By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
A United Nations workshop in
China is bringing together geospatial experts from across Africa, Europe,
America, Asia and Oceania to strengthen national capacities and accelerate
implementation of the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework
(UN-IGIF).
The Knowledge Transfer,
Training and Capacity Development Workshop on the UN-IGIF is being organised by
the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre (UN-GGKIC)
and has brought together 20 representatives from participating countries.
The workshop is providing a
platform for participants to share experiences, exchange knowledge and examine
the progress, challenges and future prospects of implementing the UN-IGIF in
their respective countries.
The first day focused on an
overview of UN-IGIF implementation, including progress made, results achieved,
persistent challenges and emerging opportunities. Particular attention was
given to strengthening national capacities and developing geospatial leadership
capable of turning geospatial information into concrete decisions and actions.
A key component of the
workshop is a training-of-trainers session on geospatial leadership. The
session is aimed at building sustainable national capacity by enabling trained
experts to transfer knowledge and skills to others within their institutions.
Discussions at the workshop
have reinforced the view that the UN-IGIF should move beyond being a reference
framework to become a practical tool for digital transformation, effective data
governance and sustainable development.
