摘要：This study focuses on the spatial data implementation in the developing countries, with specific interest in an African case. It advocates for the implementation of spatial data at the lower tiers of governments in the developing countries, the case of Africa. A subjective study of texts on regional spatial data implementation and web survey of geoportals of some twenty African countries form the basis for analysis and discussion. Studies on regional spatial data implementation showed that, most of them have standards and policy monitoring regional bodies while Africa has none. It was observed that out of the twenty countries surveyed, only five of them have functional geoportals through which spatial data can be easily and readily viewed and accessed, the rest are in one form of partnership/donor agreements. It was also observed that spatial data implementation at the national levels have not achieved much in terms of data production, exchange and sharing. This study believes that, as a result of these failures at the national levels, the advocacy for the implementation of spatial data at the lower tiers of governments would effectively enhance the production of spatial data applying the bottom-up approach as against the traditional top down-approach.
