By Makane Faye and Dozie Ezigbalike, 24 March 2006

DISD organized a workshop on National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) in relation to the implementation of Burkina Faso’s National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) Plan recently. The main objectives of the workshop were to: (i) put together Geo information stakeholders for sustainable development in order to establish a true SDI Community, (ii) discuss regulations towards development of a national SDI policy, and (iii) launch the foundations of an SDI process in relation to the implementation of the Burkina Faso NICI.

Mr. Hippolite Lingani, Minister of Infrastructure opened he workshop, which was held from 14-15 March in Ouagadougou. Due to the cross cutting nature and importance of NSDI in socio-economic development, three other Burkina Faso Cabinet ministers (Transport, Housing, Livestock) attended the opening ceremony.

In addition to ECA and the Government of Burkina Faso, ITC of Netherlands and RECTAS of Nigeria supported the workshop, which adopted the following roadmap for establishing an NSDI policy in Burkina Faso:

End of March 2006: Establishment of a Multi stakeholder Committee of Experts to draft the SDI policy

Mid April 2006: Request for Comments on the draft SDI policy

End of April 2006: Finalization of the draft policy by the Committee of Experts for submission to Cabinet

Mid May 2006: Launch of discussions on definition of strategic axis for integrating NSDI into the NICI Plan

June - September 2006: Convening of a national workshop on the integration of NSDI into the NICI Plan of Burkina Faso

ECA’s efforts in NSDI are having an impact in mobilizing its Member countries to use geo information for their socio-economic development, and currently 23 countries have initiated NSDI policies. With support from partners, ECA is stepping up its work in this area, integrating geo-information policy into NICI policies and plans and fostering public participation in geo-information management.

For more information, please contact: Mr. Chukwudozie Ezigbalike, DISD Geoinformation Team Leader (cezigbal@uneca.org).