Survey on Development of Supporting Structures and Capacity

For Producing and Using Spatial Data in Africa

 

  1. Name and contact details of respondent: Environment Resource Centre for Southern Africa, 5 Downie Avenue, Belaravia, P.O. Box 5690, Harare, Zimbabwe

  2. What is the name of the programme or project in which you are involved?

    3.

    The environment reporting programme for Southern Africa

  3. What are the overall aims of the programme / project?

    4.

    To raise awareness on environmental issues, to influence policy and decision-making

  4. What is the geographical area within which the programme operates?

    5.

    Southern Africa as defined by the Southern African Development Community

  5. Duration of the programme:

    1. When was the programme initiated? September 1999

    2. When is the programme scheduled to finish? December 2002

  6. Who are the major role-players in spatial data production, distribution and maintenance, as well as the major users, within this geographical area? (Note: please do not limit the answer to digital spatial data only)

    7.

    SADC, SIRDC, RRSU, CSIR, Surveyor General Offices, SOE Practitioners

  7. How is spatial data distributed? (Please do not limit your answer to digital spatial data only) SADC Region, National Level, River Basin Level

  8. Co-ordination mechanisms and support:

    1. Is there currently and formal or informal co-ordination of publicly funded programmes involving spatial information? NO

    2. If yes, please describe briefly

     

  9. Please indicate whether the programme on which you are reporting is involved in any of the following:

    1. The collection of metadata? YES

    2. Making metadata readily available to (potential) spatial data users YES

      3.  

    3. The development of spatial data standards NO

    4. The creation of basic data sets (i.e. base sets of data that could be used by a broad variety of users, for example, the road network) NO

    5. If the answer to 9.4 is YES, please list these data sets

      6.  

    6. Developing legal framework for accessing and distributing spatial data NO

    7. Developing pricing policy for spatial data NO

  10. Liaison:

    1. Is there any formal affiliation of the programme / project with any global or

      2. (other) regional spatial data infrastructure initiatives? YES

    2. Is there informal networking with other initiatives? YES

    3. If the answer to either 10.1 or 10.2 is YES, please list these initiatives

    Networking with ESRI and SIRDC, and . . .

  11. What, if any, are the particular challenges facing the development of NSDI / RSDI development within the region? Cost / funding, Haromization

  12. Any other information or comments?

  13. If there are any sources of additional information (e.g. web-sites or brochures), please list these or indicate how the information might be obtained.