:: SUB-COMMITTEE ON GEO-INFORMATION

22. The sub-committee on GeoInformation shall be the forum for high level representatives of ECA member States to discuss, share information and establish policies for the development and the use of geographic information, in particular it shall:

a)    raise awareness on the benefits to be derived through the utilization of geographic information for socio-economic development,
b)    promote its development and utilization in member States;
c)    identify and raise awareness about priority issues in geographic information;
d)    examine and review progress made by member States
e)    facilitate capacity building with regard to spatial information capture, management, dissemination and utilization.
f)    provide information, with partnerships, on recent and proven trends and present status of knowledge and advise on new and proven technologies and methodologies to improve spatial data collection and its processing into useful information for decision-making;
g)    promote the development of methodologies and standards in these fields;
h)    develop and support the establishment of national, regional and global geo-spatial infrastructures with the aim of facilitating integration of data and optimizing the use of resources.
i)    identify, promote and support regional projects;
j)    examine and provide principles regarding ownership, access to, custodial responsibilities and commercial aspects of spatial data, which will promote transparency and the flow of spatial data and information.
k)   The sub-committee will liaise and coordinate its activities with other similar international, regional and sub-regional bodies, initiatives and conferences.
l)    Promote networking among institutions and practitioners in geoinformation, and generate synergy at national level to facilitate its management.

23. The heads of national agencies responsible for the production and custody of geographic data and information, (such as mapping agencies, remote sensing centres, geographic information councils, etc) or their representatives shall be members of the Sub-committee. Each member State will identify the focal points.

24. Observers will be representatives of national, sub-regional, regional, international organizations, UN agencies, IGOs, NGOS, academia and research institutions, private sector and the industry, including producers and users of GeoInformation; and the heads of the national agencies from non-African governments or their representatives.

25. Each member State shall submit a progress report of its activities to the secretariat at least two months before the next meeting the sub-committee.

Introduction General Sub-Committee on ICTs Sub-Committee on Geo Information Sub-Committee on Statistics Annex