The use of geographic information is increasing as applications become more diverse. In turn, this is stimulating the need to share geographic information data, since individuals or organisations cannot satisfy all their data needs alone. Consequently, there is a growing dependence on others to obtain the full suite of data needed to carry out their activities. Geographic information-sharing is never a straightforward process, hence the need for partnerships and sharing agreements, which may take various forms. An assessment of how organisations and individuals in Rwanda access and share geographic information data in the absence of explicit policies shows that the decision to share data is heavily influenced by goodwill, friendship and individual preferences.
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