The main objective of this training is to provide the participants with the skills to use the DSS Knowledge Base web interface to (1) explore the datasets available for the Volta Basin, including local datasets from member countries and freely available global earth observation products; (2) visualise data in maps and analyse data in charts for use in daily work; (3) review the datasets available to assess if any existing data is missing or incomplete and discuss the processes for updating and maintaining local data; (4) provide feedback on the organisation and naming of datasets in the Knowledge Base web interface.
Participants will gain a greater understanding of the Knowledge Base in the DSS through hands-on exercises in training sessions to use the web interface and explore, visualize and analyse the data.
The key objective of the Knowledge Base of the DSS is to provide a web-based river basin platform for sharing, visualising, analyzing and downloading the latest relevant available water related datasets across the Volta Basin.
By facilitating access to water-related data, the database will support the monitoring, planning and management of water resources in member countries and at the level of the transboundary Volta Basin. This will help actors/stakeholders at all levels to make informed decisions based on a better knowledge of the real conditions of the resource.
The Knowledge Base web interface is a map-based tool for sharing, exchanging, visualising, analysing and downloading data stored in the DSS. It includes functionality for analysis and visualisation of relevant near real-time and historical spatial and temporal data in maps, plots and tables.
UNEP-DHI is working as a sub-consultant to GWP-WA and is providing technical support to the VBA for the delivery of some outputs including the surface water resources model and decision support tool, the community-based drought early warning system and the proper management and use of the model and decision support tool (DST) by the Volta Basin Observatory.
Execution of the technical support work by UNEP-DHI to deliver these outcomes started in December 2023 and will continue for 3 years to 2026. Following a 6-month Inception Phase, UNEP-DHI delivered the Inception Report in June 2024 which included a detailed implementation plan for delivering the outcomes of the project. An Inception Workshop was held on 24th – 25th June 2024 in Accra, Ghana where the Inception Report was approved subject to comments from VBA and the member countries which UNEP-DHI have addressed in the revised Inception Report delivered in August 2024.
A DSS Requirements Workshop was held on November 15th – 16th 2024 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire to define and discuss technical requirements and user needs and build the capacity of participants for their effective participation in the development and implementation of the DSS under the REWarD project. It covered the design of the knowledge base, the drought early warning system (DEWS), and the water resources planning tool.
UNEP-DHI is now implementing the technical activities according to the implementation plan and has completed the first activity (Activity 1.1.1.1) to establish an improved knowledge base in the DSS and delivered the report (Deliverable 1.1.1.1) on the Inventory of existing databases and recommendations in November 2024. In this training, UNEP-DHI will present and give training on using the Knowledge Base in the DSS alongside the final version of the Deliverable 1.1.1.1 report.
The regional workshop is being organised as part of the ‘Reversing trends in the degradation of ecosystems and water resources in the Volta Basin’ project, bringing together representatives from several countries and organisations to discuss a decision support system and data management platform for the basin.
Participants included representatives from the Directorates in charge of water resources, meteorological agencies and directorates, the Agriculture Technical Directorate (online), the Environment Technical Directorate (online), a number of other users (SONABEL, AKOSSOMBO), the VBA Observatory, UNEP-DHI, GWP- WA, a number of stakeholders from Benin (CWP-Benin, INE, DGEC, Ministry of Agriculture, Drought Focal Point) and the ED- VBA.
The regional workshop is facilitated by UNEP-DHI experts in collaboration with GWP-WA. The methodological approach to the organisation of the regional workshop is structured around the main stages that are preparation, course of the workshop and reporting.