By 
Zambia has unveiled its National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) as a digital platform designed to provide reliable data for private sector investment and government services.
The NSDI system addresses gaps in information that investors face when entering the country, ensuring data can be referenced for decision-making.
Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Dr. Oliver Kalabo, European Union Programme Manager, Paola Gosparini, Smart Zambia Institute National Coordinator Percy Chinyama officially launched the platform in Lusaka on Tuesday at Pamodzi Hotel.
The platform is expected to cover sectors including infrastructure, connectivity, digitalisation, climate resilience, land management, agriculture and connectivity.
In her address, Gosparini described the platform as an essential digital tool that fed important information into a reliable and accountable system.
“Special data is something which keeps feeding very important information into a reliable and accountable system to the private sector business investors. It is essential for the decision process, it is essential for Zambia as a country,” she said.
Gosparini noted that digital transition and data-driven government were central to all investments, whether in agriculture, infrastructure, land or connectivity.
“From the EU side we always talk about digital transition, digital transformation, data driven economy, digitalisation, and by data driven, whether we talk about the agriculture, whether we talk about infrastructure, whether we talk about land whether we talk about connectivity, it is all backed by data,” she said.
Gosparini stressed that while the project marked the end of one project cycle, it was only the beginning of the digital platform’s life in the country.
Read More: Treadway, Invasion commit $1.25b for African startups
In his address, Kalabo urged the Government institutions to ensure the system was constantly updated and maintained as an open-source tool to reduce costs.
“Of course the technical aspect does not guarantee the successful implementation. We need to make sure that there is strong continuous political we need to make sure that the technical skills behind it are there,” he said.
Kalabo highlighted capacity building and partnerships as critical for long-term success and called for enhanced cooperation across government, academia, the private sector and local authorities to improve transparency.
Meanwhile, Chinyama framed the platform as a milestone in Zambia’s administration and e-government services, with critical services now needing digitalisation.
He urged government institutions to spread the word, create awareness, make sure that many more actors were aware of the of the essence and the utility and the long term impact.
“The government structure of the NSDI will require continued collaboration among key government entities and sectorial agencies, alongside development of Zambian data standards,” Chinyama noted.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments