UN-GGIM

At its fifteenth session, in making decision 15/102 the Committee of Experts requested regional committees to actively contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of the Committee of Experts, in particular as related to its operations focused on the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework. Countries over Africa have been committed to leverage and drive the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF), as aligned with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution 2022/24, to develop their national geospatial capacities and capabilities. Established in 2015, the Regional Committee of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Africa (UN-GGIM Africa) supports the development of geospatial information management capabilities over the continent.

Since 2020, through the assistance provided by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the SDG Data Alliance, and more recently the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre (UN-GGKIC), countries are progressing on their journey towards the implementation of the UN-IGIF. To keep the momentum, Member States in Africa have expressed the need for further assistance to raise awareness on the UN-IGIF across the continent and to support capacity development activities towards the development of national geospatial strategies and country-level action plans. In 2025, the Committee of Experts, decision 15/115, urged the Centre and the Secretariat to focus on assisting Member States with practical, results-driven support for national implementation of the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework.

In this context, the UN-GGIM Africa, the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre (UN-GGKIC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Secretariat of UN-GGIM, and other implementing partners are organizing a workshop to further advance on the implementation of the UN-IGIF in the region and on the use of geospatial information management to deliver national economic, social and environmental benefits.

The workshop aims to raise awareness, develop capacity, share knowledge and good practices on the implementation of the UN-IGIF in Africa, and further assist the ongoing development of Country-level Action Plans in the region, contributing to the global call from ECOSOC and of the Committee of Experts for enhancing national geospatial information management capabilities for Member States. Geospatial information is a key enabler for accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing national priorities. The workshop will be held in Accra, Ghana, on 17-18 November, back-to-back with the Eleventh session of the UN-GGIM Africa and along the AfricaGIS 202S conference and exhibition which brings together a global community of innovators, policymakers, researchers, and development leaders. The workshop is organized along with these events to ensure broad engagement and to foster regional dialogue, facilitate synergies with the work programme of the Committee of Experts, and contribute to the sustained adoption of the UN-IGIF.