SIS Framework: Roadmap for building a soil information system.

Empower the soil data community with best practice tools and lessons learned for a sustainable SIS!

The SIS framework developed by CABI and ISRIC provides structured guidelines for designing and developing a soil information system, incorporating financial, institutional, capacity and technological aspects. The SIS framework has four phases: initiation, planning and design, implementation and operational. Each phase contains suggested activities, accompanied by guiding questions, recommended tools and supporting resources to make the process as practical and as easily useable as possible.

This technology is pre-validated.

9•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 8/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive medium

By delivering accurate soil data in a FAIR manner, users can improve soil health through better land management practices, leading to increased yields, profits, and economic benefits.

The poor: Positive medium

SISs offer users cost-effective and practical solutions to improve productivity, soil health, and income.

Women: Positive medium

By offering precise soil data in a FAIR manner, female users can improve land management practices, boosting productivity and profitability, and fostering greater collaboration among practitioners.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

SISs are flexible and can adjust to shifting environmental conditions.

Farmer climate change readiness: Moderate improvement

SISs support improved decision-making and agricultural practices in response to the effects of climate change.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Implementing a SIS can reduce soil pollution and excessive fertilizer use, while also safeguarding nature and biodiversity.

Carbon footprint: Much less carbon released

The carbon footprint of a SIS is smaller than that of other technologies. It helps lower emissions indirectly by encouraging improved soil management and supporting informed decision-making.

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

By reducing the reliance on machinery and chemicals, SISs help decrease carbon emissions and improves environmental health.

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

SISs can support the preservation of soil fertility and productivity over the long term.

Water use: Same amount of water used

Problem

Reliance on External Funding: Many Soil Information Systems (SISs) struggle to remain operational after project funding ends due to a lack of sustainable transition plans.
Insufficient Technical Capacities: Limited capacity to maintain and enhance SIS functionality—such as creating data-driven information products and ensuring data accessibility—leads to unmet end-user needs.
Lack of Target User Insights: Poor understanding of target users and their specific needs results in unclear objectives, weakening the planning and design phases of SIS development.
Weak Data Management Practices: Inconsistent data formats and inadequate governance hinder data analysis, sharing, and overall system efficiency.
Technology-Centric Approaches: Existing SIS development processes focus heavily on technology, neglecting financial sustainability, institutional frameworks, and capacity-building components, due to the absence of widely adopted guidelines.

Solution

Co-Developing a Financial Sustainability Plan: Ensures government buy-in and the long-term viability of the SIS beyond project funding.
Capacity Building Plans: Identifies the roles and expertise required for SIS design, development, and maintenance, ensuring long-term operational success.
Conducting Needs Assessments: Evaluates the requirements of data users, beneficiaries, and data producers to align the SIS with their needs.
Tracking SIS Impact: Continuously monitors the SIS’s impact and adapts to meet evolving user needs.
Developing a FAIR Data Strategy: Establishes data-sharing agreements, governance policies, and a management and access plan to ensure data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.
Identifying Key Elements for SIS Sustainability: Incorporates financial, capacity, institutional, and technological considerations to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable SIS setup.

Key points to design your project

The SIS Framework, provides structured guidance for designing and developing a Soil Information System (SIS). It ensures a holistic approach by integrating financial, institutional, capacity, and technological aspects, making SISs sustainable, user-oriented, and impactful. This framework helps governments and institutions create resilient SISs that effectively support land management, agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainability.

To develop or enhance a Soil Information System (SIS) using the SIS Framework, consider the following steps:

Define the vision and objectives: Establish clear goals for the SIS, ensuring alignment with national priorities such as agricultural development, climate resilience, and sustainable land use.
Develop a financial sustainability plan: Secure long-term viability by engaging government stakeholders and integrating a financial strategy that extends beyond project funding.
Assess Capacity and Technical Needs: Identify key roles, expertise, and training requirements to maintain and expand the SIS over time.
Conduct a Needs Assessment: Engage end-users, data producers, and beneficiaries to define key use cases and ensure the SIS meets practical demands.
Implement Data Management and Governance Strategies: Apply FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles to structure data sharing agreements, governance policies, and access frameworks.
Monitor and Evaluate Impact: Establish mechanisms to track the SIS’s effectiveness, ensuring continuous improvement and adaptation to evolving needs.

By following these steps and leveraging the SIS Framework, decision-makers can establish robust and sustainable Soil Information Systems that drive better land management, agricultural productivity, and environmental resilience.

100,000—200,000 USD

SIS roadmap development workshops, depending on needs.

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Egypt	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Nigeria	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Tanzania	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Zambia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

A SIS empower policymakers, intergovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen soil management policies, prioritize interventions, and contribute to broader objectives concerning food security and production.

Goal 13: climate action

A SIS improve agricultural practices and land management. By combining these efforts, we can reduce the impacts of climate change.

Goal 15: life on land

SISs aid in preventing soil degradation by offering accurate soil information, which supports the effective allocation of resources and the implementation of suitable interventions.

Goal 17: partnerships for the goals

The goal of the SIS framework and the workshop is to bring together different initiatives and foster partnerships.

Login to our websit here to find the four phases and explore the activities that are useful for setting up a SIS.
The entry point to the SIS framework is the checklist which helps to identify which key activities of the SIS framework have already been completed, which are in progress, and which activities have not been started.
This then guides the user to the relevant point in the framework where they can collect tools and supporting resources to conduct the activity.

Another helpful way to engage with the SIS framework is through SIS roadmap development workshops, facilitated by CABI and ISRIC, to identify the priority activities and co-create a strategic path forward specific to the country's context.

Last updated on 20 February 2025