Having noted the lack of an easily accessible way to gather summary information about such valuable knowledge, also identified as Capacity Building, ESA - in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) - is launching this "collaborative repository" or CollabREP to bridge that gap.
"For several years, ESA Telecom has been actively fostering the development and promotion of satellite communications to enable Capacity Building," explains Francesco Feliciani from ESA Telecom. " A number of projects have been launched in the past by ESA as well as by different organisations to provide different applications, serve different user communities and target various geographical reach."
Not only is CollabREP a way to promote awareness on the activities that have been performed, this web-based repository is also designed to encourage the creation of a network of competences and collaborations among the organizations involved with Capacity Building.
"CollabREP will contribute to help the creation of a sound base for shaping new programmes and building new projects in the future," Feliciani said. "Projects which are or have been active in Capacity Building are invited to contribute their data to CollabREP. The results will be made publicly available."
Inputting data into CollabREP consists of completing a structured, project template covering programmatic, technical, operational, business and impact assessments aspects. It is intended to provide a structured overview of each project contained in the inventory.
Potential users of CollabREP will need to register at the CollaBREP website to receive an account. Users can then either create new projects and contribute to the web inventory or read the projects listed and gain invaluable insight to synergies and lessons learned. While browsing through the projects, users can export project information as PDF.
Potential writers should note the information is made public so they should not disclose information that is confidential; however writers are encouraged to avoid using understatements or overstatements concerning what the project has achieved. It is crucial the writer provide the most complete and accurate information possible.
For more information and to go to CollabREP, see the links located in the top right column of this page.
