Information & Communication Technology
Overview
Within SADC there is no single business or operational "model" for a transboundary river basin organisation (TRBO). It is therefore unlikely that a "one size fits all" IT system will work for each and every TRBO. Apart from specialised systems (such as Modelling or Accounting systems), it is possible that much of the knowledge sharing around policies, strategies, practices, methods, and approaches, as well as facilitation of stakeholder participation can happen through a web-based platform.
Technology Considerations
It is important, when working with web-based and current technologies, to be aware of the rapid changes in information technologies. Key trends include:
- Open Standards and Open Information
- Open Source Software
- Cloud Computing
- Social Networking Sites
- Crowd Sourcing
- Cell-based Access
A TRBO Web-based Information System
It is likely that any information system will grow over time, and that content provision and communication will need to be in the hands of the primary users of the system. It makes sense to adopt a content management solution, which places much of the system functionality in the hands of the people who use it. One strong contender for use by TRBOs is Plone. Plone is a well established open source product, with a strong development team and on-line community, and also widespread backing from commercial support. One of the many major users of this platform is the European Environment Agency (EEA), which mandated the use of open source software and open standards wherever possible.
In order to take best advantage of limited resources, it is recommended that SADC investigate the development and deployment of a common web-based infrastructure, using an open-source tool such as Plone, which can be readily adopted by many transboundary river basin organisations.