Challenge
Geospatial capability is crucial to delivering public services, from environmental protection to disaster management, as well as planning for the future. Ministries in Tanzania and Zanzibar were keen to improve capability in this area but first needed to understand in-depth current geospatial capability and identify critical applications of geospatial data in public services.
They faced a number of challenges:
- Advising fit-for-purpose data collection methods.
- Strengthening partnerships between Ministries and the private sector.
- Socialising and embedding geospatial principles.
Solution
Working directly with several ministries in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, OS’s policy experts completed an assessment, gaining an understanding of how geospatial data is used in public services such as revenue collection, land administration, disaster management, infrastructure planning and environmental protection.
OS then provided recommendations for spatial data infrastructure policy development and methods for implementing rigour around governance and responsibilities, strengthening the nation’s ability to meet future public needs.
Intensive technical training was provided to more than 70 representatives including planners, statisticians, cartographers, data analysts, disaster management experts and environmentalists.
Result
Ordnance Survey’s activity has enabled strong relationships to be forged between geospatial practitioners and government, and fostered a strong sense of community between geographic information (GI) users. In addition to greater awareness of data collection initiatives, there have been further opportunities for synergies between departments.
Geospatial policy development now has support and is a priority at a senior level, and geospatial data is now recognised as critical infrastructure, helping to further underpin public services now and in the future.
"Tanzania has been making significant progress into the use of geospatial data in many areas including improving urban resilience. Ordnance Survey brought its unique blend of national data management, open data and government policy expertise to support Tanzania further to embed this into policies and operations."