UN-GGIM

In August 2020, in making decision 10/103 at its tenth session, the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) adopted the Implementation Guide of the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF) as a mean of strengthening national geospatial information management arrangements within and across Member States supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in developing countries. In making the decision, the Committee of Experts also endorsed the establishment of a dedicated high-level group of experts, with balanced geographical representation and expertise, as a mechanism to provide strategic leadership, coordination, and oversight to ensure the sustained success of the UN-IGIF.

On 22 July 2022, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted resolution 2022/24 which reiterated the importance of strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness of the UN-GGIM, particularly for the achievement of its operations focused on the SDGs and the UN-IGIF, to strengthen and ensure its continued effectiveness and benefits to all Member States. At its thirteenth session, in making decision 13/105, the Committee of Experts congratulated the High-level Group for its continued efforts to advance the role and relevance of the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework through a significant range of activities, including broadening work group membership, developing communication materials, a sustainable funding guide and an online tool, translating the Framework suite of documents, and participating broadly in webinars, workshops, conferences and events to promote and advance the Framework.

At the third plenary meeting of the High-level group on the UN-IGIF (HLF-IGIF), held on 22-23 January 2024 in Aguascalientes, Mexico, during the Expert Consultation and Meetings on Enhancing Geospatial Information Management Arrangements and Accelerating the Implementation of the SDGs, the HLG-IGIF reviewed and made recommendations on its Strategic plan. Recommendations included to streamline, prioritize, reduce duplication of its goals, and consider contributions from the UN-GGKIC, the SDG Data Alliance and other functional groups and thematic networks of the Committee of Experts. The HLG-IGIF considered the number of work groups needed to advance the work plan and decided to keep the three existing work groups and to add an additional work group only if the work could not be absorbed by existing groups.

The Fourth plenary meeting of the HLG-IGIF will be an opportunity for its Work Groups to discuss and present the proposed changes to their work plans based on the updated Strategic plan. The HLG-IGIF will assess the progress and needs of the work groups, the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre (UN-GGKIC), the Regional Committees, and Member States advancing the UN-IGIF. This assessment will guide the finalization of the HLG-IGIF work plan, assuming a more strategic approach that considers the additional resources anticipated from the UN-GGKIC and the Secretariat of the Committee of Experts later in 2024.

During its Fourth plenary meeting, the HLG-IGIF will further engage in constructive and forward-looking dialogue with the Secretariat of the Committee of Experts, the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre, the SDG Data Alliance, and the Thematic Networks of UN-GGIM to consider how to further amplify and accelerate the implementation of the UN-IGIF strengthening national geospatial information management towards implementing national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development.