SciDev.Net

This is an organisation of African scientists from different institutions that provides an atlas of malaria prevalence and risk in Africa. The website describes the data analysis that provides this geographical model of malaria, and aims to inform decision-makers on how to implement effective malaria control and treatment measures.

MARA is keen to disseminate its research results, and there are downloadable malaria poster maps and a user-friendly information tool, the MARA-LITe CD-ROM, which allows access to the results and products of the MARA project. Technical reports are also available in French.

PlantBio is a grant-making initiative from the South African Department of Science and Technology. It aims to develop a strong and sustainable plant biotechnology sector in South Africa by promoting new products and services, incubating commercial programmes and new businesses, building scientific capacity and developing human resources.

PlantBio prioritises technologies aimed at alleviating poverty and improving food security — for example, biofertilisers, plant breeding, tissue culture and genetic modification. The organisation encourages collaborating institutes to build national capacities and consolidate costs.

It publishes information on how to apply for funding and hosts a useful page of links to South African biotech investors, business incubators, funding agencies and service providers.

The PHEA — a joint project between seven private US foundations — supports higher education development in Africa. It works in four specific areas: developing and retaining new academics; information and communication technologies for higher education; regional institutional capacity building; and higher education research and analysis.

Within each of these, the PHEA publishes news and information on its projects, highlighting case studies and achievements to date. The PHEA also hosts a database of past and current grants, which, between 2000 and 2008, represent investments of over US$350 million.

This website reflects the activities of Practical Action's New Technologies programme. It links to news, briefing papers, reports and articles about nanotechnology, biotechnology and information technology — with particular emphasis on how these affect people in developing countries. The website also provides information on the organisation's individual projects, including the use of nanotechnology to provide clean drinking water and the use of telecentres and podcasting to disseminate information in poor areas. And readers can participate in discussions about new technologies and their potential role in development through the website's blog.

SERVIR is a regional environmental imaging and monitoring system — operating in Africa and Latin America — built on satellite and geospatial data. It can monitor and forecast ecological changes and natural hazards. The website publishes interactive maps including near real-time satellite feeds of regional weather and ecological conditions, and real time updates on fires, floods, red tides and weather conditions. It also provides access to 3D imaging software.

The Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) is a regional seasonal weather outlook prediction and application process adopted by the fourteen countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States.

The site provides access to weather forecasts and climate predictions and features weather warnings, mid-season rainfall analysis and rainfall review reports to mitigate extreme climatic conditions.