ABSTRACT
One of the distinctive features of the last decade is the emergence of regional spatial data infrastructure (SDI) organizations. This is due to the need for a Regional SDI perspective as a consequence of both the need for seamless consistent spatial data beyond national boundaries to support decision-making at this level and the lack of a coordinating body among multinational and sub-regional ongoing initiatives. This began with the creation of the European Umbrella Organization for Geographic Information in 1993 and was quickly followed in Asia and the Pacific by the establishment of a Permanent Committee for this region in 1995 under the auspices of the United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference. A similar organization for the Americas followed in 2000, after a three years process, with support from 21 nations. At the turn of the century Africa and the Middle East were the only regions of the world without such an organization. However, moves are currently under way to create a Committee on Development Information under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
