Survey on Development of Supporting Structures and Capacity for Producing and Using Spatial Data in Africa

 

  1. Name and contact details of respondent:

    2. C.A.J. van der Harten K. Masamvu

    Senior Adviser Co-ordinator

    SADC Regional Food Security Programme

    Regional Remote Sensing Unit

    P.O. Box 4046

    Harare - Zimbabwe

    Tel: (+263)-4-736051/2 or 796847/8

    Fax: (263)-4-795345 or 795283

    E-mail: cvanderharten@fanr-sadc.co.zw

    kmasamvu@fanr-sadc.co.zw

     

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

    3. Programme: SADC Food Security Programme

    Unit: Regional Remote Sensing Unit

     

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

    4. The RRSU is a centre of technical expertise which can facilitate training programmes and technical support in the field of remote sensing and GIS in support of early warning for food security and natural resources management.

     

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

    5. The 14 Member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC):

    Angola, Botswana, Congo (DR), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  5. Duration of the programme:
    1. When was the programme initiated?

      2. In 1988
    2. When is the programme scheduled to finish?

    The RRSU is a Unit which is operating with funding from the SADC Member States. This funding will continue for an indefinite period. In addition the RRSU receives funding from the Government of the Netherlands which is scheduled to end in June 2001.
  6. Who are the major role-players1 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. In the SADC region there are many role-players. Each country will have a similar structure, which can be summarised as follows:

    Government: Office of the Surveyor General, Central Statistical Offices, National Meteorological Department (Wheather Bureau), Agricultuaral Extension Service.

    Institutions: Universities, Research Council.

    Oganisations: Mainly international: a range of UN organisations (i.e. FAO, WFP, UNEP, etc.); but also WWF, FEWS (USAID), Red Cross, etc.

    NGO's: Often national NGO's, but also international NGO's - range of Christian Organisation, SCF-UK, medical organisations.
  7. How is spatial data distributed? (Please do not limit your answer to digital spatial data only)

    8. Mostly in hard-copy format, as part of reports. There is no visible structure for data distribution in digital format or in an organised way. A number of initiatives do exist. Data is mainly distributed on CD-ROM, while information is provided through the Internet.
  8. Co-ordination mechanisms and support:
    1. Is there currently any formal or informal co-ordination of publicly funded programmes involving spatial information? YES / NO
    2. If YES, please describe briefly

    NA
  9. Please indicate whether the programme on which you are reporting is involved in any of the following:
    1. The collection of metadata 2 YES / NO
    2. Making metadata readily available to (potential) spatial data users YES / NO
    3. The development of spatial data standards 3 YES / 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) YES / NO
    5. If the answer to 9.4 is YES, please list these data sets

      6. Raster Data: NOAA and Meteosat satellite images (CCD, RFE and NDVI); climate layers with information about rainfall, temperature and PET; agricultural statistics and socio-economic and demographic data.

      Vector Data: national and two levels of sub-national boundaries, elevation, infrastructure, hydrology, major growing areas, forests, protected areas and cultural sites.
    6. Developing a legal framework for accessing and distributing spatial data YES / NO
    7. Developing pricing policy for spatial data YES / NO
  10. Liaison:
    1. Is there any formal affiliation of the programme / project with any global or (other) regional spatial data infrastructure initiatives? YES / NO
    2. Is there informal networking with other initiatives? YES / NO
    3. If the answer to either 10.1 or 10.2 is YES, please list these initiatives.

    NSIF - GSDI
  11. What, if any, are the particular challenges facing the development of NSDI / RSDI development within the region?

- Standard data (exchange) formats;

  • Establishment of a network of vocal points in the region;
  • Improvement of the communications infrastructure;
  • Operational Data Policy.
  1. Any other information or comments ?
    2.

    No
  2. If there are there any sources of additional information (e.g. web-sites or brochures) , please list these or indicate how the information might be obtained.

www.zimbabwe.net/sadc-fanr/intro.htm

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN COMPLETING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE!