UN-GGIM

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in its resolution 2022/24 entitled 'Enhancing global geospatial information management arrangements' on 22 July 2022, recognized the sustained efforts of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) to establish the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre (UN-GGKIC) in Deqing, China to provide opportunities to develop and expand global geospatial capacity, competence and capabilities, and to strengthen geospatial information management arrangements in countries, especially developing countries. Further, ECOSOC reiterated "the importance of strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness of the Committee of Experts, particularly for the achievement of its operations focused on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework, to strengthen and ensure its continued effectiveness and benefits to all Member States."

In making decision 12/101 at its twelfth session in August 2022, UN-GGIM noted the progress and efforts to finalize the modalities for the establishment of the UN-GGKIC in Deqing, China, and appreciated the involvement of the International Advisory Committees (IAC) throughout the setup process, and encouraged them to remain engaged and to regularly share progress with UN-GGIM as the Centre's operationalize their activities. The Agreement for the establishment of the UN-GGKIC in Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China and a Memorandum of Understanding on the operationalization of the UN-GGKIC were signed by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and China"s Minister for Natural Resources in a virtual ceremony on 20 May 2022.

The overarching goal of the UN-GGKIC is to work towards the ambitions of implementation of the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF) set by Member States to develop capacity, promote and support the required innovation, leadership, coordination and standards to develop, strengthen, integrate and deliver national geospatial information policy, data, systems, tools, services and capabilities into their national government development policies, strategies and arrangements. The objective of the UN-GGKIC is to strengthen and advance the geospatial information management capacity development capabilities of Member States, especially developing countries, and to strengthen knowledge sharing and innovative cooperation.

The modalities for operationalizing the UN-GGKIC, as provided in the Memorandum of Understanding, include a Framework Plan and the formation of a Steering Committee and an International Advisory Committee. The UN-GGKIC will develop and implement its annual programme of work in accordance with the Framework Plan. The International Advisory Committee (IAC), comprised of international geospatial experts with balanced geographical representation and diversity from UN-GGIM, will provide the required guidance and advice on the development, implementation, and review of the substantive annual programme of work of the UN-GGKIC.

The First Meeting, in-person, brings together all members of the UN-GGKIC: IAC at Deqing, China. Over the three days, the UN-GGKIC: IAC is expected to substantively guide and advice the UN-GGKIC in its development of a medium term and annual programme of work in accordance with the agreed Framework Plan.