At the Eighth Session of the UN-GGIM in New York, Mick Cory, Secretary General and Executive Director of the international not-for-profit association, congratulated the UN Statistics Division and World Bank on their work to develop an integrated geospatial information framework as an overarching strategic policy guide and reference.

To help communicate, coordinate and implement this framework in Europe, EuroGeographics is offering to further facilitate access to its members, the European National Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities (NMCAs), through its extensive programme of activities for sharing expertise and knowledge.

Mr Cory said: “We share the UN and World Bank’s strategic aim of improving capacity and capability in the area of national spatial data infrastructures. European NMCAs play an important role in UN-GGIM and our members place tremendous value on collaborating to find solutions to common challenges with many already providing expert assistance to low and middle income countries. We are committed to exploring how we can help further facilitate access through this framework.”

“EuroGeographics has a well-established network for exchanging knowledge and expertise, as well as a successful track record of delivering geospatial information and projects, which can be used to avoid duplication of effort and promote complementarity. Members’ willingness to share experiences and best practice is central to the success of our Knowledge Exchange Networks.”

“The Knowledge Exchange Networks, which include our high-level General Assembly for the Heads of European NMCAs, cover a wide range of subjects, including policy, surveying, data quality, positioning and licensing. They provide a forum for discussing issues of mutual interest through a comprehensive calendar of annual events, including webinars, workshops and conferences, and also issue a range of publications such as the results of research, policy papers and best practice guidelines.”

Mr Cory also welcomed the publication of a new UN and World Bank guide for improving location-based data management to better inform decision-making. He added that he hoped the recent action plan piloted by EuroGeographics members in Albania would help others learn and develop the detailed implementation plans outlined within it.

EuroGeographics actively supports and contributes to the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management initiative (UN-GGIM) and is also an observer on the Executive Committee of UN- GGIM: Europe, for which it provides the secretariat.

EuroGeographics

EuroGeographics is an international not-for-profit organisation (AISBL/ IVZW under Belgian Law. BCE registration: 833 607 112) and the membership association for the European National Mapping, Cadastre and Land Registry Authorities. It currently brings together 63 members from 46 countries.