The TIGER project has three main phases, a definition phase (Jan 2003 - Dec 2003), implementation phase (Jan 2004 - end 2005) and operational phase (2006 onwards).
In liaison with the time schedule of the CEOS WSSD Follow-up Programme, the following steps were taken by the end of 2003:
Consolidate partners and make agreements
Consult African partners and other project partners
Develop Project Plan (topics, areas, team, ect.)
TIGER Kick-off
First Advisory Committee Meeting
A Project Plan was developed and adopted, a TIGER STRATEGIC PLAN for Africa 2005-2015 was developed in TIGER 2004 workshop in Pretoria in November. The following main lines of activities were set, which may translate into work packages at a later stage:
* Project management
* Liaison with project partners (providers, users, sustainers)
* Federation of user communities and definition of user requirements
* Development of information services - per user group
* Education, training and capacity building
* Installation of equipment for data access and processing
* Measures to assure sustainability
* Outreach

A number of projects were launched or committed by ESA in 2003: AQUIFER, GLOBWETLAND, GMFS, EPIDEMIO. Some other partners indicated contributions e.g. UNESCO, UNOOSA, S-Africa, Canada, etc. The TIGER Plan of action was developed in the meeting in Paris (May) and adopted in Rabat (Oct). Meetings were also held with the World Bank. The user and provider communities were consolidated. The Call for Project proposals was issued in Rabat. The implementation of ESA TIGER demonstrator projects on applying remote sensing to groundwater (AQUIFER), health (EPIDEMIO), food security (GMFS) and wetlands monitoring (GLOBWETLANDS) started in 2004. Southern Africa's regional user needs were discussed and defined in TIGER workshop 18 ¿ 20 February 2004, Pretoria, South Africa organized by CSIR.
The CEOS TIGER 2004 workshop was organized 8-11 November 2004 in Pretoria by CSIR and the Department of Water Affairs in South Africa, together with ESA and UNESCO. Thematic working groups considered implementational aspects of projects submitted (95 proposals, involving African experts and institutions) to TIGER for free ESA satellite data and a day was devoted to training for Principal Investigators of proposed projects and to informing them about data access.

To efficiently organise the management of the TIGER project, an inclusive Steering Committee (SC) was established in 2004, comprising representatives from each of the three communities, i.e. users, providers and sustainers. The established Secretariat assists the SC and carries out day-to-day tasks. Consultation/planning meetings of the SC are organised in a routine manner. The frequency may vary, but will be once per year during the project definition and implementation phase.
The partnership/initiative SC oversees and monitors progress toward the goals and priorities. The SC has international representation drawn from senior representatives of the hydrological community network. Reporting occurs in principle on an annual basis.
The evaluation of principal priorities of interventions set up further partnership and possible projects identifications in December 2003 at the PAN African Water Conference (Addis-Ababa).

According to the general philosophy of the CEOS WSSD Follow-up Programme, the TIGER project will be modular in its evolution of partners involved and activities undertaken. A step-wise implementation is foreseen, starting with the Northern and Southern regions of Africa, followed by an expansion to the rest of the continent as and if appropriate.
The Kick-off Workshop in Oct 2003 served as the main formal event to consolidate the first round of activities with the respective partners involved.
Sustainability is a key requirement. This encompasses that any technology being developed and transferred to the developing country will be integrated into the long-term strategic planning of a given country or region. Consequently, a partnership between space agencies, funding institutions, user organisations and other strategic partners shall be set-up. A special arrangement with UNESCO will be made, within which UNESCO (with its coordinating role in Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) and the Secretariat of WWAP set up in UNESCO) provide scientific leadership on water related issues and facilitate the exchange of information and the cooperation with the hydrologists and the water related institutions worldwide. ESA in consultation with UNESCO coordinates the supply of EO-based information.
To put sustainability into practice, only projects, which address long-term strategic objectives, will be initiated.
The needs of the region or country are driving the definition and implementation of the project. Hence the national partners will be involved in all phases.
Only those activities will be pursued which receive a strong "user pull", and/or national and regional support.
Appropriateness is important to assure that the level of technology is compatible with the user's ability. Although space technology is usually considered high technology, it needs to fit the level of skills available in the region. Further, the selection of application topics needs to meet the political, social and economic priorities of the respective country.

Amount in US$: 4800000

Source(s): IGO
Financing will be made available through the resources of each of the participating organizations. ESA is the main financing organisation and UNESCO is supporting. ESA's investment in 2003/2004 was more than 4 MEUR.

Type(s): Computers - Staff

Source(s): IGO
Non-financial resources from ESA and UNESCO Secretariat's are available.

Required Amount in US$: not specified

Source(s) already approached: External funding from donors will be sought, particularly for Phase 2.