UN-GGIM

In making decision 14/101 at its fourteenth session from 7-9 August 2024, the Committee of Experts reiterated the importance of strengthening and enhancing national geospatial information management arrangements, capacity, capability and leadership, and urged for sustained national investments in national geospatial programs. The Expert Consultation and Meeting on Enhancing Geospatial Information Management Arrangements and Accelerating the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals together with the Sub-regional Workshop on United Nations Global Geospatial Information Framework for the Caribbean, is being convened at a critical juncture in the global development agenda cycle. With the overarching theme 'Identifying Problems, Finding Solutions', the Expert Consultation and Meeting represents the fourth of five proposed consultations and meetings contributing to enhancing national geospatial information management capabilities for Member States and to sustain national investments in national geospatial programs.

The event will comprise two parts. A high-level 'leadership' segment during the first two days (21-22 October) as a means for geospatial leaders from Member States in the Caribbean, relevant international and regional entities including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and subject-matter experts and stakeholders to set the stage, provide a 'status report', and current situational analysis of our collective present understandings, challenges, opportunities, capacity/capabilities/gaps, future expectations and needs, along with the required leadership actions to address the geospatial challenges and opportunities in the Caribbean region. A more interactive segment (workshop) during the next three days (23-25 October) aims to listen to country circumstances, perspectives, views, experiences and needs, to interact, discuss, and understand key elements of national efforts and priorities towards enhancing national geospatial information management arrangements, resources, capacities and leadership, and to address challenges and opportunities. An essential part of the Sub-regional Workshop's aim is to connect people with knowledge of the problems related to the needs of the Caribbean with those who are able to provide possible platforms and solutions where geospatial information, and related technologies can have the greatest impact for the overall needs and future development of the Caribbean countries.

It is envisaged that the five-day event will transition from a 'problem-oriented' to a 'solutions-orientated' approach during the week. It will also transition from trying to solve tactical problems to focusing on more strategic issues as Caribbean SIDS seek to understand the major challenges and specific geospatial information management needs of their countries - and determine the necessary near and long-term solutions. This event is organized jointly by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, through its Surveys and Mapping Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Blue Economy with the SDG Data Alliance, and supported by the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management Section, Statistics Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.