Regional Orientation Training on Data Compilation and Management

Background

The Hindu Kush Himalayan Region (HKH) is endowed with unlimited information and knowledge which can be employed for conservation and development in and beyond the region. This information is created by processing and analysing data which can be re-used and re-analysed to produce key to producing accurate and meaningful information for collaboration and scholarly impact. But, a general lack of data sharing prevents data being utilised to its fullest potential. As a result, there is an increased emphasis by policy makers and practitioners to manage and share data that are produced through different research and development processes.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), as an inter-governmental regional learning and knowledge centre, believes access to timely and high-quality data is essential in promoting and accelerating learning on the challenges facing mountain ecosystems and their people; in enabling independent research and scientific enquiries; in organising the development of knowledge products and innovations that improve the wellbeing and livelihoods of mountain communities; and in empowering critical decision making in times of regional humanitarian and emergency crisis. ICIMOD has established a regional database system (RDS) that acts as a central data repository for different thematic areas in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region and provides easy access to these data through a web-based portal.

The Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI), facilitated by the ICIMOD is a transboundary collaborative programme implemented by its national partners in Bhutan, India, and Nepal. With the end of preparatory phase in March 2015, the KLCDI entered into the implementation phase from January 2016. With support from partner organisations, the five-year KLCDI Implementation Plan (2016 – 2020) places special emphasis on three core themes i) sustainable livelihoods, ii) ecosystems management, and iii) regional cooperation for transboundary landscape conservation and development.

Currently, partners in member countries collecting baseline information for socio-economic and ecological conditions in their selected pilot areas.

KLCDI and the Regional Database System (RDS) are organising a two-day regional orientation training on ‘Data Compilation and Management’ 5-6 April 2016 at ICIMOD headquarter, in Kathmandu, Nepal. The training is designed for the technical experts of the implementing partner institutions who work on collecting, collating and managing data of the Kangchenjunga and other transboundary landscape programmes.

Objectives

To strengthen participant capacity on data management and sharing to ensure data are properly managed and used for conservation and development processes

Training aims to help participants to develop skills to:

• create metadata for the datasets, feed data into the RDS and access data for their use and reference.
• manage data collected from household surveys using appropriate software (CSPRO).

Expected outputs

• Enhanced participant capacity in relation to key concepts of documenting, preserving and managing high quality data to ensure that they are both accessible and useful for the decision making processes
• Development of skills in creating metadata for the datasets, feeding data into the institutional repository and accessing data for their use and reference
• Increased capacity in managing data collected from the household surveys

Participants 

About 15 participants from partner countries, including Bhutan, India, Nepal, China, Myanmar and Pakistan are expected to participate in the training. Participants will include technical experts from partner institutions from member countries who are engaged in collecting, collating and managing data of Kangchenjunga landscape and other transboundary landscape programmes of ICIMOD.