Data sharing for development planning - A case study : The case of Fiji Land Information Systems : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Applied Science (International Rural Development) at Lincoln University

Abstract

Development policy making is a major concern for all development policy formulators worldwide. The achievement of national development goals such as improvement of standards of living, employment and the protection of the natural environment depend on effective national policies which in turn require objective policy analysis based on accurate data. Consequently, there is a growing demand for systematic organization of basic data for better resource policy planning. The literature of development planning suggests that the availability, storage, classification schemes, and dissemination arrangements of basic data in developing countries has been inadequate to support effective development policy analysis and project evaluation. The widespread diffusion of computers in the developing world, means that there now exists an array of opportunities capable of automating and integrating traditional manual systems. These advances are potential mechanisms which can provide a systematic organization and distribution of basic data to assist objective analysis and the subsequent follow up measures to evaluate development policy interventions. A case study research strategy is employed to critically examine the implications of the adoption of Land Information Systems (LIS) technology in Fiji for development policy planning. Identification of data requirement is used as a basis to formulate a view of how best FLIS data can be applied to development planning. Data requirements of government agencies involved in the planning and implementation of development projects are examined. These focus on issues ranging from access requirements, access facilities, data standards and classification schemes, inter - agency coordination and human resource development. The introduction of LIS technology in Fiji raised questions central to inter - agency data sharing that are imperative to policy analysis and development policy making. These issues include, among others, proper collection, systematic organization and classification, and dissemination of basic data from key data holders to end-users. A very useful outcome of this work is the information resource index which identifies who the key holders of basic data are, format and nature of data, indicative uses, indicative users, and the stage of project cycle where such data may be required. The study suggests a range of technical requirements and identifies obstacles to inter - agency data sharing and the benefits that accrue after the introduction of LIS technology.