OPEN DATA BRINGS INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS 4 ENVIRONMENTAL & CLIMATE ACTION 2 SIERRA LEONE
I was proud to attend a Technical Workshop of the Agriculture and Environmental Data Collaboratives -Sierra Leone at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security at the invitation of Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) to see many innovative open data and information communication technology (ICT) solutions to boost food security, disaster management and adaptation to climate change.
A cross-sectoral approach saw discussions on climate smart agriculture and using open data to help solve serious environmental challenges like waste management, deforestation, land degradation and illegal mining. And exciting new apps were previewed like the Flood Alert app enabling citizens to report and upload pics of flooded communities; a city waste tracker to report and track location and type of waste and a mobi-web waste resource hub matching people with waste to recycling and upcycling organizations, all presented by Victor Ohuruogu from Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data.
All these innovative apps have been piloted in the real world in other African countries and their adoption in Sierra Leone would surely help boost agricultural yield and outcomes from the Mayors flood mitigation plan for Freetown?
Attendees at the Collaborative included the Environmental Protection Agency, National Protected Area Authority and MASADA waste removal company identified other stakeholders for future meetings and thanked Victor Ohuruogu for his thorough presentations showing how Sierra Leone can make quick progress on climate adaptation, food security and environmental challenges if we open ourselves to new ways of working together using open data and ICT.
Although I would suggest that to be truly effective there must be significant investment to improve rural access to internet and mobile technology and the high prices we pay in Sierra Leone for our megabytes - some of the highest in Africa - must be tackled to improve inclusivity and make sure no one is left behind.
