Tod’Aérs Board Member Mr. Fernand Isseri took part in the Expert consultations on enhancing national geospatial information management arrangements and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Held throughout the week, The consultations brought together leading experts and policymakers from across the world to discuss the critical role of geospatial information in achieving the SDGs.
The consultations focused on identifying strategies for strengthening national geospatial information management arrangements, improving access to geospatial data, and enhancing the use of geospatial data for decision-making. Geospatial information, encompassing data related to location, geography, and spatial analysis, plays a pivotal role in informed decision-making processes across various sectors.
Participants highlighted the need for better data collection, analysis, and dissemination to support evidence-based decision-making. Mr. Isseri emphasized the importance of geospatial information for sustainable development in Africa, and the use of geospatial data to track progress on the SDGs, identify areas of need, and target interventions.
Effective geospatial information management is integral to achieving the SDGs, a set of 17 goals established by the United Nations to address global challenges and promote a sustainable future for all. The expert consultations delved into a range of topics, including the integration of geospatial information into national development plans, the role of technology in data collection and analysis, and the establishment of collaborative frameworks among nations to share geospatial knowledge.