Building on an existing collaboration with GBIF Spain, the objective of this project is to strengthen the new GBIF node in Zimbabwe through mentoring and capacity building of potential data publishers and users. These activities complement the recent formation of Steering and Technical committees, crucial to making GBIF Zimbabwe a success. Online mentoring by GBIF Spain will help GBIF Zimbabwe develop a Strategic Plan that will set targets and guide activities of the node for the next five years. Furthermore, online interactions well help in the setting up of an IPT for hosting data mobilized by institutions in Zimbabwe.
GBIF Spain will host two representatives of GBIF Zimbabwe for hands-on data publication training and citizen science engagement. During the visit GBIF Spain will share experiences on the structure of the node, its activities, challenges and opportunities. After this capacity enhancement activity, trained staff from GBIF Zimbabwe and three other local trainers will organize workshops on data mobilization and data access for stakeholders in Zimbabwe.
As a direct impact of the project, at least two data holding institutions are expected to register with GBIF and publish at least five datasets and 20,000 records. GBIF Zimbabwe will continue to build capacity within institutions in Zimbabwe following the conclusion of the project, resulting in more institutions joining and publishing data to the GBIF network.
Project Progress
The project started with online activities that resulted in the successful setting up of an IPT for GBIF Zimbabwe hosted at the Bindura University of Science Education. This was then followed by three workshops:
- A hands-on training data mobilization workshop (September 2019, Madrid, Spain) where two members of GBIF Zimbabwe were mentored by five members of GBIF Spain in data mobilization, citizen science and general node management. As a result the structure of GBIF Zimbabwe was setup and modelled around that of GBIF Spain.
- Following the training of GBIF Zimbabwe trainers, a workshop to train data holders on various data mobilization and publishing tools (January 2020, Harare, Zimbabwe).
- A workshop on data access and use (March 2020, Bindura, Zimbabwe), which was attended by members from government departments, universities and colleges.
Throughout the project's implementation the team used an online project board to enhance communication and through online interaction between GBIF Zimbabwe and GBIF Spain, a five year Strategic Plan was developed for GBIF Zimbabwe.
Other achievements accomplished by the end of the project included the launching of GBIF Zimbabwe’s official website and twitter account. In addition to this, two major data holders (Forestry Commission and the National Herbarium and Botanic Garden) registered as GBIF publishers and two data sets were published.
Post project the team envisages using the results of this project as reference material in GBIF Zimbabwe’s future similar activities and events. Additionally to continue monitoring and evaluating the project’s impact.
