Table of Contents
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- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Most rural Africans depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. In this study, authors in Burkina Faso, Côte d\'Ivoire, and The Gambia have identified and documented successful attempts to use modern information technologies, specifically geographic information systems (GIS), to improve the quality of public decision-making in their countries, particularly with respect to the environment and natural resources management.
- Executive summary
- Over the past decade, international assistance agencies have worked to help developing countries, especially in Africa, adopt GIS as a tool for strengthening environmental policy development. This study examines the uses and impact of GIS in policymaking in Africa.
Introduction- The time is right to ask: How is GIS being used by
developing-country policymakers? What impact has
there been on the decision-making process and the
quality of decisions made? This study aims to help
answer these questions in the context of environmental
planning and management in Africa.
Conceptual Framework
- For GIS to have a significant impact on policy requires not only appropriate equipment, high quality data, and skilled analysts, but also an active dialogue between scientists, GIS experts, policymakers, and civil society.
Methods- The methods developed for this study consisted of identifying and documenting case studies illustrating the use of GIS analyses in, and resulting impacts on, environmental policy processes. Two levels of assessment were targeted: a “macro-level” assessment involving a review of GIS activities at the country level, and a “micro-level” review of three or more specific projects with a GIS component for each country.
Findings- The indicators examined highlight the level of national awareness of GIS and its application to policy, capacity development, and supply and demand for GIS products and services in the country.
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Discussion: Impacts of GIS-Based analysis on environmental planning and management policies in West Africa - Some important impacts were observed and reported
through the case studies, associated interviews, and
one-day workshops. They are presented in three broad
categories: planned impacts, opportunistic impacts, and
multiplier effects.
Conclusions- The study found that all three countries are at an early stage of applying GIS analysis, and overall awareness remains low; the existence of a demand for GIS products and services is directly linked to the level of awareness within the user community; and that in the countries
studied, national initiatives to strengthen the management of geospatial information fall far short of what one might expect after more than ten years of experience with applying GIS technology.
Recommendations- The study identified six major recommendations ranging
from expanding awareness of GIS and its potential to
improving access to information. Taken together, these
provide a solid framework for making progress.
Annex 1. Macro-Level criteria- The macro-level indicators include level of national awareness and supply and demand for GIS analyses and products over the last 10 years.
Annex 2. Micro-Level criteria- The micro-level indicators include considerable details on specific GIS projects, including technical aspects, GIS
impacts, and policy dialogue process.
Annex 3. List of national experts, coordinator, and project team leaders
Annex 4. Summaries of case studies- BURKINA FASO
COTE D’IVOIRE
THE GAMBIA
- Annex 5. List of abbreviations and acronyms
Annex 6. The Joint USAID/WRI Information Working Group Members
Annex 7. Maps from case studies- Map 1. Number of Users per Modern Water Supply Facility by Provinces in Southwestern Burkina Faso
Map 2. Protected Areas of Côte d’Ivoire
Map 3. Identification of Possible Sites for Waste Disposal (The Gambia) - Please note: These are large files. If you get a blank screen after the link appears to load, select "reload" or "refresh" in your browser and the map should appear.
