News in 2024
|
Expert Consultation and Meetings on Enhancing geospatial information
management arrangements and accelerating the implementation of the SDGs
22-26 January, Aguascalientes, Mexico
During the week of 22-26 January, the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico,
hosted several expert meetings and consultations of Global Geospatial
Information Management (UN GGIM) including the High-Level Group on the
United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (HLG-IGIF),
the Expanded Bureau of UN-GGIM, and workshop on geospatial information
for Accelerating the Achievement of the SDGs. The workshop focused on
the Americas but with contributions and experiences from mainly Africa.
The host Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI)
arranged a well-organised in a friendly and welcoming environment at the
head quarter to ensure good discussions.
FIG was noted by several, not least by the newly established UN-GGIM
Centres of Excellence on Knowledge and Innovation in China and on
Geodesy in Germany as an important partner in supporting the work of the
UN-GGIM to ensure reaching the goals and vision. FIG was represented by
Mikael Lilje, vice president.
More information about the meetings can be found here:
https://ggim.un.org/meetings/2024/Aguascalientes/
UN-IGIF makes a change!
The High-Level Group on the Integrated Geospatial Information
Framework (HLG-IGIF) organized a two-day meeting in which they further
discussed the strategic orientations, approaches, materials, and
trainings to support Member States in their efforts to accomplish the
UN-IGIF at the country-level. It can be noted that the UN Centre of
Excellence on Knowledge and Innovation noted the need to reach out to
member states and sees opportunities to partner with organizations as
FIG and others in doing so and using our extensive network and
experience.
The UN-IGIF was demonstrated to serve as a key umbrella framework for
many of the activities under the UN-GGIM program of work playing a
pivotal role in strengthening nationally integrated geospatial
information management and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development in all countries. A global survey concluded that the
knowledge of UN-IGIF is growing, and the implementation of the framework
is increasing.
The choice of methodology to be used for the implementation is
not crucial, the national commitment by involved authorities and
partners is. Developing Country Level Action Plans (CAP) is happening in
many member states but the next step, implementing the CAP, is still a
challenge since that also is depending on sustainability, financing, and
commitment. To further support the use of UN IGIF it was noted that the
framework is being translated into several languages as English, French,
Spanish and Arabic.
Implementation, implementation, implementation!
The Bureau of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial
Information Management also organized a meeting with members of its
expanded bureau and High-level Group of the Integrated Geospatial
Information Framework. The meting discussed strategic priorities
focusing on the importance of accelerating the implementation of ECOSOC
resolution 2022/24. The resolution is calling for strengthening of
national geospatial information management arrangements, toward the
achievement of the SDGs, and the establishment of the Secretariat for
the Committee of Experts as soon as possible. The key word throughout
the meeting, as well as for the week, was implementation.
Implementation, implementation, implementation!
It was noted that there is now a strong expectation that the UN-GGIM
secretariat in New York soon will be strengthened with several permanent
and financed staff members to support the member states in achieving the
mission of the UN-GGIM. It was also discussed about the upcoming
fourteenth session in New York in August as well as the upcoming Seventh
High-level Forum in October in Mexico and the expected progress and
deliveries regarding e.g. UN-IGIF, the Future of the Geospatial
Information Ecosystem and on geospatial information for climate and
resilience.
More information about UN-GGIM can be found on
https://ggim.un.org/.
SDG Alliance important for the way forward!
During the last two days of the meeting, the SDG Data Alliance
organized a workshop entitled “Accelerating the Achievement of the SDGs”
focusing on key capacity development and knowledge transfer to enable
countries to strengthen nationally integrated geospatial information
using the UN-IGIF. Member states from Africa and the Americas shared
experiences and insights on implementing the UN-IGIF and developing of
their Country Level Action Plans. Sharing experience between member
states, and with the support of SDG Alliance, is important to ensure the
implementation of UN-IGIF. The UN Centre of Knowledge and Innovation in
China as well as the upcoming UN Centre of Excellence in Saudi Arabia
will be crucial in the way forward.
Mikael Lilje, FIG Vice President
January 2024
