FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF AFRICA BORDERLANDS

Q1. What are Africa borderlands regions?

Borderlands are the territorial margins of nation states, regions where border contact is a central feature of economic and political life. It is estimated 270 million people reside in Africa borderlands and are at the risk of been left behind.

Borderlands are spaces of enormous innovation, creativity, and economic potential, containing both the human and natural resources to support thriving communities and fast-growing local economies. Despite their potential, borderlands tend to be underserved by national institutions and suffer from endemic poverty and underdevelopment.

Q2. What is the Africa Borderlands Encyclopaedia?

It is a compendium of border pairs, borderland clusters, and key borderland details from across Africa. Currently there is insufficient understanding and engagement with borderlands issues across Africa due to limited research, data collection and analysis and even this has tended not to be conducted or collated in any systematic way. The Encyclopedia seeks to enhance systematic and centralized access to borderlands data and information.

Q3. What is the geographic scope of the Encyclopaedia?

The Encyclopaedia covers a total of 106 terrestrial border pairs/ trios and excludes maritime borders and island states such as Cabo Verde, Sao Tome & Principe, Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros, and Mauritius.

Q4. What is the geographic unit of analysis based on the dataset?

The municipality/ district. Most government data is aggregated at the district level. The Encyclopaedia covers 735 borderland districts.

Q5. How many indicators does the Encyclopaedia track?

There are currently 15 indicators, and the selection criteria was informed by the core UNDP thematic areas. These include:

1. Date border established (Year).
2. Length of border (Kms).
3. Borderlands Municipalities/ Districts.
4. District population size.
5. District capitals.
6. District population size.
7. Key border towns.
8. Area covered by border pair.
9. Water bodies (lakes, rivers)
10. National parks.
11. Economic activities (agriculture, key industries, key informal activities)
12. Infrastructure (hospitals, schools, universities, police stations/ posts)
13. Refugees and IDP camps.
14. Major conflict incidents
15. Border closures.

Q6. How was the Encyclopaedia data gathered?

The data is based on open-source secondary sources and was mined by Online Volunteers and reviewed by ABC staff.

Q7. How current are the Encyclopaedia legacy data and how are they updated?

The data was mined in the last half of 2021 – but is itself many years old and not all regions have the same data- and cleaned up in the first half of 2022. The data is manually updated on an annual basis but there are plans to incorporate an auto update module in the future improved Encyclopaedia version.

Q8. How can I download the dataset?

A copy of the updated spreadsheet shall be availed upon request from the ABC.

Q9. What is the Encyclopaedia database and data visualization based on?

The Encyclopaedia database is based on MySQL database and Power BI data visualization.

Q10. Can the Encyclopaedia link to external databases?

The Encyclopaedia currently does not have an API (Application Programming Interface) to connect to external databases but there are plans to incorporate an API in the future improved Encyclopaedia version.

Q11. How can one report incorrect data?

Navigate to the ‘About’ menu tab and click on ‘Reviews’ then fill the form and submit your feedback. The ABC focal point will revert with a response.

Q12. Does the Africa Borderlands Centre play a role in borders/ frontiers delineation?

No. The Borderlands Centre does not support delineation or demarcation of borders/ frontiers but is focused on socio-economic development and peacebuilding of borderlands. The designations employed and the presentation of the information in this website do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Development Programme concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Q13. How can you partner with ABC?

The ABC is open for collaboration with like minded partners in data, research, innovation, and other socio-economic investments which promote the wellbeing of Africa borderlands communities.

Q14. How can you contact the ABC?

Navigate to the ‘About’ menu tab and click on the ‘Contact us’ sub-menu for contact information. The designated ABC focal point will revert with a response based on the nature of the information.