The African Open Science Platform (AOSP) has sent out a call for expressions of interest to host regional nodes in five African Regional and Economic Communities (RECs) – namely the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CENSAD).
The platform, which is hosted by the National Research Foundation in South Africa, aims to promote data-intensive open science in Africa and is accepting applications until 25 November 2022.
The purpose of the AOSP regional nodes is to support and promote efforts aligned with implementation of open science programmes at a regional level, strengthen knowledge networks and infrastructure access, and enhance cooperation between regions and globally.
Regional nodes will be expected to lead programme delivery and implementation, Coordination, Education and skills programmes, Societal engagement, dialogue, and policy as well as Resource mobilisation.
Interested hosting entity should include the facilities to host and operate the regional node, including adequate physical hosting facilities, an efficiently functioning research support ecosystem, and IT infrastructure in their application.
Established in 2017 ASOP aims to position African scientists at the cutting edge of data intensive science by stimulating interactivity and creating opportunity through the development of efficiencies of scale, building critical mass through shared capacities, and amplifying impact through a commonality of purpose and voice.
Photo courtesy / International Science Council
Article by Jedidah Mwangi
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