With the goal of closing the digital divide in land management, CARIGEO initiative launched a series of four webinars in 2021, crucial for the future of the Caribbean. The first session in this series not only celebrated the launch and implementation of the Caribbean Geoportal, but also solidified a community of practice dedicated to open data sharing. Through these sessions, the technical foundations were laid that now allow the region to address critical challenges such as climate change and natural disaster management with better tools.

The Webinar #3 Caribbean Geoportal: Geographical names standardization supporting national development was a collaborative session held on August 31, 2021. It was organized by the UN-GGIM: Americas CARIGEO initiative, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN). 

Objective: To support Caribbean national mapping and geospatial organizations in building awareness of the importance of standardizing geographical names and establishing national names authorities.

Key Themes:

• The role of toponymy (place naming) in preserving cultural heritage.
• Practical procedures for creating and managing a National Geographical Names Authority.
• Techniques for geographical naming to support sustainable national and regional development.

Key Discussion Points:

• Authority Roles: Clarifying which bodies (national, state, or local) are responsible for different types of names, such as administrative areas versus street names.
• Cultural Context: Case studies were presented, such as the evolution and translation of names in the U.S. Virgin Islands (e.g., Charlotte Amalie) and the use of parallel naming conventions.
• Strategic Integration: The webinar aligned with the UNGEGN Strategic Plan 2021–2029, emphasizing geographical names as a tool for sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.