Enhancing Global Geospatial Information Management Arrangements

E/RES/2022/24View PDF

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the Economic and Social Council, under agenda item 18hGeospatial information, published in 2022.

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

3 entities

Extracted automatically from each entity’s budget submission.

What subjects does this mandate have?

6 topics

Geographic Information Systems Geospatial Information Management Groups of Experts Resources Mobilization Subsidiary Bodies Sustainable Development

What does this mandate say?

25 operative paragraphs

Welcomes and takes note of the comprehensive report of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management, on the Committee’s examination of strengthening the institutional arrangements of the Committee specifically, and global geospatial information management generally;

Acknowledges the achievements and progress made by the Committee of Experts in the area of global geospatial information management and its contribution to the strengthening of geospatial information management capacities and utilization in developing countries;

Appreciates the extrabudgetary funding from Member States and the efforts to mobilize additional resources, including through the means of trust funds, expert secondments and other sources, as appropriate, to support the activities of the Committee of Experts;

Reiterates 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;

Recognizes that, as the global role and relevance of the Committee of Experts continues to grow and expand, implementing and sustaining the mandate of the Committee without adequate, predictable and sustainable funding and support limits the potential of the full value of the Committee’s normative and implementation work;

Decides to enhance the institutional arrangements of the Committee of Experts as a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council in charge of all matters related to geospatial information, geography, land administration and related topics, in accordance with the terms of reference annexed to the present resolution;

Also decides to strengthen the work of the Committee of Experts, and requests the Secretary-General, in the context of his next budget proposal, to identify options to do so, within existing resources, including the establishment of a secretariat for the Committee, dedicated to the Committee’s normative and implementation work on global geospatial information management;

Confirms the inclusion of the annual session of the Committee of Experts within the regular calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations under the Economic and Social Council, inclusive of the provision of dedicated conference management services, interpretation and full support for the annual session of the Committee within existing resources.

Terms of reference of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management

Objectives and functions

With a vision to position geospatial information to effectively address global challenges and specifically in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the objectives and functions of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (the Committee) will be:

Operating within agreed policies and institutional arrangements, and as an interconnected global community of practice, to provide the leadership to ensure that geospatial information and resources are coordinated, maintained, accessible and able to be leveraged by Member States and society to find sustainable solutions for social, economic and environmental development;

To provide a forum for coordination and dialogue with and among Member States, the regional committees and thematic networks of the Committee, and relevant international organizations, on enhanced cooperation in the field of global geospatial information management, and to make joint decisions and set directions on the production and use of geospatial information within national, regional and global policy frameworks;

To propose workplans and guidelines with a view to promoting common frameworks, principles, policies, methods, mechanisms and standards for the interoperability and interchangeability of geospatial data and services;

To provide a platform for the development of effective strategies on how to build and strengthen national capacity concerning geospatial information, especially in developing countries, and, in this regard, to assist interested countries in developing the full potential of geospatial information and the underlying enabling technology and services;

To improve the availability, quality, timeliness and disaggregation of geospatial data and information processes to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other relevant, consensus-driven and sustainable global development frameworks at all levels;

To compile and disseminate best practices and experiences of national, regional and international bodies on geospatial information related, inter alia, to integrated geospatial information management, legal instruments, management models and technical standards, thus contributing to the establishment of national geospatial and statistical frameworks and data infrastructures, while allowing for flexibility in the development of geospatial activities according to national priorities;

To ensure interdisciplinary collaboration with other national and international communities such as statisticians in measuring and describing the society, economy and the environment;

To report to the Economic and Social Council on issues pertaining to its mandate.

In performing its functions, the Committee should make use of and build upon the existing work of other forums and mechanisms in the fields of geospatial information management, statistical development and innovation.

Membership, composition and terms of office

The Committee will comprise experts from all Member States. Experts from observers of the General Assembly, international organizations, academia and industry may participate as observers in the meetings of the Committee. In appointing their national representatives, Member States will seek to designate experts with specific knowledge of geospatial information management and its many interrelated fields.

The Committee will elect up to three Co-Chairs and one rapporteur during each session from among its members, respecting geographical balance and representation.

The Committee may establish, as and when needed, informal high-level, expert and working groups or subcommittees to deal with specific issues related to its work programme.

Reporting procedure

The Committee will report to the Economic and Social Council.

Frequency of meetings

The Committee will normally meet once a year for a period of three days and may hold, under exceptional circumstances, additional meetings as appropriate.

Secretariat

The Committee will be supported by the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Geospatial Information Section of the Office of Information and Communications Technology.

Meeting documentation

Meeting documentation will include an agenda, the report of the session of the Committee, reports by the regional committees and thematic networks of the Committee, reports and technical notes prepared by high-level, expert and working groups or subcommittees, notes by the Secretariat and other relevant documents prepared by external experts or expert groups.

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Who created this mandate?

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