NSDI (National Spatial Data Infrastracture)

Major initiatives need to be taken by all concerned geo-spatial data suppliers, producers and user organizations (stakeholders) with in and outside the federal government to develop NSDI:

• Development of standards for geo-spatial data documentation, collection, and exchange.
• Formulation of procedures and partnerships to create a national digital geo-spatial data framework that would include important basic categories to fulfill demand of variety of users.
• Development of new relationships that allow organization and individuals from all sectors to work together  to share geo-spatial data in such a way that there would not be unnecessary duplication and misuse of  national resources.
• Follow up and upgrading of the existing geo-spatial data/information depending on the technologies'  dynamisms.
• Eventually to create a well-distributed electronic network of data producers and users, known as the National Geo-spatial Data Clearinghouse.

The overall objective of developing  National Spatial Data Infrastructure in Ethiopia (NSDIE) is for the betterment of the nation through better economic, social and environmental decision-making. The availability of standards compliant fundamental geographic datasets is essential if the full potential of GIS technology is to be realized in supporting those decision-making process. Recognition of the cost, quality and longevity of geographic data is critical in the application of the technology. The specific objectives in developing a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) should be to:

• Produce standardization fundamental to geographic datasets;
• Avoid unnecessary duplication of cost, in production, developing and maintaining those data;
• Facilitate access to and application of those data; and
• Enable integration of other application-specific data by all users including value adding.

The underlying philosophy to this approach is that fundamentally geographic information is a national resources that must be managed according to the national interest. 

At this time NSDI is under development.