Background

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are highly vulnerable to environmental and climate-related hazards due to their geographic location and socio-economic conditions. Hydrological, climatological, geophysical, and biological events have increased in frequency, intensity, and occurrences. The high concentration of population and economic activities in low-lying coastal zones amplify the exposure and vulnerabilities of these countries. Effective social, economic and environmentally sustainable development including resilience building requires both time-based and location-specific data and information, also known as geospatial information (GI). GI management (GIM) systems when combined with data analytics and other data sources provide a more comprehensive basis for driving evidence-based decision-making. Through leveraging GIM, policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders can effectively set policies and manage sustainable development initiatives. 

The Caribbean SIDS are at different stages of applying GIM services to support sustainable development management. Supporting GIM application for sustainable development, keeping abreast of its rapid advancements and cultivating a deeper understanding of the transformative potential of GI will require robust national GIM systems. Establishing and or strengthening National Spatial Data policies, infrastructures, political will, technical capacities and capabilities are necessary for unlocking the full power of GIM to drive comprehensive and sustainable national development. This will also require greater institutional collaboration, interoperability and integration across the various national data information systems and platforms. The national GIM ecosystem is often comprised of government agencies, private sectors, academia and research institutions and civil society. 

To address these requirements, the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) have prepared the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF). The UN-IGIF is firmly rooted in the principles of sustainable development and is designed specifically for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other developing countries It provides a framework for developing countries to harness the power of geospatial information. By promoting e-economies, enhancing citizen services, and enabling data-driven decision-making, the UN-IGIF empowers nations to bridge the geospatial digital divide. Through practical actions and capacity building, the UN-IGIF provides a set of strategic and practical orientations to strengthen national institutional agreements on the management of GI, and facilitates digital transformation, in such a way that it provides effective support for decision-making and public policies

Objective of the workshop

The objective of this workshop is to promote the implementation of the UN-IGIF as a tool for strengthening and advancing national geospatial information management (GIM) under the themes of Governance, Policies, Funding, Data Management, Innovation, Standards, Partnerships, Capacity building and Communication. This workshop will also include components supporting the integration of geospatial information, and statistical and other data sources supporting sustainable development priorities. This workshop has the main purpose of opening a space for the national geospatial information community thereby fostering a more collaborative and coordinated approach for the establishment and consolidation of the national geospatial initiatives. 

Target Participants

Employing an interactive participatory approach,  this national workshop is designed for public, academic, and private-sector participants engaged in the production and utilization of geospatial information. The workshop will deliver both strategic insights and practical guidance, ensuring relevance and value for all participants. With this purpose, it will be delivered in two segments: a high-level segment targeting senior decision makers on 10 March 2026 and a technical segment targeting GIM technical managers on 11 and 12 March 2026. 

Expected Outcomes for Participants

• UN-IGIF Implementation Methodology: Build knowledge of the methodologies for the national implementation of the UN-IGIF framework. This will include training in the stages and steps of planning and preparing, assessing and analyzing, designing and developing national ecosystems supporting the IGIF processes. 

• Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Agendas and including the SIDS Programme of work.  Gain in-depth knowledge of relevant United Nations agendas driving global GIM implementation for sustainable development. This includes practical, actionable guidelines for strengthening national geospatial initiatives, with a focus on developing robust and sustainable National Spatial Data Infrastructures and fostering seamless integration between geospatial and statistical data and information.

• GIM plans and approaches: Contribute to a shared understanding of the current state of GIM in Jamaica. This includes identifying limitations, addressing key issues, exploring financing models, and recognizing challenges and opportunities. The workshop will culminate in advancing a collective position for establishing or strengthening a robust national GIM infrastructure.

• Increased Awareness: Develop a heightened understanding of the relevance and value of GI as a powerful tool to support informed decision-making and public policies addressing national sustainable development priorities.

• Expanded Networking with the GIM community: Broaden professional networks within the geospatial community, fostering valuable connections and potential collaborations.