Guidelines for the implementation of national spatial data infrastructure in African countries: strengthening the capacities of African countries to develop geospatial information services in support of the implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals: final report

Abstract

This Final report of the Guidelines for the implementation of national spatial data infrastructure in African countries. The motto of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UNGGIM) is “everything happens somewhere”, showing that location has become a critical component of information. Geospatial information is now recognized everywhere as key in virtually all programmes and projects across all economic, social and environmental development sectors, including health, education, agriculture, planning and management of infrastructure, planning and management of urban centers, planning and management of utilities and resources, planning and management of environmental protection, land use, etc. As its name implies, national spatial data infrastructure is infrastructure that promotes the concept of a reliable, supportive environment, analogous to the road and telecommunications networks of a country. The guidelines are intended to provide a framework for the step-by-step implementation of national spatial data infrastructure based on the current and specific condition of African countries.