Yigang Li, Programme Management Associate, UNEP
7 November 2024, Cairo. – The UN Geospatial Network officially launched its flagship initiative, One Map One Humanity, in collaboration with ShanZhai City from Hong Kong, China through the UN Foundation. This groundbreaking initiative aims to accelerate progress on the SDGs, driving impactful change in countries worldwide and fostering strong local community partnerships.
In the change of times and times of change, One Map, One Humanity fully aligns with the UN Data Strategy to revolutionize geospatial workstreams. Mr. Alexandre Caldas, Chair of the UN Geospatial Network, emphasized the initiative’s role in unifying geospatial efforts across more than 42 UN agencies across the 5 pillars of the UN. By doing so, the initiative enhances the world’s capacity to address critical issues, including peace and security, humanitarian action, international law, sustainable development, and human rights.
As part of the launch, Mr. Alexandre Caldas unveiled the initiative’s 10-year strategy plan, rooted in the One UN Geospatial Situation Room Concept 3.0, approved in August in the Headquarters of UN, by the ECOSOC Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management, with representative of the 193 UN member states. This comprehensive plan introduces a multi-stakeholder trust fund financing model to ensure resilient funding scenarios and a cross-sector operational framework supported by cutting-edge technologies from leading global technology hubs. The initiative also emphasizes a community-driven implementation strategy that harnesses collective intelligence to ensure the sustainability of its geospatial data ecosystem.
Mr. Alexandre Caldas highlighted the commitment to leveraging geospatial technologies as unique enabler to develop national science-policy interfaces and thematic, cross-cutting monitoring systems at global regional and national, but more importantly sub-national, local, community and site levels. These efforts aim to deliver resilient, sustainable habitats while driving impactful, data-driven solutions for global challenges.
One Map One Humanity sets a new milestone and landmark for global geospatial collaboration, advancing sustainable development and enhancing resilience for a better future, transforming the lives of People, Places and the Planet.
Learn more about One UN Geospatial Situation Room Concept 3.0
Learn more about One Map One Humanity Initiative
