The project, Establishment of a National Geographic Information System, which was co-financed by the Government of Botswana (GoB) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), was a result of a proposal done by a Consultant (ARD) for Sida. The project is hosted by the Department of Information Technology, (DIT).
The overall objective of the project is to achieve an improved planning and decision-making process through a more efficient use of geographic information and GIS within the Government. The more specific objective for the project has been to facilitate a more efficient management of existing geographic data through increased competence among the users and an improved coordination of GI within the GI community.
The key activities in the project were to: -
Prepare a Master Plan and recommendations for the implementation of a National GIS
Prepare for organisational bodies for a National GIS
Establish foundations for a National GIS
Implement a Botswana Metadatabase on Geographic Data
Carry out workshops and seminars related to the use of GIS and standardisation issues.
The duration of the project phase 1 was to be one year, starting 2002-04-15 and ending 2003-04-14. Phase 2 of the project was supposed to run concurrently with phase 1, but due to delays in the start-up of Phase 2 it was decided to carry-out an interim project to avoid an all too long lapse of time between the two phases. The interim project ended on 30 November 2004 and plans for Phase 2 of the project are still underway.
