Sharing research data strengthens open scientific culture and collaboration, fosters diversity of research analyses, inspires new research horizons, helps envisage new or alternative hypotheses and methods, allows the exploration of new research topics not examined by the initial
researchers, eases the education of new researchers and professionals, and can lead to better decision support by leveraging (interrelating and aggregating) data from various and multiple datasets.

In pursuit of the objective of strengthening research through data sharing, all data generated as a result of funding by WASCAL or project managed by WASCAL are to be considered for sharing and made as widely and freely accessible as possible (open access) when applicable,
whilst safeguarding intellectual property, the privacy of participants and confidential data.

The following Data Sharing Policy (DSP) is a WASCAL DSP stating clearly under which rules data should be used and shared by WASCAL-related scientists.

Therefore, WASCAL staff members and any other WASCAL-related scientists shall consent to the hereby Data Sharing Policy, if not otherwise stated within bilateral agreements with individual researchers or institutional partners in the projects and programs funded or led by
WASCAL.

Likewise, other persons and data providers interested in WASCAL scientific activities (research, services development, capacity building) are encouraged to acquaint themselves with it.