University of Zimbabwe
FULL NAME OF STUDENT: TAPIWA TRUST KANYAI
REG NUMBER: R116273M
PROGRAMME: MAPPH
COURSE NAME: IDS Module for Post Graduate Students
COURSE CODE: MIDC501
LECTURER: Mrs Zvidya
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Comprehensive Research Data Management Plan for
Sustainable Energy and Environmental Studies in Zimbabwe
Comprehensive Research Data Management Plan for Sustainable Energy and
Environmental Studies in Zimbabwe
1. Research Goals
Core Objectives:
Evaluate renewable energy potential (e.g., solar, wind, biomass) across
Zimbabwe’s ecological zones, as outlined in the Zimbabwe National Renewable
Energy Policy (2019). Expand analysis to include region-specific capacity
thresholds (e.g., 5–6 kWh/m²/day solar potential in Matabeleland vs. 4–5
kWh/m²/day in Mashonaland) and biomass feedstock availability (e.g., jatropha
cultivation in arid zones).
Investigate environmental degradation drivers, including deforestation and
erratic rainfall, aligned with findings from the IPCC’s Climate Change Impacts in
Southern Africa (2022). Incorporate localized case studies (e.g., Chimanimani
District’s post-cyclone deforestation rates) and cross-reference with Zimbabwe
Forestry Commission’s 2023 report on illegal logging hotspots.
Co-design community-led energy solutions using traditional knowledge
frameworks, following methodologies by Mavhura (2020) in Indigenous
Knowledge in Disaster Risk Reduction.
Integrate gender-responsive approaches, such as women-led solar
cooperatives, as recommended by UN Women’s 2022 Gender and Energy
Equity Framework.
2. Data Collection Methods
Field Data:
Measured Data: Solar irradiance and soil moisture levels collected via solar-
powered sensors, building on Gwaze’s (2021) innovations in Solar Energy
Solutions for Rural Zimbabwe.
Community Narratives: Stories and focus group discussions documented using
participatory approaches from Chigudu (2020) in Participatory Methods in African
Research.
Conduct 15+ oral history interviews with elders in Binga District to capture
indigenous firewood management practices.
Spatial Mapping: Drone imagery of deforestation hotspots, cross-referenced with
NASA Earth Observations (2023).
Existing Data:
National energy reports from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA,
2023) and climate datasets from the United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP, 2021).
Augment with satellite-derived precipitation data from Climate Hazards Group
InfraRed Precipitation (CHIRPS) and World Bank’s 2022 Energy Access
Dashboard.
3. Data Storage and Security
Infrastructure:
Local Servers: Solar-powered systems at the National University of Science and
Technology (NUST), complying with energy efficiency standards from the
Zimbabwe National Renewable Energy Policy (2019). Install hybrid lithium-ion
battery backups to ensure 24/7 uptime during grid outages.
Cloud Backups: Encrypted storage via AWS, adhering to the Cyber and Data
Protection Act (2021).
Safety Protocols:
Participant identities anonymized using methods mandated by the Zimbabwe
Data Protection Act (2021). Apply k-anonymity (k=5) and differential privacy
(ε=0.1) to household survey datasets.
Tiered access controls (e.g., raw ecological data open to all researchers;
household surveys restricted to ethics teams).
4. Ethical and Legal Compliance
Community Engagement:
Verbal consent processes for non-literate participants, guided by ethical
frameworks from Nhemachena (2019) in Ethics in African Research.
Use pictogram-based consent forms validated by Zimbabwe’s Medical Research
Council (2022).
Benefit-sharing agreements, such as reinvesting 10% of commercialized
research revenue into local solar projects.
Include capacity-building initiatives (e.g., training 100+ locals in solar panel
maintenance via NUST’s vocational programs).
Regulatory Alignment:
Compliance with Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27)
and data privacy laws under the Cyber and Data Protection Act (2021).
Conduct quarterly audits with Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to ensure
alignment with AU’s Convention on Cybersecurity (2023).
5. Data Sharing and Accessibility
Platforms:
Public summaries on the Zimbabwe Ministry of Energy Open Data Portal (2023);
restricted datasets shared via password-protected platforms like Zenodo.
Publish interactive maps using QGIS Cloud for public access to deforestation
trends.
Interactive dashboards (e.g., Tableau) for policymakers, highlighting energy gaps
in Matabeleland and Mashonaland.
Integrate WFP’s Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) data to overlay food
insecurity hotspots.
Collaborations:
Partnerships with the African Energy Commission (AFREC, 2022) to share
climate resilience strategies.
Co-host a regional workshop with AFREC in 2024 to disseminate findings on
cross-border biomass supply chains.
6. Long-Term Data Preservation
Formats:
Standardized formats (CSV for numerical data, Geo TIFF for maps) to ensure
interoperability, per guidelines from the African Open Science Platform (AOSP,
2023). Adopt Parquet file formats for large-scale time-series sensor data to
optimize storage efficiency.
Archival:
Annual integrity checks using checksum tools, with backups stored at the
National Archives of Zimbabwe.
7. Team Roles and Training
Responsibilities:
Technical Teams: Maintain sensor networks, referencing protocols from Gwaze
(2021). Assign field technicians certified in IEEE 1451 standards for IoT device
calibration.
Community Liaisons: Facilitate workshops using Chigudu’s (2020) participatory
frameworks.
Train liaisons in Conflict-Sensitive Communication (CSC) methods for culturally
sensitive engagement.
Capacity Building:
Training in KoBo Toolbox for field data collection, supported by GSMA’s Mobile
Technology for Community Resilience in Africa (2022).
Include modules on Open Data Kit (ODK) for offline data synchronization in low-
connectivity areas.
8. Budget and Funding
Cost Breakdown:
Equipment: $12,000 for solar sensors and drones.
Allocate $3,000 for modular LiDAR attachments to drones for 3D forest canopy
modeling.
Community Incentives: $5,000 for workshop stipends and local collaborator fees.
Include $1,500 for translation services (e.g., Shona/Ndebele to English) to
ensure inclusivity.
Funding Sources:
Grants from the African Union’s Agenda 2063 Renewable Energy Initiatives
(2023) and the Zimbabwe Science Fund.
Apply for supplementary funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Small Grants Program for community-based pilots.
9. Monitoring and Adaptation
Quality Assurance:
Quarterly audits using the FAIR Principles (Wilkinson et al., 2016) to assess data
usability.
Real-time sensor diagnostics via Grafana dashboards.
Integrate predictive maintenance alerts using TensorFlow Lite anomaly detection
models.
Innovations:
AI-driven alerts for deforestation, inspired by NASA’s MODIS anomaly detection
systems (2023).
Train custom YOLOv7 models on drone imagery to detect illegal logging activity
in real time.
10. Sustainable Innovations
Eco-Friendly Tools:
Biodegradable sensor casings made from local baobab fiber, reducing
environmental impact.
Partner with Bulawayo-based startup Eco-Fiber for mass production under
circular economy principles.
Community Empowerment:
SMS-based pollution reporting, modeled on GSMA’s mobile resilience
frameworks (2022).
Use Africa’s Talking API to automate alerts to Zim-Parks (Zimbabwe Parks and
Wildlife Management Authority).
Approvals
Lead Researcher: Dr. Farai Gomo
Data Ethics Officer: Mr. Tendai Chikotora
Community Representative: Ms. Marry Gumbo
Date: 06 May 2025
References
African Union. (2023). Agenda 2063: Renewable Energy Initiatives.
Chigudu, A. (2020). Participatory methods in African research. Journal of Southern
African Studies, 46(3), 45–60.
Gwaze, P. (2021). Solar energy solutions for rural Zimbabwe. African Development
Bank.
IPCC. (2022). Climate Change Impacts in Southern Africa.
Mavhura, E. (2020). Indigenous knowledge in disaster risk reduction. Springer.
Nhemachena, A. (2019). Ethics in African research. CODESRIA.
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). (2021). Zimbabwe Climate Vulnerability
Assessment.
Wilkinson, M., et al. (2016). The FAIR guiding principles for scientific data management.
Scientific Data, 3(1), 1–9.
Zimbabwe Government. (2021). Cyber and Data Protection Act. Harare: Government
Printers.
