The EIS Program Program on Environmental Information Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa A multi-donor sponsored initiative to build capacity for managing environment information BY JACOB GYAMFI-AIDOO CO-ORDINATOR

Environment Information Systems Defined as “the institutional and technical framework, essential for improving the flow and use of information in environmental management.” The framework includes:  Strategies  Policies and procedures  Core data sets and data management tools  Communication and networking mechanisms

Program Features Adoption of a common approach for each participating country Strong local participation and consensus-building Focus on the development of human resources Problem-focus within a clearly defined policy framework Building upon existing national data systems Strong donor participation and co-ordination

Coverage EIS Program SADC/RRSU South Africa (NSIF) IGAD (RIIS) REIMP

Achievements The main achievements of the EIS Program include: Awareness creation Contributing to knowledge through country case studies Promoting data standardisation and harmonisation Promoting the concept of shared data resources at the national level Networking

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK DATA FIELD INFORMATION DECISIONS T E C H N O L O G Y

Lessons Learnt Adoption of the distributed (enterprise GIS) model  Common data infrastructure  Custodianship of data Long-term perspective, founded on consensus building Framework approach  Principles and norms  Standards

Data Harmonisation Networking and co-ordination Country-At-A-Glance data sets  Ghana (completed)  Côte d’Ivoire (under construction)  Uganda (interest expressed) RRSU CD-ROM  Harmonised data set for SADC

Challenges Remaining relevant to the changing needs of countries, sub- regions and Africa as a whole Shifting from project-orientation to responding to strategic policy frameworks Supporting countries in meeting their global obligations (conventions, etc.) Building linkages and synergy among initiatives Adapting to changes in information technology

Future Perspectives Incorporation  Pan-African NGO (EIS Network) Strategy  Partnership  Services to members and partners  Facilitation, geo-information brokerage and leveraging  Support for studies or policy-research  Effective networking

Coordinates The EIS Program, c/o CSIR-Environmentek, Building 33, Room N254, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001 Republic of South Africa Tel: Fax: URL: