, and
analytical tools for WRM by African RBOs and ROs. This approach was used to connect
organizations with innovative products and tools according to user-identified data needs, water
management goals, and constraints.

Specifically, an assessment was conducted to evaluate the status, availability, and use of data,
data products, and analytical tools among transboundary African RBOs and ROs. This assessment
is in line with Pillar A of the WDR, as described in Section 3. Assessing data practices and needs
is crucial for ensuring that the WDR applies a user-driven approach to support commonalities
among African water organizations. Data needs as identified by the organizations will facilitate
determining impactful capacity building trainings under Pillar B and fit-for-purpose technical
assistance at scale in Pillar C.

Surveys were administered to 15 RBOs and 3 ROs, followed by interviews with select organizations,
to determine their priority data needs that may be mitigated through adoption of RS data, data
products, and analytical tools for WRM. This assessment provided key insight into challenges with
adopting platforms using RS data, capacity building needs to strengthen the use of data products,
and an overview on the types of analytical tools that would be most useful according to the
organizations. Results from this assessment are informing the design of capacity building
workshops and information sessions to facilitate transboundary and regional organizations with
using RS data and applying tools for WRM that align with their goals and objectives.

5 Background

The following subsections provide an overview of RS data, data products, and analytical tools in
the context of water resource management in Africa.

5.1 RS data for Water Management

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