Addis Ababa, 4 November, 2025 (ECA) - The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the Executive Board of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Africa (UN-GGIM: Africa), will convene the 11th Session of the Regional Committee on Geospatial Information Management for Africa in Accra, Ghana, from 17 to 21 November 2025.
The meeting will take place alongside the Africa Geographic Information Systems Conference 2025 ( AfricaGIS 2025 ), the continent’s largest forum dedicated to geographic information systems, remote sensing, and related geospatial technologies. The discussions will be held under the theme ‘Harnessing geospatial intelligence for Africa’s sustainable and resilient future.’
The UN-GGIM initiative brings together countries and experts to improve how geographic and location-based data are produced, shared, and applied to support sustainable development. Its African branch, UN-GGIM: Africa, works across the continent to strengthen the use of geospatial information in public policy, infrastructure planning, natural resource management, and disaster response.
By promoting data interoperability, capacity building, and policy alignment, UN-GGIM: Africa helps countries use geospatial information to make informed decisions and monitor progress on regional and global development goals.
The 11th Session will review progress made since the last meeting and set new priorities for advancing Africa’s geospatial agenda. Participants will discuss how to expand access to geospatial data, improve institutional coordination, and mobilize resources for long-term capacity development. Experts, policymakers, researchers, and private sector representatives will also share practical examples of how geospatial information is driving innovation and improving lives across Africa.
Over the past decade, Africa has made significant progress in modernizing its mapping and data systems. The upcoming session provides a platform to build on this momentum and strengthen collaboration among national, regional, and international partners. Held in partnership with AfricaGIS 2025, the event will offer opportunities for peer learning and networking, connecting African innovators, policymakers, and industry leaders who are shaping the continent’s digital and spatial transformation.
The meeting is expected to conclude with recommendations to enhance the use of geospatial data for sustainable development and evidence-based decision-making. Through partnerships and innovation, UN-GGIM: Africa aims to support African countries in building the systems and skills needed to make geospatial data a central tool for development planning and resilience.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org