This course is the third of a series of courses related to the design, implementation and operation of MESA services. The ultimate goal of the overall programme is reaching out to decision makers and development practitioners so that MESA operational information services are used for better environmental policies, decision structures and management interventions and participation by Africans in global environmental governance is improved. To provide a better understanding of the development cycles for products, services and their management (also in terms of hardware, software, data and institutional management) a number of courses are developed. This course focusses on running an operational thematic service