We the Six participating HDSS Sites

• Vadu, India
• Wosera, Papua New Guinea
• Kanchanaburi, Thailand
• Magu, Tanzania
• Agincourt, South Africa
• Dikgale, South Africa

And Technical Supporter

• The International Institute of Information Technology, India

We, the Participants of the INDEPTH Network Data Sharing group in Asia, Africa and Oceania share a common interest of sharing the demographic surveillance data for the use by researchers all over the globe because

• It is Public money that is used to generate this data and hence we need to give it back to the people to use the data.
• We believe that it is our moral, social and professional responsibility to make it available to all by sharing the data.
• Data Sharing enhances data access and scientific progress.
• Data Sharing fosters open scientific community and transparency in scientific inquiry.
• Data Sharing allows for verification, refutation and refinement of findings.
• Data Sharing promotes newer research and helps in evidence based policy making.

Our Aim of the Data Sharing exercise

• Strengthen data collection systems within INDEPTH sites and their preparation for sharing with other partners

Our objectives of the partnership for Data Sharing are to

• Define minimal and optimal data sets that allow data sharing and data analysis amongst surveillance sites.
• Develop and standardize a system of Unique ID amongst INDEPTH sites to allow for data sharing and merging.
• Build institutional capacity through training of data managers and site scientists in data management.
• Strengthen data collection systems at INDEPTH sites and create data sharing mechanism amongst partners safeguarding site and citizen interests.

Our Activities include

• Activities under this project aimed towards institutional and individual capacity building in data management systems. An initial baseline cross-site workshop hosted by the Vadu HDSS brought together site scientists and data managers to understand differences in existing data management and mining techniques used by the partner sites, strengths and weakness of each site.
• A minimum data sets and commonality of database structure was decided at this workshop.
• We discussed and agreed upon a common minimum dataset structure; identified quality control checks that need to be instituted at various levels of data collection and data entry.
• An agreement and commitment to data sharing amongst sites was signed by participating sites and I²IT the technical supporters.
• Documentation of the Data sharing mechanisms is done for the use in future to make modifications and alterations.
• We are planning to prepare a HDSS Data Management and Sharing Manual, a document for data sharing detailing safeguards measures, data ownership, issues of confidentiality and anonymity. This Data Management and Sharing Manual will be whetted by an INDEPTH Network constituted Committee of experts and made available to other INDEPTH sites as part of the Starter Kit developed by the INDEPTH Network. This document will serve to encourage other INDEPTH sites to adopt 'Good Data Sharing Practices' and thereby facilitate the INDEPTH Network's efforts towards positioning itself as a 'single window' clearance for 'quality assured' HDSS information.

We expect the following Outcomes at the end of the year 2009
Immediate direct outcomes expected included:

• Enhanced data management skills of scientists and data managers in 6 INDEPTH Network sites.
• Data Management and Sharing Manual prototype.
• Interoperable Data Management Systems across the 6 HDSS sites.

Wider and distant outcomes (beyond the scope of the present proposal) are expected as follows:

• Up scaling of this process across all sites of the INDEPTH Network

Our Time Line to work

• October 2006 to December 2007- for the Initiation and inauguration of the prototype.
• January 2008 to December 2008- Developed draft website.
• February 2009 to February 2010- for further development, strengthening and expansion.

Our Acknowledgements

• Our exercise of development of data sharing prototype is financially supported by the INDEPTH-Network, Accra, Ghana and we are thankful to the INDEPTH Network for this kind support.