ODINAFRICA (Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa) project is a project that has evolved trhough three phases now. The first phase started in March 1998 as a pilot to develop an ocean data and information exchange network for the Eastern Africa region (including South Africa) and was thus known as ODINEA (Ocean Data and Information Network for East Africa).

Following the successful implementation of ODINAFRICA-I or ODINEA the Government of Flanders kindly agreed to fund through UNESCO/IOC the second phase of the project (ODINAFRICA-II) that involved twenty coastal African states who are members of the IOC of UNESCO.

The main focus of ODINAFRICA-I & II were:

• to develop human resources with adequate abilities to acquire, manage, archive and disseminate data, as well as the capability to generate information in support of decision making and management of Oceans and Coastal Zones.

• to develop capacity in terms of the availability of the basic infrustructure for data and information management in participarting countries.

• to facility networking of Data Centres (including Information Centres), scientists, coastal zone managers, coastal projects and institutions dealing with coastal zone development, in the region and thus facilitate data and information exchange.

The third phase of the project (ODINAFRICA-III) started in July 2004 continuing to be supported by the Governement of Flanders, and it involves twenty five African coastal states who are member of the IOC/UNESCO.

ODINAFRICA-III is designed in the end-to-end data and information management model with work-packges i.e., (i) Coastal Ocean Observing System, (ii) Data and Information Management, and (ii) Product Development and end user communication and information delivery. Among other things it is aimed at linking the African Data Centres to local data streams, and at strengthening their capacility in provision of services and product development.

Tanzania is actively participating in ODINAFRICA since the first phase.