This project is one of several initiatives undertaken by Connectivity Africa to promote networking in institutions of higher education and research in Africa. Over the past few months, Connectivity Africa has commissioned a study (102998) to profile existing academic networks in Africa and to suggest possible scenarios for the establishment of a Pan African Research and Education Network (PAREN). The results of the study were presented at a session organized at the Association of African Universities' 11th General Conference (21-25 February 2005). This project will complement the study with a report on international support for research and education networking in Africa. Kate Wild will profile over 40 organizations that support bandwidth-management in African universities. Each profile will describe the institution's initiatives, future plans, budget, key contact people, and existing partnerships and collaboration. The consultant will present her study at the upcoming Open Access Conference in Maputo, 9-10 May 2005. It is expected that the process will help build a consensus for action and result a number of resolutions to announce at a PAREN event that Connectivity Africa is organizing at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis in November 2005.

Project Objectives

To survey and profile a range of organizations including multilateral and bilateral aid agencies, national and international science foundations, international donors, second generation academic networks and the private sector, in order to quantify the extent of their support of research and education networks among institutions of higher education and research in Africa.

To improve knowledge about existing and planned projects, commitments and activities to promote education and research networking in institutions of higher education in Africa;

to understand the type of support and commitment provided by the profiled institutions;

to identify the geographical distribution of this support; and

to identify potential partnerships and collaboration for the promotion of an African Research and Education Networking.