The Environmental Information Systems (EIS) Unit, established through the Infocom Project, serves as the coordinating unit of EMIN. The EIS Unit is thus responsible for the organisation and facilitation of the annual EMIN deliberations as well as mandated to execute initiatives deem necessary for the country’s sustainable development. EMIN I and EMIN II set the stage for the identification and finalisation of Namibia’s National Core Set of Environmental Indicators (NCEI) as well as recognising the need for a national institution responsible for spatial data sharing, creation and exchange.

In 2003 the EIS embarked on collecting NCEI data for analysis and interpretation toward compiling Namibia’s first Integrated State of the Environment Report (ISoER). The EIS Unit facilitated the establishment of Namibia’s Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The NSDI Technical Committee has finalised a first draft of the Spatial Data Sharing Policy that is currently being reviewed by members representing line Ministries. During the EMIN III Workshop participants reviewed both the first rough draft of the ISoER and the Spatial Data Sharing Policy. Both documents received constructive criticism and while it is envisaged that the Policy will still receive ample comments the Unit envisage publishing the ISoER toward the end of May 2004.

Although EMIN members serve on a voluntary basis they show commitment to participate in a process aimed at reaching Namibia’s sustainable development goals. The success of reaching these goals can be measured in part from results stemming from the NCEI, the basis of the ISoER. Once the ISoER has been published it will serve to facilitate higher decision making, provide a baseline for future trend interpretation, inform the general public of our state of the environment and, encourage the religious monitoring of our invaluable resources to promote sustainable use.