UN-GGIM-Working-Group

About UN-GGIM

United Nations Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) aims at playing a leading role in setting the agenda for the development of global geospatial information and to promote its use to address key global challenges. It provides a forum to liaise and coordinate among Member States, and between Member States and international organizations. More information at http://ggim.un.org/about.html

Background

During FOSS4G-Seoul the OSGeo Board of Directors met with representatives of the UN-GIS team, and it was agreed that the OSGeo foundation should become more active in UN geospatial issues. The Chief of the Chief Geospatial Information Section of the UN-GGIM, Kyoung-Soo Eom, has invited the president of OSGeo to become a member of the following working group. Other members of the working group include the OGC, Esri, and many member states.

Draft terms of reference (TOR)

feedback on this TOR is due no later than Friday, 6 November 2015

UN-GGIM Working Group on Geospatial Information and Services for Disasters

1. Vision of the Working Group Accurate, timely and reliable geospatial information and services are available, in a coordinated way, to decision makers and operational leads prior to, during and post disasters.

2. Scope of the Working Group Based on Decision 5/110: Coordination of United Nations activities related to geospatial information management adopted by the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) on 7 August 2015, Working Group on Geospatial Information and Services for Disasters (hereafter “WG-Disasters”) will develop a strategic framework that brings all stakeholders and partners involved in Disaster Risk Reduction and/or Emergency Management together to ensure for the necessary geospatial information and services to be available, of quality and accessible in a coordinated way to decision making and operations during disasters.

3. Goals of the Working Group Foster emergency management and therefore Disaster Risk Reduction across UN-GGIM activities as a priority area of focus. The recommendations, actions, guidelines and standards from the Working Group will address and support the needs of the humanitarian and response communities.

In parallel to the above, the WG-Disasters will work at ensuring for emergency management, and therefore indirectly Disaster Risk Reduction, to be seen as a priority focus across UN-GGIM activities and for the recommendations, actions, guidelines and standards coming out of its work to address and support the needs of the humanitarian and response community.

Following the requirements of Decision 5/110, by the sixth session of the UN-GGIM Committee of Experts (August 2016), the WG-Disasters will have successfully:

 (1) Engaged with the main stakeholders and partners from the humanitarian and response communities as well as
 the key governmental institutions involved in the provision of geospatial information and services to review,
 complement and improve the draft framework and flowcharts presented during the UN-GGIM Committee of Experts in
 August 2015;
 (2) Conducted a review of frameworks, laws, rules and regulations already existing among the Member States
 when it comes to the provision of geospatial information and services in times of disasters;
 (3) Developed the final strategic framework for consideration by the UN-GGIM Committee of Experts at its sixth
 session (August 2016) with recommendations for further referral to the United Nations Economic and Social
 Council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations General Assembly (GA).

4. Working Group Members and their Roles

 (1) The WG-Disasters will comprise experts from the Member States, international organizations,
 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia and the private sector. Geographical balance and
 representation will be considered for the selection of members from the Member States. The WG-Disasters will 
 elect two Co-chairs from the experts from the Member States. 
 (2) The Working Group members are to contribute to the discussions and the preparation of Working Group
 reports to the UN-GGIM Committee of Experts, taking advantage of their own available resources.

5. Meetings

 (1) The Working Group will convene a meeting in conjunction with UN-GGIM meetings, High Level Forums, and
 other relevant international events.
 (2) The Working Group will operate primarily through online collaboration tools (e.g., email, remote meeting,
 document sharing systems, etc.)
 (3) Decisions of the Working Group will be made by consensus.

6. Secretariat The UN-GGIM Secretariat will provide secretarial support to the WG-Disasters.

7. Reporting Procedure The Working Group will report to the UN-GGIM Committee of Experts meetings.

8. Modus Operandi The Working Group will prepare a road map and take necessary actions accordingly to achieve its goals.

Working Group Structure

WG-Disasters consist of two Task Teams in effectively dealing with two substantive goals (Para 3-(1) and Para 3-(2) of TOR) respectively, and then the WG will develop a strategic framework as the third goal (Para 3-(3)) in accordance with the Decision 5/110, by the UN-GGIM Committee of Experts in August 2015. The Task Team One (TT-1) will be led by Mr. Peter Tiangco, Philippines, Co-chair of WG-Disasters while the Task Team Two (TT-2) will be led by Mr. Rohan A. Richards, Jamaica, Co-chair of WG-Disasters.

The Co-chairs are currently developing a draft work plan to be discussed with the WG members in the near future. I [Kyoung-Soo Eom] would therefore be appreciated if you could indicate your interest to participate in one of the Task Teams, by no later than Friday, 6 November 2015.