UN-GGIM

In resolution 2022/24 entitled 'Enhancing global geospatial information management arrangements' the United Nations Economic and Social Council (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 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 Committee of Experts also welcomed the establishment of the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre (UN-GGKIC) and endorsed its Strategic Plan. The Centre is an office away from headquarters established by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and under the for substantive guidance and supervision of the UN Statistics Division.. The overarching goal of the UN-GGKIC is to strengthen the geospatial information management capacity development of Member States with UN Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF), accelerating the achievement of SDGs. At the request of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) and in response to the needs of various countries, technical cooperation and sharing of experience are key tasks of the Centre.

In line with its role to foster collaboration and to support geospatial information management capacity and innovation towards accelerating the achievement of SDGs, the Centre is convening the United Nations Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Week 2024 (hereinafter referred to as GeoNow 2024), with the first event of the series to be held on 21-24 October 2024, in Deqing, China under the theme "Geospatial IDEAS Benefiting Our World".

The UN-GGKIC is organizing the event with the Government of Deqing County and Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory as co-organizers. The GeoNow aims to foster a global geospatial information collaboration and partnership and to promote the geospatial data, information, and applications to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This event will also involve international and local partners from the community, engaging government, industry, academia, research, and business sectors. With this first event in 2024, the GeoNow is planned to be held biennially.