PADIS Newsletter vol. 8, no. 4
December 1993
ACP Ministers approve project
The Council of Ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific
Group of States at their 57th session in Brussels from 22-25
November 1993 approved the PADIS three-year project on information
technology in the amount of US$2,359,000 as an inter-ACP project,
covering five of the seven ACP regions.
The project has now been forwarded to the European Union for
financing under the regional fund of the Lome IV Convention,
through the European Development Fund.
The project would address Africa's development information
problems by: (1) assisting in the transfer of information
technology to Africa; (2) supporting the creation of regional
communication networks; (3) promoting improved levels of
information use and exchange in the Africa region; and (4)
developing improved information products and services for delivery
to ECA member States.
When the project financing is approved, African countries
which are member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of
States would receive:
- advisory services on the choice of information
technology, and the development of national information
policies and information systems;
- training in basic computer skills, information management
techniques, statistical data base development and in the
use of telematics and other advanced information
equipment;
- exchange of information within Africa and between Africa
and developed countries;
- receipt of numerical and non-numerical development
information in printed format, on CD-ROM and through
computer-mediated communications.
African member States from these five regions may request and
receive a copy of the project document from the PADIS address
listed on p.1.
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PADIS News
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Workshop in Niamey
PADIS organized a workshop in Niamey, Niger from 4-8 October
within the context of making the West African Development
Information System (WADIS) operational. The theme of the workshop
centred around "information processing tools, norms, standards and
modalities for subregional exchange of development information."
The workshop was held in the conference centre of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Government of Niger. The following topics
were discussed at the workshop:
WADIS as a modality for subregional exchange of development
information.
Prospects and problems of networking in Africa.
The use of PADIS methodologies as standard methodology for
processing development information.
Available software packages for processing and exchange of
development information.
Participants were drawn from the following countries: Burkina
Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Niger,
Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Among the recommendations adopted at the
workshop were to have PADIS intensify its training programme in
computerized techniques of handling development information and for
PADIS to harmonise and standardize development information
processing tools to facilitate subregional and regional exchange of
development information. The workshop was organized by Mr. Francis
Inganji, PADIS Training Co- ordinator with the assistance of Mr.
Lishan Adam, CIBECA project manager. Copies of the report are
available upon request from PADIS at the address listed on p.1.
Editorial
At the second regular session of the United Nations
Administrative Committee on Co-ordination (ACC) held in New York
from 28-29 October 1993 a decision was taken to discontinue the
Advisory Committee for the Co-ordination of Information Systems
(ACCIS) and establish in its place an Information Systems
Co-ordination Committee (ISCC) which would report to ACC through
the ACC Organizational Committee (OC). The ISCC will be comprised
of United Nations' system organizations represented by individuals
with an understanding of information management issues and related
technologies; it would work extensively with electronic means and
be supported by a small secretariat.
Many readers of this newsletter, both within and outside of
the United Nations, are probably familiar with ACCIS and its
information products. ACCIS is a sub-committee of the ACC which was
established in 1983, by a decision of the ACC in response to
resolution 1982/71 of ECOSOC. Its role was to promote co-operation
in United Nations organizations to enhance the effective usage of
their information systems and services both within the United
Nations system and by member States.
Among the databases and publications of ACCIS are the
following:
ACCIS Newsletter
Register of development activities of the United Nations
system
Directory of United Nations databases and information systems
Directory of United Nations Serial Publications
ACCIS Guide to United Nations information sources in food and
agriculture
ACCIS Guide to United Nations information sources on the
environment
ACCIS Guide to United Nations information sources in trade and
development finance
It seems to this Newsletter that at a time where there is so
much criticism of the work of the United Nations, easily available
sources which detail the extensive work of the system are
invaluable arguments for and evidence of the good work that the
system does.
As part of the reorganization process, ACC is presently
conducting an evaluation of ACCIS' publications/databases in order
to identify those that should be pursued and those that should be
discontinued. In undertaking this evaluation, contributors and
users of these publications/databases are to be consulted.
If readers of this newsletter are familiar with ACCIS'
databases and publications and wish to register their views on
them, they are urged to write PADIS at the address listed below.
PADIS will undertake the responsibility of forwarding all comments
received to the ACC, which will meet next in Geneva on 11-12 April
1994.
PADIS attends DAI working group
PADIS attended the second general meeting of the Informal
Study Group on Exchange of Development Information held in Paris
from 4-6 October 1993. The meeting was attended by more than 90
representatives of development organizations, including the United
Nations and its specialized agencies, Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development Activity Committee member organizations,
non-governmental organizations and interested development
information users.
The meeting was opened by Mr. Keith A. Bezanson, President of
the International Development Research Centre, who spoke on
"Development: yesterday, today and tomorrow" which emphasized the
need to rekindle a vision of global development. He also urged the
study group, which until the present had been informal, to make
more formal arrangements for its continuity.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss technical problems
relating to the Development Activity Information CD-ROM and to
determine how it could gain wider use. The DAI information
collection had begun as an information sharing effort by donors and
development agencies; however, as its value has been recognized,
its wider use is being encouraged and promoted.
One of the highlights of the meeting was a presentation by UN-
EDIFACT, a project of the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe, of its computerized information system for the facilitation
of international trade procedures. A list of centres in Africa
where the DAI CD-ROM is located and can be searched (which include
PADIS) and copies of Mr. Bezanson's statement are available upon
request from the PADIS address listed on p.1.
PADIS meets with FID
PADIS met with Mr. Ben Goedegebuure, Executive Secretary of the
International Federation for Information and Documentation (FID) in
The Hague on 22 November. At the meeting the common interest of FID
and PADIS in information management, information systems and
information technology was underscored. FID was particularly
interested in establishing FID commissions in sub-Saharan Africa.
Also discussed were possible co-operation between PADIS and FID in
mounting joint training, with a specific suggestion involving
training in environmental information management in Africa. Another
topic of FID concern was bringing the library and information
technology communities in Africa closer together. PADIS was
represented by Ms. Nancy J. Hafkin, Officer-in-Charge.
For more information on FID and their programmes in Africa,
contact the Executive Secretary, International Federation for
Information and Documentation, P.O. Box 90402, 2509 LK The Hague
Netherlands; telephone: +31 (0)70 3140761; fax: +31 (0)70 3140667;
[Internet] e-mail: fid@geo2.geomail.org. Members of FID receive its
excellent monthly publication, FID News Bulletin.
Information technology
CIBECA Workshops
Between October and December 1993 PADIS organized three
workshops on electronic communication for governmental officials,
University faculty and employees of embassies and bi-lateral aid
organizations.
From 17-20 October PADIS' Capacity and Infrastructure Building
for Electronic Communication (CIBECA) project organised a workshop
for faculty of Addis Ababa University to introduce them to low cost
global communication systems and discuss future networking at the
university. The workshop covered:
-introduction to networks: Uucp, Fido and Internet
-mailer configuration and installation
-message editing and polling
-advanced electronic networking features including compression
and sending binary files
Modems donated by the Ethiopian Scientific and Engineering
Society (USA) were installed in the following departments and
institutes of the University at the end of the workshop:
-Anthropology
-Biology
-Chemistry
-Engineering
-Institute of Development Research (IDR)
-Institute of Ethiopian Studies (IES)
-Mathematics
-Physics
-Statistics
Electronic mail users can contact all the above departments by
sending mail to: [department name]@padis.gn.apc.org, e.g.
chemistry@padis.gn.apc.org.etc.
In its electronic networking, Addis Ababa University will move
from Fido technology to a Uucp link as soon as their anticipated
Unix system arrives. A proposal to move to full Internet
connectivity within one and half year is under development.
The CIBECA project also held two other training workshops in
November and December 1993 for new users of electronic networking.
A workshop was held at PADIS from 23-24 November for staff of
UNICEF, the United States Agency for International Development and
the United States Information Service in Ethiopia, with 11
participants. From 6-8 December a workshop was held for 17
participants from Government of Ethiopia ministries and academic
institutions, organized by and held at the headquarters of the
Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission, PADIS" national
participating centre in Ethiopia. Among the institutions of higher
education participating were the Awassa College of Agriculture, the
Jimma Institute of Health, and The Gondar College of Medical
Science. For faculty attending from colleges and universities of
the Ethiopian system located outside of Addis Ababa electronic
connectivity will provide them with direct contact to Addis Ababa
University and the wider international community as well. The
trainer and organizer for all three workshops was Mr. Lishan Adam,
CICEBA project manager.
NGO networking
As part of its electronic conferencing for users in Ethiopia,
PADIS facilitates the operation of Africa.Horn, an NGO electronic
networking conference, which encourages the participation of local
and international non-governmental organizations interested in the
Horn of Africa. The InterAfrica Group joined the Africa.Horn
conference at the end of October.
Electronic mail users can subscribe to this conference through
PADISnet or by contacting fido address 5:751/1.115.
Machine readable thesaurus
Development information indexers may be interested to know
that the fourth edition of the Macrothesaurus for Information
Processing in the Field of Economic and Social Development
(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Paris,
1991) is available on diskette managed by MTM 3 software. The
software operates in conjunction with micro CDS/ISIS,and was
developed by the International Development Research Centre (Ottawa)
in conjunction with the International Information Centre for
Terminology (Vienna). The software runs on stand alone or networked
machines.
More information on the electronic version of the Thesaurus
and the accompanying software is available from Mr. J. More, Chief,
Documentary Resources; OECD; 2 rue Andre Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex
16 France; fax: +33 1 45 24 16 03.
SatelLife
A second microsatellite was launched at the end of September
1993 under the SatelLife/HealthNet project. The new satellite is
expected to relieve the congestion that was affecting the first
satellite, now that fifteen HealthNet stations have been licensed
in Africa. As a result of the advanced technology of the new
satellite, stations located in remote sites will benefit from
greater signal strength.
Among the 15 licensed stations in Africa, the new station in
Ghana is the first in West Africa. Readers of this newsletter will
recall that SatelLife/HealthNet is a non-profit programme by which
the medical and health community can send electronic e-mail and
access health information from international databases without
being dependent on international telephone lines.
Users from the medical and health community who wish to take
part in this project should contact SatelLife, 126 Rogers Street,
Cambridge MA 02142; fax: +1(617) 868-6647; e-mail:
pnsatellife@igc.org. Subscriptions are also available to SatelLife
News, a quarterly newsletter.
News from the network
The following section contains news from PADIS' network of 38
national and 43 institutional participating centres.
Sierra Leone Centre
A report on the establishment of the Development Documentation
Centre, PADIS' national participating centre in Sierra Leone, is
available from UNESCO at the address listed below. Entitled Sierra
Leone, Establishment of Development Documentation Centre, project
findings and recommendations (Paris, 1992, 35 pp.), the report
reviews the results of the UNDP-funded project which set up the
Centre. The Centre was of nine PADIS national participating centres
from West Africa which took part in the October 4-8 workshop in
Niamey (see story above).
Training in Egypt
PADIS' national participating centre in Egypt, the Academy of
Scientific Research and Technology offers annual courses in
information and informatics to participants from all African
countries. Travel and housing arrangements can also be made. For
training of 1-5 participants, the Egyptian National Scientific and
Technological Network (ENSTINET) of the Academy charges $200/week,
with the cost dropping for six or more participants.
Among the topics covered by their courses are database
development and documentation, micro CDS/ISIS, online searching of
databases and information marketing.
Further information is available from Dr. Ahmed A. Bassit,
Director, ENSTINET, 101 Kasr El Aini Street, P.O. Box 1522-11511,
Cairo, Egypt; telephone: 3557253; fax +3547807;
Publications from Sudan
PADIS' national participating centre in the Sudan, the
Documentation and Information Centre of the National Centre for
Research, continues to publish its Sudan Science Abstracts series,
with volumes 12 and 13 published in 1992 and 1993. The abstracts
which are extensive and highly informational are on scientific
research, both published and "grey literature", published in the
Sudan and abroad of interest to the Sudan. The work of both
Sudanese and other authors is treated.
Copies of the Abstracts may be obtained by writing to Ms.
Cecile Wesley, Director, DIC/NCR, P.O. Box 2404, Khartoum, Sudan.
Science and Technology digest
The National Scientific and Technological Information and
Documentation Centre of the Science and Technology Commission,
Ethiopia's national participating centre in the PADIS network,
publishes an excellent quarterly journal entitled Science and
Technology Digest. Among the articles of interest in vol. 2, no. 1
(January 1993) were "Making sense of the information age" and
"Electronic matatu: Fidonet in Africa." Copies of one or both of
these articles are available upon request from PADIS at the address
listed on p.1.
African Accounting Council
An institutional participating centre in the PADIS network, the
African Accounting Council, located in Kinshasa, has been working
since 1985 on a project on the Panafrican System of Accounting
Information and Documentation (PSAID).
The project is being undertaken in the framework of accounting
standardization in Africa and is in line with PADIS' work towards
the harmonization and standardization of documentation and
information system in Africa. Conceived of as a module of the PADIS
system, PSAID is also being seen as supporting infrastructure for
the projected African Economic Community.
More information on PSAID is available from the special issue
of the AAC Newsletter, copies of which are available from PADIS at
the address listed on the box on p.1.
News and Views
POPIN Gopher
The United Nations Population Division, Department for
Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis (New York)
has established a population information "gopher". (A gopher is an
is an electronic library of Internet services, an interactive
information delivery service which allows users to browse available
Internet resources.)
The POPIN gopher was created by the Division's Population
Information Network (POPIN) in collaboration with the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with financial support
from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Population information resources in the POPIN gopher include
electronic journals and newsletters, software, news summaries and
press releases, directories, and documentation about the
forthcoming International Conference on Population and Development
(ICPD). Resources have been contributed by international,
governmental and non-governmental organizations and cover topics of
immediate interest and importance to researchers, policy makers,
clinicians, and others in the fields of population, health and
family planning.
The POPIN gopherspace has been designed to serve as a focal
point for the display and distribution of population information
world-wide and POPIN welcomes additional relevant postings. PADIS
has contributed information on population information activities in
Africa to the gopherspace. Access to the UNDP gopher is free of
charge for Internet users. To access the gopherspace, after the
Unix prompt, enter
gopher.undp.org
For further information, contact: Dr. Susan Pasquariella,
POPIN Co-ordinator, Population Division, Department for Economic
and Social, Information and Policy Analysis, United Nations
Secretariat, 2 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 USA;
telephone: +1(212) 963-3203; fax: +1(212) 963-2147; E-mail:
popin@undp.org.
Integrated Library Network
The United Nations is working toward creating an integrated
library network of the United nations system. Reports detailing
efforts in this direction were presented to the forty-eighth
session of the General Assembly meeting in New York in April 1993.
Copies of the reports presenting this agenda item (A48/83) are
available upon request from PADIS at the address listed on p.1.
African Index Medicus
The World Health Organization has begun a project to create an
International Index to African Health Literature, known as African
Index Medicus. Pilot sites are in Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria,
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The database will include bibliographic records as well as
information on heath experts and research projects in Africa. PADIS
plans to contribute bibliographic records on health from its PADdev
database and referral records on experts and projects from its
PADexp and PADpro databases to the Index.
The first consultative meeting on the project was held in Accra
from 20-22 January 1993. Copies of the final report of the meeting
are available from PADIS or from Dr. Deborah Avriel; Chief, Office
of Library and Health Literature Searches, World Health
Organization; CH-1211 Geneva 27 Switzerland; fax: +41 22 7910746.
Health Expert Systems
International Development Research Centre has been undertaking
research on the possibility of introducing computer-assisted
diagnoses in developing countries. In the report of this research,
Expert Systems in Health for Developing Countries: practice,
problems and potential, Dayo Forster notes that such systems have
had limited success in developed countries. Systems currently in
existence in developing countries, which focus largely on
delivering health services, are outlined. The publication contains
an extremely interesting bibliography on topics related to the
application of medical expert systems in developing countries. A
list of resource persons in the area is also included.
Copies of the report are available by writing to ISSD,
International Development Research Centre, P.O. Box 8500, Ottawa,
Canada K1G 3H9;fax: +1(613) 563-3858.
CD-ROM Inventory
The University of Montreal is conducting an inventory of
CD-ROM usage and production sites in developing countries. The
inventory is expected to result in the production of two databases:
one, a directory of CD-ROM sites and resource persons and the
other, a directory of organizations that publish, distribute or
finance CD- ROM's in or for developing countries.
Organizations that fall into any of the above categories
should contact Dr. Gilles Deschatelets, EBSI, University of
Montreal, C.P. 6128, station A, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 3J7;
fax: +1 (514) 343- 5733. All respondents will receive a copy of the
report and of the databases.
CDS/ISIS in Arabic
An Arabized version of UNESCO's micro CDS/ISIS version 3.0 is
now available for distribution. The new version is fully compatible
with the standard version and includes local area network support.
Further information is available from the Arab League
Documentation Centre, P.O. Box 11642, Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt,
telephone: +202 750511; 752966; fax: +202 7775626; 761017.
Training for Portuguese Speaking Countries
The International Labour Office held a training seminar on
"social and labour information" for Portuguese-speaking countries
in Africa in Abidjan from 27 September-8 October 1993. Among the
topics covered was the organization and management of a
documentation and information centre. As special materials were
prepared in Portuguese for the seminar, Portuguese speaking
documentalists may wish to write ILO to obtain copies of these.
A report of the seminar and materials presented therein can
be obtained from Ms. Kate Wild, Director, INFOSTA, International
Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland.
Informatics and Education
A study on Research on the Status of Informatics in African
Higher Education conducted for the International Association of
Universities by Dr. John Hayman shows that substantial progress in
informatics is urgently needed at African universities, although
there is considerable variation among institutions in individual
strengths and weaknesses. Policies for the adoption of information
technology at the universities were generally found to be
inadequate.
The weakest areas in informatics use were in electronic
networking and database access, both of which are gaining rapidly
in importance as economic factors in the modern world. According to
the report, this was an area in which African universities must
improve quickly if they are to play their needed role as
contributors to national economic progress. The study also showed
that some progress has been made in developing human resources, but
not nearly enough.
It was also noted that from the perspective of university
management, the greatest problem faced in utilizing informatics was
a shortage of funds. The general picture that emerged was one of
great interest, desire and potential, but with very serious
obstacles to realization. Attempts to act were greatly hampered by
severe shortages of funds, totally inadequate communications
infrastructure, an insufficient hardware and software base, too few
trained personnel and inexperience.
Copies of the study are available from Franz Eberhard,
Secretary-General; International Association of Universities; 1,
rue Miollis 75732 Paris Cedex 15 France; telephone: +33 1 45 58
2545; fax: +33 1 47 34 76 05, or upon request from PADIS.
Computers in microbiology
MSDN, a non-profit organisation providing specialised
training, information and communications services for life
scientists worldwide, in collaboration with the United Nations
Environment Programme, is organizing a training course on computers
in microbiology to be held in Lusaka, Zambia from 24-28 January
1994. Scientists and information workers in Africa are invited to
apply for places in the course. The week-long course aims to
introduce microbiologists to the use of computers in their work,
either in the laboratory, office or information department. It will
cover basic computer skills such as word processing, spreadsheets
and the use of database management systems (DBMS) with particular
emphasis on MicroIS, a DBMS for recording microbial data.
Statistics and probabilistic identification of microorganisms will
be covered. There will be a section on computer communications
dealing with modems, electronic mail, file transfer, use of the
Internet and a guide to MSDN's own databases in the field of
microbiology, biotechnology and biodiversity.
Applications can be sent by fax or electronic mail and all
will be acknowledged. Necessary information includes:
* name and contact details in full
* present job and a brief description of present work
* A brief resume
* reasons for wanting to attend this course and how it would
benefit you and your institution
* present computer experience, including electronic mail
* What access you have to a computer
* Whether you need financial assistance. If applying for support
please give an estimate of your travel costs
Applications should be sent to: Ms E. Ross or Mr. S. Nandi,
MSDN, 307 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0JX, UK; telephone:
+44 223 276622; fax: +44 223 277605;E-mail: msdn@phx.cam.ac.uk or
msdn.gn.apc.org (Internet). A copy should also be sent by mail to:
Dr. M. Lewanika, National Council for Scientific Research, P.O. Box
310158, Lusaka, Zambia.
Cultural development databases directory
Culturelink, a network of networks for research and
cooperation in cultural development, supported by the European
Cultural Foundation is publishing an interregional directory of
databases in the field of cultural development. Any organizations
worldwide with a computerized database related to cultural
development are invited to supply relevant details to the
Culturelink relational database. Culturelink also invites requests
for searches of its database. Further information is available from
Aleksandra Uzelac, CULTURELINK/IRMO, Lf. F. Vukotinovica 2, P.O.
Box 303, 41000 Zagreb, Croatia; telephone: +385 41 45 522; fax:
+385 41 444 059.
Social implications of computers
The International Federation for Information Processing has
a working group on social implications of computers in developing
countries, which aims to bring together computer professionals
interested in this area. Communications are via electronic mail,
conferences and the publication of monographs and a quarterly
newsletter.
The working group is seeking to increase its membership from
the African region, where it is underrepresented. Those interested
should contact Prof. S.C. Bhatnagar, Indian Institute of
Management, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380 056 India; telephone: +91 272
407241; fax: +91 272 427 896; e-mail: subhash@iimahd.ernet.in.
Training and Fellowship Opportunities
Training in Information Management
UNESCO has a new publication entitled Guidelines for Training
of Engineers in Specialized Information Management (Paris, 1992:
PGI- 92-WS/4), which actually is of interest to a much wider
audience than would be indicated by the title. The monograph has
been written by Mr. Jean Michel, a noted figure in information
management field worldwide. The publication contains a broad array
of materials on training in information management, the kinds of
training that are available and where, sample curricula from
various institutions and outlines of current programmes in the
area. Copies are available free of charge from Division of the
General Information Programme, UNESCO, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75352
Paris 07 France, fax: + 33 42 73 30 07.
Population thesis fellowship
The French Centre for Population and Development (CEPED)
offers a three-year fellowship for a doctoral candidate in
population sciences from a developing country. The fellowship
covers field research in the recipient's country and residence at
CEPED to prepare the dissertation.
The fellowship is awarded each year, with applications
accepted up to 31 October of the prior year. Full information is
available from the Director, CEPED, 15 rue de l'Ecole de Mdicine,
75279 Paris Cedex 06 France.
Publications
ICEG publications
As one of the International Center for Economic Growth (ICEG)
correspondent institutions in Africa, PADIS distributes ICEG
publications free of charge to researchers, planners and policy
makers. Among the recent titles available upon request from PADIS
are: Romeo M. Bautista and Alberto Valds, editors, The bias
against agriculture: trade and macroeconomic policies in developing
countries (ICEG, San Francisco, 1993); David Bevan, Paul Collier
and Jan Willem Gunning, Nigeria, 1970-1990 (ICEG, San Francisco,
1992); and Peter B. Robinson and Somsak Tambunlertchai, Africa and
Asia: Can high rates of Economic Growth be Replicated? (ICEG, San
Francisco, 1993).
As of October 1993 ICEG has established a regional office in
Africa, located in Nairobi in order to execute their Africa
regional programme and to be in closer touch with African
correspondent institutes. The Director of the Africa office is Dr.
Andrew K. Mullei. The Africa office can be contacted at Windsor
House, Fifth Floor, University way; P.O. Box 55237, Nairobi, Kenya;
telephone: +254 2 21 52 95; fax: +254 2 223220.
STI in Nigeria
The proceedings of the 1992 workshop on Access to Science and
Technology Information in Nigeria, edited by Adebimpe Olurinsola
Ike, have been published in a very interesting volume. The volume
contains 16 substantive and scholarly papers on the subjects of
information generation, dissemination and use by subject fields;
bibliographic control nationally and internationally; transborder
flow of information and scholarly publishing using modern
technology.
Copies can be obtained by writing to the National
Documentation and Information Centre for Science and Technology
(NACIDEST), University Library, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University,
PBM 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria.
Whither African librarianship
A recent paper by K.J. Mchombu entitled "Which way African
Librarianship" suggests ways in which the library profession in
Africa might become more successful over the next 20 years. The
article was published in the International Library Review, (1992.
no. 23, pp. 183-200). However, copies may be obtained from the
author at the Department of Library and Information Studies,
University of Botswana, Private Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana; fax:
356591.
Documentation centre management
A new guide for the management of a technical documentation
centre, directed at users in developing countries, bearing in mind
the small size of many such centres and the information habits of
their users. Constraints facing such centres are dealt with
realistically and their potential role in training users is
underscored. The chapters cover the standard services performed by
such centres and deals with the problem of computerization. Written
by Lisel Caubergs, the guide is entitled Manuel pour la gestion
d'un centre de documentation technique (CTA/ATOL, 1992, 74pp.).
Copies are available from CTA/ATOL-ATOL, Blijde Inkomststraat 9,
B-3000 Leuven, Belgique.
New CD ROM's
CAB International has issued a CD-ROM entitled AgECONCD which
covers economic and social aspects of agriculture, forestry, wood,
environment and rural development in development countries. The
literature abstracted on the disc covers the period 1973-1992 and
supersedes the previous World Agricultural Economic and Rural
Sociology Abstracts and Rural Development Abstracts. Further
information is available from Sue Hill, CAB International,
Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK; telephone: +0491 832111; fax: 0491
83308.
The full text of selected United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) reports and publications as well
as references to over 8,000 projects initiated since 1974 are
contained on the USAID CD-ROM CD-DIS: AID Development Information
System. Special discount prices are available to universities,
non-governmental organizations, individuals and contractors.
Subscriptions are available by writing to: USAID, Development
Information Services Clearinghouse, POL/CDIE/DI, Attn. CD-DIS, 1500
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1010; Arlington, VA 22209-2404 USA.
New volumes on formats
Two new volumes have been issued by UNESCO to replace the
second edition single volume on communication formats issued in
1988. Both have been written by P. Simmons and A. Hopkinson and are
entitled CCF/B. The Common Communication Format for Bibliographic
Information and CCF/F. The Common Communication format for Factual
Information (Paris, UNESCO,1992). Together they provide a method
for recording data elements in computer-readable records to
facilitate interchange between information systems,
Copies are available free of charge from Division of the
General Information Programme, UNESCO, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75352
Paris 07 France, fax: + 33 42 73 30 07.
Changes in journal
The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, published by
Butterworth Heinemann, now incorporates the US journal
International Information Systems. The new focus of the joint
journal will be similarities and differences in the treatment and
use of information systems in different parts of the world and
global information systems' issues. Among articles of interest in
forthcoming issues are "Computer-based information systems for
development planning: the significance of cultural factors" by
Shirin Madon and "Strategy: an information systems research
perspective" by Yolande E. Chan and Sid I. Huff.
Sample copies may be requested or subscriptions ordered from
Turpin Distribution Services Ltd., Blackhorse Road, Letchworth,
Herts, SG6 1HN UK; telephone: + 44(0) 462 672 555; fax:+ 44(0) 462
480947.
SID special issue
The journal of the Society for International Development,
Development, has published a special issue (1993:3) on the theme
"Equity, growth and Participation: the Information Age." Among the
articles of interest are "Development Communication Revisited: An
End to Eurocentric Visions" by Cecil Blake; "Information Hunger and
Knowledge Affluence: How to Bridge the Gap" by Hamid Mowlana; and
"Integrated Information and Development Communication Networks" by
Roberto Bissio.
Shahid Akhtar of International Development Research Centre is
guest editor of the special issue. Copies of the issue can be
obtained from SID, Palazzo Civilta del Lavoro, EUR/Rome 00144,
Italy.
Help for CDS/ISIS
A guidebook to new features of UNESCO's micro CDS/ISIS
software has been prepared by Zbigniew Nowicki in collaboration
with the Trade Information Service of the International Trade
Centre. The guidebook, which concentrates on advanced features in
the package that increase the scope of its applications and improve
its user friendliness, covers innovations introduced in versions
2.3 and 3.0. (The latter can be used on a Local Area Network.)
Entitled How to utilize advanced features of Micro CDS/ISIS, the
publication is available by writing to Mr. Bernard Ancel, Chief;
Trade Information Service, International Trade Centre, UNCTAD/GATT,
Palais des Nations, CH 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland.
Dakar/Ngor Declaration
The UNECA Population Division has published (in English and
French) the Dakar/Ngor Declaration on Population, Family and
Sustainable Development which was adopted by the third African
Population Conference meeting in Dakar in December 1992. The
declaration covers principles and objectives of African governments
in the area of population, and, in the information area, includes
chapters on data collection and analysis, information
dissemination, training and research and information, education and
communication (IEC).
Copies are available from the Mr. Ahmed Bahri, Chief; UNECA
Population Division, P.O. Box 3001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Free listings
The African Book Publishing Record, issued quarterly,
provides free listings of books published in Africa, thus helping
African publishers to bring their titles to the attention of book
buyers worldwide.
For further information contact The African Book Publishing
Record, Hans Zell Publishers, P.O. Box 56, Oxford OX1 2SJ, England;
telephone: +44 (0)865 511428;fax: +44 (0)865 311534.
SAID on Economic Reform in Africa
The proceedings of the April 1993 workshop on Economic Reform
in Africa's New Era of Political Liberalization have been published
by the workshop organizer, the United States Agency for
International Development. The publication presents a variety of
viewpoints on how the process of political liberalization in
African countries affects political reform. Among the articles are
"An Ambiguous Adventure, Transitions from Authoritarian Rule and
Economic Reforms, by Tessy D. Bakary of the University of Laval.
Copies are available by writing to Andrew Sisson, Senior Economic
Advisor, Bureau for Africa, United States Agency for International
Development, Washington, D.C. 20523-0049 USA.
Africa and World Trade
A strong critique of World Bank structural adjustment
policies in Africa appears in Short Changed: Africa and World
Trade, published by the Transnational Institute (Amsterdam) and the
Third World Information Network (TWIN, London). The book studies
export prospects for sub-Saharan African countries and explores the
markets for main export commodities. A limited number of copies of
the book are available free of charge to commentators, scholars,
public officials and libraries in Africa by writing to TWIN, 5-11
Worship Street, fourth floor, London EC2A 2BH UK; telephone: +44 71
628 6878; fax: +44 71 628 1859.
Library and Information Science Abstracts
A new CD-ROM "LISA-Plus" incorporates two databases which are
vital to university and research libraries in Africa. The new disc
contains Library and Information Science Abstracts (from 1969 on)
and Computers in libraries and Current Research in Library and
Information Science (from 1981 to date). Subscribers receive four
updates a year, as well as access to a technical help desk. The
database is also available online and on magnetic tape.
Further information is available from Bowker-Saur, 60
Grosvenor Street, London W1X 9DA UK; telephone +44 71 493 5841;
fax: +44 71 580 4089. Free demonstration discs are available upon
request.
An article by Henri S Sheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, on the use of
microcomputers in French- speaking libraries in Africa appears in
the January-March 1993 (vol. 5, no.1) issue of L'cluse, which
recounts the proceedings of a workshop on this topic held at the
University from 25 January-5 February 1993. The same issue also
contains an article by Olivier Sagna, also at the University in
Dakar, on a new approach to training information systems users.
Copies of one or both articles are available upon request
from PADIS at the address listed on p.1.
Make a Date
Meetings in London
Two meetings of possible interest to readers of this
newsletter will be held in London the first week of December. AITEC
will hold an exhibition and conference of "Africa and Information
Technology in Transition" in London from 7-8 December 1993. The
focus of the conference will be on trends in the information
technology industry in Africa. The annual international
Online/CD-ROM Information '93
exhibition will also be held in London 7-9 December.
Full information is available about the AITEC exhibition and
conference can be obtained from AITEC, 25 High Street, Graveley,
Cambs PE18 9PL, UK; fax: +44 480 83131. For information on Online
Information 93, contact the Organizing Secretary, Online
Information 93, Learned Information Ltd., Woodside, Hinksey Hill,
Oxford, OX1 5AU UK; telephone: +44 865 730 275;
fax: +44 865 736354.
INFO AFRICA NOVA
Info Africa Nova will hold its second annual conference in
Pretoria, South Africa from 16-20 May 1994 on the topic
"Innovation: relevant information services for sustainable
development of southern Africa."
The conference will focus on practical aspects of its themes,
which include: library and information services in Southern Africa,
information technology, human resource/education and training and
regional and international activities. Papers are invited, and
those who wish to present one should contact the organizers as soon
as possible. The conference will also arrange visits to different
types of information services.
Further information is available from the Conference
organizer, Ms. Trudie Coetzer, Info Africa Nova, P.O. Box 4689,
Pretoria 0001, South Africa, telephone and fax: (012) 6621588.
New Entries in PADdev
The following are some recent entries into the PADdev
bibliographic data base on social and economic aspects of
development in Africa. New entries in PADdev are printed as a
current bulletin for subscribers to DEVINDEX-AFRICA. Microfiches or
photocopies of the documents are available upon request from PADIS
at the address on p.1.
Geographic modeling of rain-fed agricultural production:
Senegal case study. 16p. maps, refs. 1993. ECA, Addis Ababa, ET.
United Nations regional cartographic conference for Africa, 8th,
Addis Ababa, ET, 22-27 Feb 1993.
Conducts a planning-level analysis of current and potential
agricultural production from rain-fed agriculture in Senegal;
estimates the number of people that could be fed from rain-fed
production of cereal crops and the value of cash crops produced
under a variety of development alternatives. The model further
relates food production to food requirements of current and
projected population in Senegal.
/Agricultural production*/, /models*/, /rain-fed farming*/,
/planning/, /crops/, /food production/, /Senegal/.
Till, D.K. Clearing and settlement of securities transactions. 22p.
Aug 1993. African capital markets conference, Nairobi, KE, 18-20
Aug 1993.
Examines the form and related procedures of clearing and
settlement which can be considered for adoption by those markets in
Africa which are not only starting up but also those which have
been in operation for some time and are now embarking on a phase of
greater sophistication aimed at improved efficiency.
/Securities*/, /financial market/, /clearing systems/,
/Africa/.
Ching'anda, E.F. ECA, Addis Ababa, ET Statistics Division. Manual
on the methods for estimation of international trade data in
Africa. 95+25p. refs., statistical tables. Jul 1993. (United
Nations Sabbatical Leave Programme, 1992-1993)
Discusses scope of the manual and gives an overview of
international trade data in Africa. Defines the sources of
international trade statistics in Africa which are the African
countries themselves and ECA. Clarifies the need of strengthening
the data collection mechanisms and avoiding duplication of efforts.
Highlights the concept of estimation and the need for estimation of
missing trade data and shows the compilation of estimates in the
field of international trade statistics. Describes various
statistical applications for estimation of missing trade data by
presenting examples using mathematical models and statistical
tables.
/International trade*/, /trade statistics*/, /data
collecting/, /statistics/, /statistical data/, /mathematical
models/, /manuals/, /Africa/.
.