The SADC Environmental Information Systems Training and Education Sub-Program (SETES) Adopts IDRISI
9/16/02

The SADC Environmental Information Systems Education (EIS) and Training Sub-Program (SETES) has adopted IDRISI for developing educational materials for its network of nine nodes including the Universities of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi (Zomba), Namibia, Swaziland, Venda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the University College of Lands and Architectural Studies (UCLAS). IDRISI will also be used for much of the coordinated research being carried out by research teams from the SETES nodes.

SETES was formulated in 1998 to provide long range education and training programs, both for professionals in the field as well as for those in educational institutions. While introducing EIS in regular curricula at educational institutions is the ultimate goal, training in EIS at short courses throughout the network has been given a high priority. Although not all universities in the network currently use the same software for all their training, the coordinated curricula for the nodes of the network are being written based on IDRISI and ArcInfo.

Prior to the formulation of SETES, assistance had been provided through a variety of agencies, including UNEP, USAID and GTZ on EIS methodology and technology transfer. The SADC Environment and Land Management Sector (SADC/ELMS) developed a number of programs and networks for improving the management of spatial data, increasing the awareness of the potential of EIS in general, and increasing the capacity for utilizing EIS techniques.

SETES encourages the development of partnerships among national universities, institutes and other institutions of higher learning with the participating nodes, each contributing to an aspect of EIS based on their unique field of research. Many of the key nodes have already developed a national or sub-national network for which the node itself provides leadership in training in ministries, polytechnics and at the District level. Thus in its advanced stage SETES will be a network of networks throughout those countries or sub-national regions where the network is established.

The SETES network has attracted attention both within and outside the SADC region. USAID's Regional Center for Southern Africa (USAID/RCSA) awarded them a grant to train participants in its Strategic Objective on trans-boundary natural resources management. Teams of former SETES' trainees working in the field have collaborated academic staff at the various universities of the nodes to draw up proposals: to investigate the sustainability of various trans-boundary natural resources in the Lake Malawi Basin; to monitor ecological changes and manage natural resources on the Namibia-Botswana border in the Kasane area; and to supplement on-going work in the Drakesberg-Maloti area on tourist potential from the Lesotho side where little work has so far been done. SETES will also be used as a pilot for the possible development of an African wide network by EIS-Africa.

For further information, please contact Laurie Canavan, Clark Labs at lcanavan@clarku.edu; or Musisi Nkambwe, University of Botswana at MUSISIN@mopipi.ub.bw.