FARA, LifeWatch ERIC, ACU, EU2026-05-182026-05Soto, I., Abugri, B., Romero-Vasquez, G., & Antwi, K. D. (2024). Initial Data Management Plan (StEPPFoS Deliverable Report D8.3; FDN #65). Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).2550-9657https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14659/306This publication documents Deliverable D8.3 of the StEPPFoS project and provides the Initial Data Management Plan guiding the management of research data and digital assets generated during implementation of the project. The report establishes the procedures, standards, and governance mechanisms for managing project data in accordance with Horizon Europe data management requirements and FAIR principles. It explains how consortium partners will collect, document, preserve, secure, disseminate, and archive data generated under the project. The publication includes detailed guidance on: Data collection and documentation procedures Metadata standards and templates FAIR data principles implementation Data accessibility and repository structures GDPR compliance and ethical safeguards Data interoperability and reusability standards Long-term preservation and storage strategies Intellectual property rights and licensing considerations The report explains that the StEPPFoS project will generate diverse forms of data, including: Surveys and questionnaires Policy analysis datasets Audio and video interview recordings Publications and reports Presentations and images Statistical and tabular datasets Metadata records Research outputs, models, and software A major contribution of the publication is its articulation of the project’s FAIR data strategy. The report explains how datasets and research outputs will be made: Findable through DOI assignment and metadata registration Accessible via controlled and open repositories Interoperable through standardized formats and vocabularies Reusable using open licenses and documented metadata standards The document also outlines the digital repository ecosystem supporting the project, including: FARA Archive System (AARIISpace) FARADataInformS Zenodo Repository CollabNet Platform (LifeWatch ERIC) A data workflow diagram on page 8 visually illustrates the movement of internal and external project data between repositories, collaboration platforms, dissemination channels, and archival systems. The report further defines three levels of data accessibility: Restricted data Consortium-accessible data Open-access data It also establishes detailed metadata structures for generated datasets, including fields for: Dataset reference names Data creators and affiliations Repository locations Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) Access status and embargo periods Related publications and citations The publication provides extensive guidance on ethical and privacy safeguards, including informed consent procedures, anonymization protocols, secure storage arrangements, and GDPR-compliant handling of personal data across EU and non-EU consortium countries. The annexes contain a reusable metadata template for documenting project datasets and a sample metadata framework to support future data registration and repository integration.This publication presents the Initial Data Management Plan (DMP) for the StEPPFoS project and establishes the framework for the responsible management, preservation, dissemination, and long-term accessibility of data generated throughout the project lifecycle. The document provides operational guidelines for handling research data, metadata, publications, digital assets, and other project outputs in compliance with Horizon Europe requirements and FAIR data principles. The DMP outlines mechanisms for ensuring that project data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR), while also addressing ethical compliance, data security, intellectual property rights, and GDPR requirements. It describes procedures for metadata creation, repository management, controlled access, data preservation, and open science dissemination through institutional repositories such as AARIISpace, FARADataInformS, and Zenodo. The publication further documents the governance arrangements, workflows, and technical infrastructure supporting data stewardship within the StEPPFoS consortium. It provides metadata templates, accessibility classifications, interoperability standards, repository workflows, and guidance for the long-term sustainability of research outputs generated through the project’s multi-country and multi-stakeholder collaborations.enData Management PlanDMPFAIR DataMetadataGDPROpen ScienceData GovernanceResearch DataDigital RepositoriesZenodoAARIISpaceFARADataInformSData PreservationInteroperabilityOpen AccessKnowledge ManagementResearch InfrastructureOther