PhD Workshop at Institute for Economic Research on Innovation (IERI)

Tshwane University of Technology

November 12, 2011 Pretoria, RSA

Innovation for sustainable development

A case study of SADC economic development challenges through the South Africa’s space programme

By LHM Seke, Doctoral Candidate Supervisor: Prof. Mammo Muchie Co-Supervisor: Prof. Fred Gault

SADC Countries

Background

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“Africa is very poorly represented in the space science. Space technology is advancing at an increasing pace, yet most African countries lack the human, technical and financial resources to utilise existing space-based infrastructure for even the most basic applications in meteorology, communications and natural resource management”.

(NEPAD, 2006:45).

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Funds invested on the continent could be spent rationally with positive long-run effect if satellite-based data are used (Rowland et al., 2007).

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Except South Africa, in Africa only 3 countries managed to own micro satellites (Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria) but with external assistance. South Africa has demonstrated sufficient satellites design/development and launching capacities and could sustain data democracy for years (e.g. contribution from China and Brazil with SCIBERS data).

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Various Satellites Remote Sensing (SRS) or Earth Observations (EO) projects are mainly designed and developed out of Africa with specific agenda (

improving technologies, human capacities or knowledge/understanding

).

Background (cont)

Satellite remote sensing (SRS) is relatively new when it comes to: (i)

Natural resources management

& (ii)

Exploration

Satellite remote sensing (SRS) is relatively new when it comes to: (i) N

atural resources management

& (ii)

Exploration

Background (cont)

Main domains related to resource management with SRS: Water - Agriculture - Disaster risk management

WATER (blue/green):

The SADC region is crossed by two major rivers (Zambezi 3,540 km, Limpopo: 1750km) => Water is useful for consumption, agriculture and energy but it could also be a source of regional conflict. => Population growth + current unpredicted climate change effects (drought and flood) are source of water scarcity.

Advantages of SRS: (a) monitor hydrologic cycle; (b) analyse blue/green water; (c) support an integrated water resource management (IWRM) plan in the regional socio-economic strategy.

AGRICULTURE

: various methods in practice can affect soil, vegetation and fertility.

Advantages of SRS: (i) agriculture planning & production (excess/scarcity for food security); (ii) Crop yield estimation/forecasting at the regional scale; (iii) land selection on a regional scale; (iv) analysing plant diseases; (v) field survey is faster, regional and costless.

Background (cont)

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

Advantages of SRS: (i) Forecasting prior to disasters; (ii) Damage mapping when natural hazards/disasters occur (villages, cities, bridges... affected); (iii) Accessibility map for relief support (road, airport). In-situ observations are only for validation

In 2004, to face challenges related to Food security and Agriculture, Heads of State and Government in SADC agreed to focus from 2004 to 2010 on : • The sustainable use and management of natural resources; • Disaster preparedness; • Research, technology development and dissemination; • Agricultural financing and investment; • Training and human resource development; • Gender equality; and • Human health/Mitigation of HIV/AIDS/Communicable diseases.

How? SRS is the main player as per the GEOSS 10-year plan:

(i) Improving water resource management through better understating of the water (hydrologic) cycle; (ii) Supporting sustainable agriculture and combating desertification; Reducing loss of life and property from natural and human-induced disasters; (iii) Understanding, assessing, predicting, mitigating, and adapting to climate variability and change

Background (cont)

PURPOSE:

To highlight the double effect of proximity and regional cooperation to jointly address challenges to sustainable development with a competitive advantaged member State (space programme) in line with the existing global agenda on earth observations.

OBJECTIVE:

To present the current status and role of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) in the field of space science and how its membership in SADC can benefit to the entire community through cooperation, innovation and regional integration.

MAIN QUESTIONS

1) At which level the South Africa’s space programme (policy, infrastructure, human capacities and natural endowments) can strengthen capacities in the SADC region?

2) How does South Africa contribute to the GEOSS agenda as African input in addressing economic development challenges in SADC? 3) In which specific societal benefit area the impact of the SA space programme has been observed with concrete results contributing to the wellness of SADC population?

Methodology

=> Design and study approach:

Case study

, Descriptive/Qualitative =>

Main Target group/Purposive Sampling procedure

Business Sector for Innovation aspect, International & Intergovernmental institutions : Earth Observation experts in Government, H.E., No-profit-Organisation, (Members of the African Association of remote sensing of environment (AARSE) and from; Participants to CODIST/CODI (UNECA); Institutions: AUC, UNECA, RCMRD (Regional centre for mapping of resources for development); SADC Secretariat, GEO-Secretariat at the World Meteorological Organisation/WMO, Geneva/Switzerland (WMO), United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response-UNSPIDER (Germany/China).

=> Data collection: -

Semi structured questionnaire

questions) (open ended and closed ended -

Interviews

(mainly face-to-face, motivation: Trust)

Methodology (cont)

-

Observation

: (a) Visit in the context of the FP7 Project (SACCESS) identifying the presence of EU researchers in SA R&D programmes/projects; (b) Visit with the AUC team during the investigation of the Space Science hub of the Pan-African University (PAU); (c) Longitudinal (SA: Mainly after 1994/SADC: last ten years) => Data analysis: simple tabulation => Hypothesis: programme; SADC region; region. (ho1) the Republic of South Africa has a competitive advantage in space programme to address challenges affecting sustainable development in the SADC region from its space (ho2) considering the commitment of South Africa in the space science arena, the GEOSS 10-year implementation plan has a positive impact in the effort consisting to sustain development in the (ho3) the South Africa’s space programme contributes to the achievement of at least one specific societal area within the SADC

Findings

(Data collection in progress)

1) Capability

(1) Facilities: CSIR satellite Application Centre (SAC), South African National Space Agency (SANSA), Universities, Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Africa (2) Human Resources (3) launch capabilities soon

2) Openness to counterparts and positive contribution in the SADC region

2.1) SumbandilaSat (Remote sensing) - Fundisa Disk:

Sustainability of data democracy

SADC region (e.g. in case the SCIBERS facilities are no longer functional).

for governments and other institutions within the 2.2)

Effective participation

10-year plan.

of SA in the implementation of the GEOSS

3) Threat:

Existence of similar initiatives from international partners clashing with the availability of scarce human capital.

Conclusion

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With the existing capabilities in space science programmes from South Africa, it is possible to improve human welfare through early or long warning mechanisms; to protect and prevent communities in the SADC region and the continent against hazards, to preserve natural resources (water management) with integrated regional socio-economic plan.

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The SADC secretariat shall consider the outcome of this case study to assess the mechanism adopted for the period 2004-2010 in Tanzania in order to recommend further SRS.

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This is crucial especially with the current level of poverty which is still affecting some economies as climate change unpredicted consequences are more and more recurrent with water becoming a serious issues worldwide.

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The South Africa’s National Innovation System characterized by (NRF, 2008:4-9): (i) the increase of Research & Development Investment percentage as percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GERD); (ii) the gradual increase of SA research programmes through internationalisation (SARChi, Bilateral Programmes, Multilateral programmes, regional programmes under AU organs,ICSU, etc).