Academic literature on the topic 'Social networks – Ethiopia'

English Social networks are social capital for poor women living in a slum neighborhood in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Based on neighborhood, friendship, kinship, gender and ethnic ties, informal networks provide social, emotional and financial support. Social network analysis is a promising method for community development and participatory social work in Africa. French Les réseaux sociaux représentent un capital social pour les femmes pauvres qui vivent dans les bidonvilles à Addis-Abeba, en Ethiopie. Basés sur des liens de voisinage, d’amitié, de parenté, de genre et de culture, les réseaux informels apportent un soutien social, affectif et financier. L’analyse du réseau social est une méthode prometteuse pour le développement communautaire et le travail social participatif en Afrique. Spanish Las redes sociales son de suma importancia para las mujeres pobres que viven en los barrios de pocos recursos de Addis Abeba, Etiopía. Basadas en barrios, amistades, relaciones, géneros y lazos étnicos, las redes informales proveen ayuda social, emocional y financiera. El análisis de las redes sociales es un método promisorio para el desarrollo de las comunidades y el trabajo social participativo en África.

Beginning with a discussion of new political processes in transnational social networks, this essay presents Ethiopians in North America as a conflict-generated transnational diaspora closely involved in homeland politics. The essay surveys a range of key diaspora political organizations and media, detailing their involvement in the dramatic political events surrounding the Ethiopian election in 2005. The critical and creative roles that the Ethiopian diaspora played—in framing political events and as a gatekeeper for opposition strategies—provided essential support for the homeland’s opposition parties both during and after the election. (6 March 2009)

SUMMARYThe use of shared common water points (WPs) and grazing points (GPs) at two different levels of administrative aggregation (village and kebelle) in a region of the Highlands of Ethiopia was explored by means of a questionnaire survey and social network analysis. Despite GPs being more abundant than WPs (208 and 154, respectively), individual GPs provide more contact opportunities for animals. There was great variability in the contact structure of the selected villages within kebelles for both networks, with this variability being higher in the GP networks for each kebelle. Contrary to the commonly held view that WPs are critical for the potential transmission of infectious diseases, intervention at GPs in the Ethiopian Highlands may have greater impact on contacts and thereby opportunities for transmission of infectious diseases between flocks. Some villages appear naturally at much lower risk of introducing disease. These findings could help the design of surveillance and control activities for directly transmitted infectious diseases.

In Africa, social capital (SC) is an important resource for the informal economy. It substitutes the limited formal business support systems as factor inputs for enterprise development. This article investigates the effect of Burt’s structural holes theory of social capital in the context of the Ethiopian informal economy. Data were collected from street entrepreneurs in Addis Ababa using multiple name generators constructed on the basis of entrepreneurs’ frequent interaction with people related to resources needed for entrepreneurial activities. Social network analyses and statistical procedures of instrumental variables estimation were used to analyse the data. By controlling the potential endogeneity problem between structural holes and enterprise outcomes, the findings of the study show that entrepreneurs’ dense network structure, which lacks structural holes, has a significant negative effect on entrepreneurial outcome. Accordingly, policies that aim at supporting informal entrepreneurs need to consider the benefits of social contacts while taking into account the downside of being excessively embedded in dense networks.

This article explores the roles of Ego social networks for community development in the Tullo community of southern Ethiopia. By employing qualitative research methods, data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and participatory mapping. The analysis revealed that social networks contribute to community development as communication channels and forums of information sharing. Networks also provide economic and social support to the members and beyond. Individuals known as Egos loom large in social networks and play a pivotal role in leading the functions of Ego networks for community development. The study draws important lessons about functions of the Ego networks to sustain the peaceful and meaningful life of the studied community.

This study focuses on the issue of Islamic reformism and provides insights to a highly diverse and ambiguous phenomenon. Located in contemporary Ethiopia, the case in point for the study is what I have labeled the Intellectualist movement. De-institutionalized and decentered in character, the movement was a major player on the Ethiopian religious and political scene, and contributed significantly to the shaping of generations of young Muslims from the early 1990s to up until today. The Intellectualist movement is a good example of a kind of reformism that often escapes analysts’ attention, and the argument is that movement’s informal character points to an important trend among many contemporary religious reformism: their appearance as social networks and the processural character of reform itself. Applying the concept of network of meaning, which points to how movements are loosely structured and constituted around personal and face-to-face interactions, the study emphasizes reform movements as venues for learning, for ideological production, and for the creation of new subjects. This means that they are more than instruments for direct action, but that they are fields for symbolic exchange and self-reflexive relationships engagement, which in turn constitute processes for the realization of alternative behavior and for the mobilization of action.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD<br>This dissertation explored the degree and distribution of social capital forms-social networks, volunteer associations, generalized trust, particularized trust and norms of reciprocity in rural Ethiopia. It aims to contribute to the academic understanding of social capital formation in Africa. Whereas the extent of literature focused on uncovering difference in the distribution of social capital at macro, meso and micro levels, this dissertation instead unpacks how political and economic conditions in rural Ethiopia shape the extent of the different forms of social capital at different levels.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD<br>This dissertation explored the degree and distribution of social capital forms-social networks, volunteer associations, generalized trust, particularized trust and norms of reciprocity in rural Ethiopia. It aims to contribute to the academic understanding of social capital formation in Africa. Whereas the extent of literature focused on uncovering difference in the distribution of social capital at macro, meso and micro levels, this dissertation instead unpacks how political and economic conditions in rural Ethiopia shape the extent of the different forms of social capital at different levels. Aresi and Menze are selected for the case-study based on their representation of rural Ethiopia's ecological, language, and ethnicity, historical and religious diversity. A household survey (n = 735) was conducted to uncover the distribution of social capital forms at the individual, regional and aggregate levels. Eight focus group discussions and ten key informant interviews were conducted to unpack why the different forms of social capital unfold the way they do. The qualitative interviews were also used for validating the result of the household survey by uncovering how institutional and structural factors reconstituted and redefined at the local level and translated into social capital formation. The empirical result revealed that social networks and norms of reciprocity are the most important social capital apects in the study areas. At the same time, trust relations and formal networks (volunteer organizations) are the least important aspects of social capital. However, over time, community-organization has become an alternative venue where community members relate and support each other. Thus, network-based and community-based social capital are the principal social capital forms in the study areas. This result is largely inconsistent with the previous studies that have been conducted in developed and democratic countries which have asserted generalized trust and impersonal civic organizations as the major forms of social capital, rather than localized and interpersonal forms of social capital. The fact that different forms of social capital are present in different contexts with different levels of importance shows that forms of social capital do not necessarily articulate together. Moreover, the variation in the relative importance of social capital forms shows that the production of social capital is shaped by the prevailing political and economic conditions. Thus, this dissertation makes the case that it is necessary to distinguish among the different forms of social capital both in theory and practice.

This thesis consists of two parts: Part I (Chapters 2 and 3) critically assesses a set of methodological tools that are widely used in the literature and that are applied to the empirical analysis in Part II (Chapters 4 and 5). Using a randomised experiment, the first chapter compares pen-and-paper interviewing (PAPI) with computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). We observe a large error count in PAPI, which is likely to introduce sample bias. We examine the effect of PAPI consumption measurement error on poverty analysis and compare both applications in terms of interview length, costs and respondents’ perceptions. Next, we formalise an unproven source of ordinary least squares estimation bias in standard linear-in-means peer effects models. Deriving a formula for the magnitude of the bias, we discuss its underlying parameters. We show when the bias is aggravated in models adding cluster fixed effects and how it affects inference and interpretation of estimation results. We reveal that two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimation strategies eliminate the bias and provide illustrative simulations. The results may explain some counter-intuitive findings in the social interaction literature. We then use the linear-in-means model to estimate endogenous peer effects on the awareness of a community-based development programme of vulnerable groups in rural Tanzania. We denote the geographically nearest neighbours set as the relevant peer group in this context and employ a popular 2SLS estimation strategy on a unique spatial household dataset, collected using CAPI, to identify significant average and heterogeneous endogenous peer effects. The final chapter investigates social network effects in decentralised food aid (free food and food for work) allocation processes in Ethiopia, in the aftermath of a serious drought. We find that food aid is responsive to need, as well as being targeted at households with less access to informal support. However, we also find strong correlations with political connections, especially in the immediate aftermath of the drought.

The aim of this thesis is to examine the need for a more open and sustainable business approach that centers on social responsibility in creating sustainable solutions for the smallholder, specifically with contributions from stakeholders in the value network and others like Non Government Organizations (NGOs). This approach is to create sustainable competitive markets and business network. The concepts of CSR stakeholders value network is applied to a case study of a real business development initiative from Ethiopia, Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperatives Union (OCFCU). The thesis reveals the role of farmer’s cooperative in the stakeholders’ value network and CSR thinking as an active tool for advancing smallholder by integrating them in to a global value network that create inclusive capital which leads to sustainable development, and poverty reduction. It will also explore how the farmer’s cooperative is playing a role in eliminating intermediaries, who has been taking much of the profit from the age old free market coffee chain, which enables OCFCU to create a cooperative coffee chain. Farmers’ problem was the driving factors for the formation of OCFCU. The two problems were: (1) The New York C market is trading coffee as a commodity (2) Technological advancement in countries where coffee grow in large scale, which in turn result the price to remain low, has made it even worse for small holders like OCFCU to make realistic business. Therefore, in order to achieve the cooperative farm’s greatest aim, bringing more money to the coffee growers’ pocket, the cooperative farm has to find a market place where consumers are willing to pay premium price. This continues search for a better market for their quality coffee has brought OCFCU from value chain to value network that we have related it with the stakeholders’ values network. This bold move from value chain to value network is the new business model in the stakeholders’ value network, where commodity market leaves the way to specialty market. This is the contribution of the thesis. To conclude, the role of OCFCU is to keep an eye on the high quality standards of buyers in the developed world and focus on continuously training farmers so that they growing high quality coffee that consumers are willing to pay premium price.

This interdisciplinary thesis studies the diverse multi-stakeholder networks that are constitutive of contemporary water governance. It examines collaborative governance networks from a relational perspective in two case study watersheds in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Collaborative and networked governance approaches are increasingly promoted to address complex water challenges, but relatively little is known about how the everyday collaborative relationships (i.e. collaboration practices) among the multiple actors involved in the development, management and use of water, shape contemporary water governance processes. In this thesis, I advance, based on intensive fieldwork data collection, a conceptual and methodological framework for studying collaboration networks pertaining to watershed management. I examine local collaborative governance networks in two watersheds, in Ethiopia and Tanzania, from a relational perspective, using complementary qualitative and quantitative social network research methods. The thesis explores the opportunities and limitations of such collaborative governance networks in their concrete functioning, thereby contributing to a more context-sensitive, and nuanced, understanding of the role of governance networks and collaborative governance approaches in the management of water and related resources.

<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> <p align="left">The Social Capital approach to development is based on the premise that both cognitive and structural aspects of a given society determine the level of development performance. It is argued that norms of trust and reciprocity, networks, and mutual aid govern interaction among people, hold them together, facilitate opportunities to manage common property and pursue common goals, and ultimately contribute to development by facilitating their cooperation and collective action. In this thesis I explore the relationship between social capital and development by analysing the performance of household wellbeing in a given community. Two dominant views on social capital and the outcomes of development performance are currently in prominence in the development discourse. This debate centres on whether social capital is a sufficient cause on its own or whether it needs intermediary actors. The social capital theory argues that the development performance of a particular community can be explained directly by the prevailing level of social capital, and that the underlying levels of trust, social norms and networks are sufficient to explain development. On the other hand, the school of thought that supports the need for intermediary actors argues that social capital is unable to influence development performance at higher levels. If a larger impact and a more precise outcome are expected, intermediary actors who facilitate interest formation, aggregation and representation are necessary. Without them, social capital remains largely inactive and dormant. In exploring the possible link between the two variables, this thesis supports the second premises, introducing the notion of intermediary actors that might activate the stock of social capital and its performance on household wellbeing. The need to explore the relationship between the two variables demanded empirical research. The research was conducted in the rural villages of Oromia regional State of Ethiopia. Based on the empirical evidence, the relationship between the stock of social capital and performance in household wellbeing is generally positive. A large stock of social capital is generally accompanied by a higher level of performance in household wellbeing. However, I argue that social capital is only truly social when activated by an intermediary development actor. Failing this, though it contributes significantly to village solidarity and unity, social capital remains inactive and dormant. Therefore, the general conclusion of this thesis is that social capital matters, but its utilisation by intermediary agencies matters more.</p> </font></font></p>

In Ethiopia people are highly dependent on natural resources which often lead to environmental degradation. The perception is that environmental degradation is partly due to lack of environmental awareness. The level of environmental awareness and the role of the media in creating awareness in Kembata Tembaro Administrative zone were investigated. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to identify sources of environmental knowledge, content, spatial extent, volume and priority of media coverage, impact of media, and expectation of audiences and producers. Experience, rather than outside sources, such as provided by the media, is the main source of environmental information, but awareness is key to reduce further environmental degradation. Environmental media programs should be transmitted at suitable times and the experiences of successful farmers in natural resources conservation and development should be shared. Attention should also be given to identification of awareness obstacles and training and sensitizing of journalists on environment issues

Natural resources and rural livelihoods in Africa are under pressure due to climate change and ineffective management. It particularly affects countries where most of the population depends on natural resources for their livelihood, like Ethiopia. Even though, there is scientific and local knowledge on environmental management in the form of national strategies, stakeholders, and actions at multiple governance levels, it is lacking a proper interlinkage and public communication. This research aims to contribute to narrow gaps between knowledge systems and enhance adaptive capacity by understanding barriers and drivers for knowledge generation and management in climate change adaptation. The study interlinks political ecology and social theoretical concepts for climate change adaptation and knowledge management in a multi-level governance framework representing one country. Ethiopia is focused on in this study because it is and will be greatly affected by climate change and has elaborated a national strategy to become a climate resilient middle-income country by 2025. The governance levels are analyzed with (1) determining the institutional framework, stakeholders, and networks at national level, (2) analyzing the structure, role and capacity of the extension system, (3) investigating local capacities and thresholds for access and participation in knowledge and governance processes for natural resource management. A focus is put on (4) area closures, as an example for an applied and common intervention of natural resource management in Ethiopia, which can serve as contribution to cope with climate change consequences. In a final step (5) interlinkages and compatibility of the governance levels in Ethiopia are evaluated to draw conclusions for a generalization of obstacles and potentials. A two-level case study design was applied incorporating the national and local level of Ethiopia:Acknowledgements I Abstract III Zusammenfassung V Table of Content VII List of Abbreviations X List of Figures XII List of Tables XIV List of Appendices XV 1. Introduction 1 1.1. Social and Governance Limits to Climate Change Adaptation 1 1.2. Justification of the Study and Focus on Knowledge Management 3 1.3. Objectives and Structure of the Study 6 2. Theoretical Framework 9 2.1. State of Scientific Knowledge: Multi-Level Governance and Knowledge in Environmental Management in Africa 9 2.1.1. Multi-Level Governance for Environmental Management 9 2.1.2. Knowledge Systems and Social Dimensions in Climate Change Adaptation and Governance in Africa 11 2.1.3. Environmental Situation and Governance in Ethiopia 14 2.1.4. Area Closures for Climate Change Adaptation and Governance in Ethiopia 16 2.2. Conceptual Framework: Knowledge Management for Climate Change Adaptation in a Multi-Level Governance System 17 3. Methodology 19 3.1. Research Design and Concept 19 3.1.1. Multi-Level Case Study Design for Multi-Level Social Research 19 3.1.2. Description of the Case Study Country and Local Sites in Ethiopia 21 3.1.3. Research Matrix and Phases 23 3.2. Data Collection Methods & Materials 27 3.2.1. Secondary Literature and Data Review 27 3.2.2. Interviewing Techniques with Organizations 27 3.2.3. Community Survey 30 3.2.4. Observation 34 3.3. Data Analysis 35 3.3.1. Data base and processing 35 3.3.2. Qualitative Content Analysis 35 3.3.3. Statistical Evaluation 38 3.3.4. Social Network Analysis 38 3.4. Research Ethics and Limitations of the Study 40 4. Climate Change Adaptation at Country Level in Ethiopia 43 4.1. Legal Framework and Perceptions of Activities tackling Climate Change and Adaptation in Ethiopia 43 4.2. Organizational, Collaboration and Communication Structures 48 4.3. The Extension System: Function and Performance 57 4.4. Institutionalization and Perception of Area Closure Management 63 5. Knowledge Systems and Natural Resource Management at Local Level in Rural Ethiopia 67 5.1. Case Study I: Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha Woreda, Oromia Region 67 5.1.1. Facts and Description of the Study Area 67 5.1.2. Climatic and Environment Change: Perceptions and Activities 72 5.1.3. Information, Communication, and Social Networks 76 5.1.4. Development and Extension Structure and Processes 84 5.1.5. Organizational Capacities and Collaboration Structures 90 5.1.6. Management and Performance of Area Closures 95 5.2. Case Study II: Wogera Woreda, Amhara Region 104 5.2.1. Facts and Description of the Study Area 104 5.2.2. Climatic and Environment Change: Perceptions and Activities 107 5.2.3. Information Access, Communication, and Social Networks 111 5.2.4. Development and Extension Structure and Processes 115 5.2.5. Organizational Capacities and Collaboration Structures 121 5.2.6. Management and Performance of Area Closures 126 5.3. Synopsis of the Local Case Studies 132 5.3.1. Comparative Analysis of the Woredas ATJK and Wogera 132 5.3.2. Conclusions on Structures and Conditions for Knowledge Generation and Management at Local Level 138 6. Synthesis: Knowledge Management for Climate Change Adaptation 143 6.1. (In)Compatibility of National Visions and Local Reality in Ethiopia 143 6.2. Future Pathways: Three Scenarios for Knowledge Management and Climate Change Adaptation in Ethiopia 146 6.2.1. Scenario I: Business-As-Usual 146 6.2.2. Scenario II: Collective Action at Community Level 148 6.2.3. Scenario III: Multi-Level Stakeholder Dialogue 150 6.2.4. Recommendations for Actions in Ethiopia 152 6.3. Framework of Multi-Level Governance for Strengthening Knowledge Management on Climate Change Adaptation 155 7. Conclusion 159 7.1. Lessons Learned 159 7.2. Methodological critique and suggestions for further research 160 References 161 Appendices 177

Many researchers have studied how social competition and aggression affect health and well-being. However, few have made significant theoretical contributions to the understanding of how competition and aggression specific to women’s same-sex social networks may alter their health and well-being. Indeed, several lines of research indicate that positive interpersonal relationships between women are correlated to improved health, and, as a corollary, stressful and competitive interpersonal relationships result in significant health costs. Using evolutionary ecological theory and supporting data from Sidama pastoralist women in rural southwestern Ethiopia, this essay proposes that sleep quality and trade-offs between time spent sleeping for more waking time may be one of the pathways through which women’s health is affected by competition and aggression with other women. Sleep is gained or lost due to ruminations and investments over immediate social situations with other women, and this in turn can affect women’s health and well-being.

This book provides scholars with a comprehensive collection of core references extracted from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim literature to a plethora of ancient writings associated with the name of the biblical character Enoch (Gen 5:214). It assembles citations of and references to writings attributed to Enoch in non-canonical Jewish, Christian, and Muslim literary sources (ranging in age from roughly the third century BCE up through the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries CE) into one convenient thematically arranged repository, and it classifies, compares, and briefly analyzes these references and citations to develop a clearer picture of the scope and range of what one might term “the Enochic library,” or the entire corpus of works attributed to Enoch and his subsequent cross-cultural avatars. The book consists of two parts. The present volume, Volume 1, is devoted to textual traditions about the narratological career of the character Enoch. It collects materials about the distinctive epithets frequently paired with his name, outlines his cultural achievements, articulates his societal roles, describes his interactions with the celestial world, assembles the varied traditions about his eventual fate, and surveys the various identities he is assigned outside the purely biblical world of discourse within other discursive networks and intellectual circles. It also assembles a range of testimonies which express how writings associated with Enoch were evaluated by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim writers during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Volume 2, currently in preparation, will concentrate upon textual sources which arguably display a knowledge of the peculiar contents, motifs, and themes of extant Enochic literature, including but not limited to 1 Enoch (the Ethiopic Book of Enoch) and 2 Enoch (the Slavonic Book of Enoch).

Ethiopian knowledge and intellectualism has been squinted for the millennia. Using a trans-disciplinary design, knowledge and intellectual crises in Ethiopia was analysed philosophically by tracing the networks of knowledge and mind. From the endeavor, it is found out that transdisciplinary orders and practices compelled Ethiopia to lose her true genealogy of epistemology. The theo-culture and social structure, events and practices accentuated the threaded sagas of knowledge. Empires and big Dynasties were redacted to small states and kingdoms. Through redaction of authentic knowledge and belief system, Ethiopian system was lost; universal knowledge has become very local and the antithesis is true. In Ethiopia, the forces of taboos were mightier than the forces of man and education. Besides, Ethiopian knowledge suffered from several socio-economic, psychological and historical phenomena. Together, people can do anything they can. Every Ethiopian shall explore true Ethiopianism in history and strive for deconstructing crises and reconstructing the ancient wonderful Ethiopia.

Drawing on insights from social network theory, the socio-economic and cultural dimensions of intra-ethnic business networks are examined for the Gurage, an ethnic group in Ethiopia. This study also examines the extent of Chinese impacts on the footwear industry of Ethiopia. A qualitative approach based on in-depth interviews was utilized in order to assess intra-ethnic business networks, while a quantitative approach, based on a cross-sectional survey, was employed to collect background data, to assess the impact of Chinese imports on local footwear producers and to identify potential cases for in-depth interviews. Gurage use ethnic networks to mobilize resources and opportunities, which in turn contributes to their success in the business. In response to the threats of Chinese imports on production activities and social capital of local footwear enterprises, firms downsized or stopped business, or resorted to other alternatives.

This chapter examines the transnational nature of African immigrant students’ experiences in the United States. In two case studies of students from Ethiopia and Somalia, the authors explore the students’ pre- and post-immigration experiences, with a particular focus on their family and school contexts. The students’ resiliency in the U.S. education system can be attributed to several factors in their migration histories, including their migration to join family members who were already part of established co-ethnic communities, thus linking them to social support networks, living in transnational family contexts that are characterized by the separation and subsequent reunification of family members, and viewing education as the key to unlocking new opportunities. The authors identify practical strategies for supporting the academic and social success of immigrant students by recognizing and capitalizing on the social capital they possess.

This report maps the African landscape of Open Science – with a focus on Open Data as a sub-set of Open Science. Data to inform the landscape study were collected through a variety of methods, including surveys, desk research, engagement with a community of practice, networking with stakeholders, participation in conferences, case study presentations, and workshops hosted. Although the majority of African countries (35 of 54) demonstrates commitment to science through its investment in research and development (R&amp;D), academies of science, ministries of science and technology, policies, recognition of research, and participation in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), the following countries demonstrate the highest commitment and political willingness to invest in science: Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. In addition to existing policies in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), the following countries have made progress towards Open Data policies: Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa and Uganda. Only two African countries (Kenya and South Africa) at this stage contribute 0.8% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to R&amp;D (Research and Development), which is the closest to the AU’s (African Union’s) suggested 1%. Countries such as Lesotho and Madagascar ranked as 0%, while the R&amp;D expenditure for 24 African countries is unknown. In addition to this, science globally has become fully dependent on stable ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) infrastructure, which includes connectivity/bandwidth, high performance computing facilities and data services. This is especially applicable since countries globally are finding themselves in the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), which is not only “about” data, but which “is” data. According to an article1 by Alan Marcus (2015) (Senior Director, Head of Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries, World Economic Forum), “At its core, data represents a post-industrial opportunity. Its uses have unprecedented complexity, velocity and global reach. As digital communications become ubiquitous, data will rule in a world where nearly everyone and everything is connected in real time. That will require a highly reliable, secure and available infrastructure at its core, and innovation at the edge.” Every industry is affected as part of this revolution – also science. An important component of the digital transformation is “trust” – people must be able to trust that governments and all other industries (including the science sector), adequately handle and protect their data. This requires accountability on a global level, and digital industries must embrace the change and go for a higher standard of protection. “This will reassure consumers and citizens, benefitting the whole digital economy”, says Marcus. A stable and secure information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure – currently provided by the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) – is key to advance collaboration in science. The AfricaConnect2 project (AfricaConnect (2012–2014) and AfricaConnect2 (2016–2018)) through establishing connectivity between National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), is planning to roll out AfricaConnect3 by the end of 2019. The concern however is that selected African governments (with the exception of a few countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia and others) have low awareness of the impact the Internet has today on all societal levels, how much ICT (and the 4th Industrial Revolution) have affected research, and the added value an NREN can bring to higher education and research in addressing the respective needs, which is far more complex than simply providing connectivity. Apart from more commitment and investment in R&amp;D, African governments – to become and remain part of the 4th Industrial Revolution – have no option other than to acknowledge and commit to the role NRENs play in advancing science towards addressing the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals). For successful collaboration and direction, it is fundamental that policies within one country are aligned with one another. Alignment on continental level is crucial for the future Pan-African African Open Science Platform to be successful. Both the HIPSSA ((Harmonization of ICT Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa)3 project and WATRA (the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly)4, have made progress towards the regulation of the telecom sector, and in particular of bottlenecks which curb the development of competition among ISPs. A study under HIPSSA identified potential bottlenecks in access at an affordable price to the international capacity of submarine cables and suggested means and tools used by regulators to remedy them. Work on the recommended measures and making them operational continues in collaboration with WATRA. In addition to sufficient bandwidth and connectivity, high-performance computing facilities and services in support of data sharing are also required. The South African National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System5 (NICIS) has made great progress in planning and setting up a cyberinfrastructure ecosystem in support of collaborative science and data sharing. The regional Southern African Development Community6 (SADC) Cyber-infrastructure Framework provides a valuable roadmap towards high-speed Internet, developing human capacity and skills in ICT technologies, high- performance computing and more. The following countries have been identified as having high-performance computing facilities, some as a result of the Square Kilometre Array7 (SKA) partnership: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zambia. More and more NRENs – especially the Level 6 NRENs 8 (Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and recently Zambia) – are exploring offering additional services; also in support of data sharing and transfer. The following NRENs already allow for running data-intensive applications and sharing of high-end computing assets, bio-modelling and computation on high-performance/ supercomputers: KENET (Kenya), TENET (South Africa), RENU (Uganda), ZAMREN (Zambia), EUN (Egypt) and ARN (Algeria). Fifteen higher education training institutions from eight African countries (Botswana, Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania) have been identified as offering formal courses on data science. In addition to formal degrees, a number of international short courses have been developed and free international online courses are also available as an option to build capacity and integrate as part of curricula. The small number of higher education or research intensive institutions offering data science is however insufficient, and there is a desperate need for more training in data science. The CODATA-RDA Schools of Research Data Science aim at addressing the continental need for foundational data skills across all disciplines, along with training conducted by The Carpentries 9 programme (specifically Data Carpentry 10 ). Thus far, CODATA-RDA schools in collaboration with AOSP, integrating content from Data Carpentry, were presented in Rwanda (in 2018), and during17-29 June 2019, in Ethiopia. Awareness regarding Open Science (including Open Data) is evident through the 12 Open Science-related Open Access/Open Data/Open Science declarations and agreements endorsed or signed by African governments; 200 Open Access journals from Africa registered on the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ); 174 Open Access institutional research repositories registered on openDOAR (Directory of Open Access Repositories); 33 Open Access/Open Science policies registered on ROARMAP (Registry of Open Access Repository Mandates and Policies); 24 data repositories registered with the Registry of Data Repositories (re3data.org) (although the pilot project identified 66 research data repositories); and one data repository assigned the CoreTrustSeal. Although this is a start, far more needs to be done to align African data curation and research practices with global standards. Funding to conduct research remains a challenge. African researchers mostly fund their own research, and there are little incentives for them to make their research and accompanying data sets openly accessible. Funding and peer recognition, along with an enabling research environment conducive for research, are regarded as major incentives. The landscape report concludes with a number of concerns towards sharing research data openly, as well as challenges in terms of Open Data policy, ICT infrastructure supportive of data sharing, capacity building, lack of skills, and the need for incentives. Although great progress has been made in terms of Open Science and Open Data practices, more awareness needs to be created and further advocacy efforts are required for buy-in from African governments. A federated African Open Science Platform (AOSP) will not only encourage more collaboration among researchers in addressing the SDGs, but it will also benefit the many stakeholders identified as part of the pilot phase. The time is now, for governments in Africa, to acknowledge the important role of science in general, but specifically Open Science and Open Data, through developing and aligning the relevant policies, investing in an ICT infrastructure conducive for data sharing through committing funding to making NRENs financially sustainable, incentivising open research practices by scientists, and creating opportunities for more scientists and stakeholders across all disciplines to be trained in data management.