Members states of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission for the central Eastern Atlantic (IOCEA) have repeatedly identified and formulated their national and regional needs for capacity building in data management and information. Following these requests, the Government of Flanders (Kingdom of Belgium) has agreed to help finance the program implementation of Network Data Exchange and Oceanographic Information for Africa "ODINAFRICA".

-	Provide marine scientists in Africa access to the Internet.
-	Provide assistance for the establishment and operation of oceanographic data and networking.
-	Provide opportunities for training in data management and information using formats and standardized methods and defined by "the International Oceanographic Data Exchange (IODE).
-	Helping to create and maintain national databases holding regional marine data and metadata.

 Creation of NODC-Benin

The National Oceanographic Data center (NODC) of Benin, IODE branch, is based at the Centre for Ocean and Fisheries Research of Benin (CRHOB) since April 2001. This center also houses the Permanent Secretariat of the National Oceanographic Committee (NOC) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.