The COINS Data Management Platform
About Us
The goal of the Co-developing innovations for sustainable land management in West African smallholder farming systems(COINS) Project is the sustainable intensification of agriculture, i.e., increasing productivity without converting additional land. The German-African project team is exploring efficient land management strategies that can sustainably intensify agriculture on the same area. This approach considers local factors such as water availability, soil properties, and socio-economic conditions.
In COINS, relevant sustainable intensification(SI) options will be cataloged and assessed for their suitability in local contexts within the study areas in Ghana and Senegal. The most appropriate measures will then be implemented on the ground. Throughout this process, all stakeholders and actors will be involved in innovation laboratories, collaborating to identify the mechanisms and framework conditions necessary for successful sustainable agricultural intensification.
COINS is designed for a duration of 48 months in both of its case study regions. Implementing a transdisciplinary co-design and innovation systems approach, the project is organized in three tiers: Tier 1 Targeting; Tier 2 Enabling; Tier 3 Advising where all activities take place within two central cross-cutting SI Innovation Labs (XCWP 1) in each of Senegal and Ghana. Finally, the project has a dedicated Education, Networking and Communication work package (XCWP 2), as well as work packages for Data Management (XCWP 3) and Coordination (XCWP 4).
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The German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of DLR leads the coordination of the COINS project and develops innovative remote sensing products. These include the derivation of biophysical parameters from Sentinel time series (e.g., leaf area index), which are utilized both for modeling purposes and for monitoring the effectiveness of sustainable intensification (SI) measures.
WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use) aims to use its existing network in the study region to support dissemination of sustainable intensification (SI) solutions to relevant stakeholders and to institutionalize the knowledge generated in the project in key West African universities.
WASCAL is also in charge of the development of COINS’ data management strategy and management of data from all the work packages of this project. A key component of this data management strategy involves the utilization of the Open Data Cube (ODC) platform. The ODC will allow us to efficiently manage and analyze large volumes of geospatial data, facilitating better decision-making and innovation in land management.
WASCAL is conducting the monitoring of the contribution of the SI practices to biodiversity conservation at different scales at both project sites throughout the project with minimal support from DLR in relation to land use data provision.
WASCAL will also engage in networking and cross-fertilization with important institutions, projects, and actors working on similar goals of
enhancing SI in Sub-Saharan Africa. WASCAL will oversee the interpretation and communication of scientific results of Tier 1 into policy relevant support tools such as policy briefs, reports, and factsheets.
Ongoing Activities
Biodiversity Monitoring within the COINS Project: Exciting Milestone Achieved!
We are thrilled to announce a major achievement in our biodiversity monitoring efforts under the COINS project. Our work has expanded to two key sites in Northern Ghana: the Dimabi Farmer Community in the Tolon District and Nakpanzo in the Savelugu District. This milestone represents significant progress toward fulfilling the WASCAL mission of advancing biodiversity monitoring within the project's framework.
Soil Sampling and Analysis
Our team is conducting extensive soil sampling and analysis in Northern Ghana to assess the chemical and physical properties of soils post-land preparation and sowing. This work is crucial for understanding soil health and its impact on agricultural productivity within the region.
Field trip to Project sites
WASCAL team conducted a field explorations at the research sites of COINS in Tamale. This was an opportunity for providing academic support to the doctoral student, including assistance with registration at the University for Development Studies (UDS), and fostering further exchanges with UDS regarding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions that is supporting implementation of the COINS.
COINS Events
Project Team
The COINS Project is led by a multidisciplinary team of renowned experts from various fields. Our team comprises Researchers and PhD students, social scientists, microfinance specialists, environmental monitoring experts with global experience, particularly in Africa, climate risk and impact assessment specialists, integrated model developers, and specialists in field, farm, and regional-level climate risk and change impact assessments for West Africa. Additionally, we have experts in land use and land degradation, smart agriculture innovators, and climate change researchers. Our team's diverse expertise ensures a comprehensive approach to addressing complex challenges in climate resilience and sustainable development. Meet ours team members in the following section.
PROF. DR. SAMUEL ADIKU
Senior Researcher
University of Ghana
LÉONARD DAKPO AKOBA
Data Technician
WASCAL
GIFTY AMPOMAH
Researcher
UNU INRA-United Nations University, Institute for Natural Resources in Africa
PAUL NDIAGA CISS
Phd Researcher
IPAR - Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale
AUDREY KANTZ DOSSOU CODJIA
Project assistant
WASCAL
NIELS DEDRING
Student Assistant
Ruhr-Bochum University
PROF. DR. FATIMA DENTON
Researcher
UNU INRA - United Nations University, Institute for Natural Resources in Africa
DR. BELKO ABDOUL AZIZ DIALLO
Senior Researcher
WASCAL
DR. MADINA DIANCOUMBA
Researcher
ZALF - Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research
KHADIDIATOU FAYE
Data scientist
Manobi Africa
BRIGHT SALAH FREDUAH
Researcher
University of Ghana
DR. THOMAS GAISER
Researcher
University Bonn - Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)
DR. VALERIE GRAW
Scientific Coordinator
Ruhr-Bochum University
DR. KWAME OPPONG HACKMAN
Senior Researcher
WASCAL
NIKLAS HEISS
Researcher
DLR - German Aerospace Center
TARISAI KANYEPI
Researcher
UNU EHS - United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security
PROF. DR. DILYS MACCARTHY
Senior Researcher
University of Ghana
DR. JONAS MEIER
Project Leader COINS
DLR - German Aerospace Center
DR. JAVIER MIRANDA
Senior Researcher
University Bonn - Institute for Food and Resource Economics (ILR)
JANET MUMO MUTUKU
Researcher
Manobi Africa
DR. HYCENTH TIM NDAH
Researcher
University of Hohenheim
CELESTE TCHAPMI NONO NGHOTCHOUANG
Data scientist
Manobi Africa
DR. THUY HUU NGUYEN
Researcher
University Bonn - Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)
JUNIOR PROF. DR. ANDREAS RIENOW
Administrative Coordinator
Ruhr-Bochum University
EMIL ROUSSEAU
Researcher
IPAR - Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale
DR. JOHANNES SCHULER
Researcher
ZALF - Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research
DR. AMIT KUMAR SRIVASTAVA
Researcher
University Bonn - Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)
STEFANIE STEINBACH
Reseach Associate
Ruhr-Bochum University
DR. LAURE TALL
Senior Researcher
IPAR - Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale
ERIC GANKAM TAMBO
Researcher
IPAR - Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale
DR. FRANK THONFELD
Project Co-Leader COINS
DLR - German Aerospace Center
DR. SIDY TOUNKARA
Researcher
IPAR - Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale
PIERRE C. SIBIRY TRAORÉ
Researcher
Manobi Africa
DR. CHENZHI WANG
Researcher
ZALF - Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research
PROF. DR. HEIDI WEBBER
Researcher
ZALF - Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research
NARCISSE YEHOUENOU
Researcher
WASCAL
Data Products
Explore data indexed in the open data cube through interactive visualizations.
Data Cube Explorer
To explore the data available on the COINS' data cube explorer, kindly click on the link below to access the data indexed in the Open Data Cube:
Project Funding
Sustainable Land Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Improving livelihoods through local research
Co-developing innovations for sustainable land management in West African smallholder farming systems (COINS) Project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), within the strategy of its platform Research for Sustainability (Forschung für Nachhaltigkeit, FONA). This Project works with four other regional projects such as : INTERFACES, DecLaRe, InfoRange, and Minodu.
Partners
