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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Population and Geographic Data Section (UNHCR/PGDS) is organizing a one-day meeting under the auspices of the United Nations Geographic Information Working Group (UNGIWG). As a follow-up to the first coordination meeting of Geneva-based Geographic Information System (GIS) users, held 6 July 2000, and in response to a request from the UNGIWG at its second plenary meeting (5-7 March 2001, Rome), the aim of this meeting is to assess current expertise and activities linked to geographic information and related tools (geographic information systems (GIS), mapping information technologies, global positioning systems (GPS), satellite imagery, databases etc.) among Geneva-based United Nations agencies. The meeting will also assess potential needs for improved collaboration and assistance among us. This Coordination Meeting will take place on 21 September 2001, in room 04a (UNHCR HQ basement) and is deliberately scheduled to follow the meeting organized by OCHA on "Information coordination in humanitarian operations" in order to also facilitate the participation of those who will be attending the OCHA meeting. The proposed possible items for the agenda for our meeting include: 1. Key recommendations from Rome Plenary of UNGIWG 2. Presentation of the UN agencies in Geneva involved with geographic information and related tools in the following domains: humanitarian, security, peacekeeping, transport, energy, environment, health, demographics etc. 3. Review of needs assessment and joint partnership in that regard 4. Further enhancement of coordination efforts, 5. Any other business Any comments you may have on the agenda will be most welcomed. If you are interested in attending the meeting, as either a participant, or a speaker, please inform us before mid- August, so that we may draft the detailed agenda on the basis of your contributions and interests. Please reply to Jean-Yves Bouchardy, email "bouchard@unhcr.ch" Phone +41 22 739 79 63 Additional information on the meeting will be posted on this site in the near future. Geneva, 31 July 2001 |