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Data & Data Support

The eLwazi Data Support WG supports DS-I Africa research hubs and other eLwazi users to share their data through the eLwazi platform to enable greater data reuse across the consortium and larger research community. The WG defines data sharing and reuse requirements following shared policy and consent, focusing on making data FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable). Data are made discoverable/findable and accessible via a fit-for-purpose data catalogue, which provides metadata search and summary. Similarly, data are made interoperable and reusable by identifying suitable data standards or models for application across the consortium and facilitating data harmonisation and integration efforts within and across DS-I Africa.

The eLwazi Catalogue serves as the primary point of reference for all datasets within the DS-I Africa consortium. The interface provides users with a broad overview of the datasets included in the DS-I Africa consortium. These include datasets from research hubs and research projects. This broad overview consists of specific metadata fields at the project and dataset levels. Dataset-level metadata fields differ based on the dataset types within the consortium. In addition, the eLwazi Catalogue also provides the same level of information for external projects (not within the DS-I Africa consortium) which use eLwazi as a Cloud solution and have completed an eLwazi Use Agreement.

Access the eLwazi metadata catalogue here.

Broadly, the eLwazi Catalogue aims to make data within DS-I Africa (and external eLwazi projects) FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable), through the provision of information on the relevant data use conditions and restrictions, as outlined by DS-I Africa and external eLwazi projects. The eLwazi Metadata Catalogue was built based on the following principles:

  • Centralised Repository: To provide a single platform where researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers can explore a variety of African health-related data.
  • Data Categorisation: To organise projects based on the data types they involve, making it easier for users to find datasets that align with their specific data needs.
  • Regional Focus: To highlight projects that are specific to certain regions within Africa, thereby encouraging localised solutions and research.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: By listing various projects that involve different data types, the catalogue aims to foster interdisciplinary research and applications in healthcare.
  • Transparency and Accessibility: To make health-related data more discoverable, accessible and transparent, thereby accelerating research and applications in healthcare.
  • Institutional Support: To acknowledge and leverage the support from reputable institutions like the National Institutes Of Health for credibility and resource allocation.
  • Feedback Mechanism: The platform also has a feedback section, indicating its aim to continually evolve based on user input and needs.

If you would like to contribute to the catalogue, please consult the eLwazi Helpdesk for an invitation to the REDCap project. Please consult the documentation for further details.