iMENTORS goes live!

Mapping ICT accross Sub-Saharan Africa

Brussels, 18/07/2013– iMENTORS goes live and is one step closer to becoming the most comprehensive crowdsourcing map on ICT infrastructures in Sub-Saharan Africa! Users are now able to register and create their profile on the platform and start sharing their knowledge and data directly on the map.

Co-funded by the European Commission’s DG CONNECT under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), iMENTORS www.imentors.eu is designed to enhance the coherence and effectiveness of international actors involved in e- infrastructures development projects and initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa. iMENTORS launched in April 2012 by Stockholm University and Gov2u is a web-based platform serving as a knowledge repository for sharing and aggregating data on e-infrastructure projects throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

e-Infrastructures– electronic research infrastructures – are collections of ICT based resources and services used by the worldwide research and education community to conduct collaborative projects and generate, exchange and preserve knowledge.

iMENTORS strengthens the development of European policy in developing research infrastructures by providing donors and policy makers with a comprehensive tool to test hypotheses and understand trends in the field of e-infrastructures development assistance across Sub-Saharan African countries. It increases the value of data by providing more descriptive information about international e-infrastructure development and strengthens efforts to improve donors and recipients strategic planning and coordination. 

By identifying and mapping the majority of e-infrastructure projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, the project provides valuable knowledge of what is currently on the ground which in itself represents the first step to more informed future choices and decision making on e- infrastructures deployment. Additionally, the software tool deployed assists policy-makers and donor agencies in utilizing the information more effectively, by filtering and associating it with other variables to identify on trends in aid flows, areas of interests, allowing them to make more informed decisions. 

The platform also pushes for stronger cooperation between the different e-infrastructures stakeholder groups, hence providing decisive support in their efforts to develop globally connected and interoperable e-infrastructures. 

The dissemination activities that are planned in this project have raised the visibility of the e-infrastructures activity in Sub-Saharan African Region towards wider audiences, especially among the research communities from EU countries and international development aid agencies. By engaging key e-infrastructures stakeholders at the recipient country level, the project triggers debates on the relative effectiveness of donors and create the impetus to move to more effective coordination mechanisms.

For more information visit: www.iMENTORS.eu