UN-GGIM

In 2022, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) welcomed the report from the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (E/2022/68) and adopted resolution 2022/24 entitled "Enhancing global geospatial information management arrangements" in which it noted "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."

In September 2024, the Pact for the Future and its annexes highlighted the importance of digital technologies and their potential for transforming our world and accelerating progress across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Pact further recognized the importance of digital public infrastructure, built in accordance with national priorities and needs, echoing the motto of ‘country-led, country owned’ approach advocated by the Committee through the UN-IGIF. Nationally integrated geospatial information management capacities and capabilities are an essential component of national digital public infrastructure, and can address national economic, social and environmental priorities, the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and to bridge the 'digital divide.'

In 2024, the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management reiterated the importance of strengthening and enhancing national geospatial information management arrangement, capacity, capability and leadership, and urged for sustained national investments in national geospatial programmes. In early July 2025, the Sevilla Commitment on Financing for Development also recognize the importance of these investments in data and in “leveraging innovation in non-traditional data sources, including administrative records, geospatial information, mobile data as well as citizen-generated data and remote sensing, supported by public-private partnerships” and further committed to “strengthen capacity for effective data-sharing and exchange”.

In making decision 14/101 in 2024, the Committee also reaffirmed that the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework was a key umbrella for the many activities under the purview of the Committee of Experts, reiterated the importance for coordination, coherence and alignment in the work, efforts and activities of the High-level Group of the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework, the regional committees, functional groups, thematic networks of the Committee, and the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre.

At its fifth plenary meeting, held from 2 – 3 February 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the HLG-IGIF aligned stakeholder priorities and established clear roles and responsibilities for advancing key activities towards the implementation and sustained adoption of the UN-GIF. In advance of the fifth plenary meeting, the three HLG-IGIF work groups, five regional committees, the UN-GGKIC, SDG Data Alliance, and the UN-GGIM Secretariat, were invited to identify, rank, and present their priority activities and needs for 2025. At the meeting, stakeholders shared the priority activities and agreed to provide updates on these efforts.

During this sixth plenary meeting, stakeholders responsible for priority activities will share updates on progress, challenges, opportunities, and future plans. The HLG-IGIF will also assess the progress and evolving needs and opportunities of the Member States, regional committees, work groups, UN-GGKIC, and the Secretariat. The outcomes will inform and guide the next iteration of the HLG-IGIF Work Plan.