prokofiev wrote: Geographical Institute of Congo calls on IGN FI’s expertise to develop the use of geographical information in DR Congo Christophe DEKEYNE, the Executive Director of IGN FI visited Kinshasa on March 10th to sign a framework agreement aimed at supporting the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the various uses it can make of geographical information and in the deployment of its Geographical Institute, the IGC.
The ceremony took place at the Salon Bleu in the Government building in Kinshasa in the presence of the Minister of Scientific Research and Technology, Daniel MADIMBA KALONJI, the IGC supervisory minister, the scientific and cultural attach to the French Embassy in DR Congo, Philippe LARRIEU, and the Executive Director of the IGC, Albert MBUYUNUMBI. A number of beneficiaries of the signature of this protocol, several representatives of financial backers and the main ministries using and/or producing geographical data in DR Congo shall also be naturally associated with this event.
In view of the scope of geographical information, the protocol to be signed will cover several strategic issues, including IGC’s modernization and repositioning as a model operator in data production and maintenance in DR Congo.
" All the expertise possessed by IGN FI will be mobilized and made available to the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through this agreement, not only in order to modernize the geographical institute and enable it to play its role to the full with regard to other actors in national development, but also in a wider sense, to create an effective geographical information strategy to ensure that the country possesses reliable information " explains Christophe Dekeyne, Director general.
This collaboration is based on the transfer of skills and technologies, fields in which IGN FI has developed a high level of expertise. It coincides with the announcement made by DR Congo of the ambitious diversification strategy planned for its economy between now and 2030.
Website Link: https://www.ignfi.fr/en/content/geographical-institute-congo-calls-ign-fi%E2%80%99s-expertise-develop-use-geographical-information-d Press Release Link: https://www.ignfi.fr/sites/default/files/Press%20release_%2010032016%20The%20Geographical%20Institute%20of%20Congo%20calls%20on%20IGN%20FI%E2%80%99s%20expertise.pdf Before analyzing this press release any further, I would suggest reading over two of the clauses from the November 2015 contract. 6.2 Decree Spatial. Before the start date, the Sovereign is committed to taking an interministerial decree imposing the collection of fees payable to the Prime to end users of the relevant ministries, including the special deadline for the implementation of this collection, which must have held no later than six months after the date of effect. The Prime must help the ministries concerned to identify the products and services of the database for which fees may be imposed.
6.3 Revenue Sharing. Subject to the minimum payment and the implementation of spatial decree, the profits of the project are shared between the Sovereign and the premium at the rate of fifty percent each, once the Dealer has recovered its costs, of US $ 424 million for the duration of the concession.
“A framework agreement aimed at supporting the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the various uses it can make of geographical information”.
“In view of the scope of geographical information, the protocol to be signed will cover several strategic issues, including IGC’s modernization and repositioning as a model operator in data production and maintenance in DR Congo.”
As per the contract, the Sovereign is committed to issue a decree listing all the different products and services for which fees will be imposed. The said fees will be split 50/50 between the Prime and the Sovereign. This commitment should be finalized prior to the start date as per the contract. As such, I believe IGC (Geographical Institute of Congo) will be in part responsible for the monetization of the data, hence the reference to “a model operator in data production and maintenance”. Therefore, it is logical for such a meeting to take place prior the official start date of the SDI.
While IGC is part of the SDI’s oversight committee and will be acting a technical adviser for the SDI as per the contract (Article 3.1 & 3.2), the initial SDI initiative was a joint effort of the Sovereign and IGC. It is not surprising that IGC and possibly other entities are involved in the monetization of the database as the Prime’s responsibility is to put the SDI in place and develop additional tools and services. Recall, the Prime has to transfer the database to the Sovereign after 12 years. To whom? The logical answer would be IGC.
“A number of beneficiaries of the signature of this protocol, several representatives of financial backers and the main ministries using and/or producing geographical data in DR Congo shall also be naturally associated with this event.”
It is interesting how the PR mentions that “several representatives of financial backers” were present at the event. Could this be the same entities financing the SDI? If so IGN’s involvement would definitely be a comforting sign for them had they any doubts.
It is late Friday afternoon and I did not spend much time on this yet, so all comments are more than welcome.
Best,
Prokofiev