Type	Voluntary commitment by other stakeholders
Organisation	Esri
Scope	Global
Themes	Cross-cutting areas; Data, monitoring, and follow-up; Science, technology, innovation and capacity building

Description

As noted in the Data for Development report, many of the development indicators needed to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the Post 2015 Agenda are geospatial. Open and accessible geospatial data and analysis are essential to monitoring and achieving the SDGs. As the global leader in geographic information systems (GIS), Esri is pleased to announce our commitment to develop a geo-enabled information management framework for the collection, management, monitoring and use of SDG data to support sustainable development globally. Esri will provide the underlying technology platform (software, online services, and content) as well as capacity building resources for the least developed countries through the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data.

GIS will give countries the platform they need to collect, analyze, and store the geospatial data required to monitor progress toward goals such as poverty eradication, safe water supplies, and sustainable cities. Esri’s ArcGIS platform also supports open data initiatives—countries can use it to easily make their authoritative data available in a variety of formats to stakeholders and the public for improved collaboration and communication. The ArcGIS platform provides a digital Living Atlas of the World that includes imagery, social, urban systems, economic, and environmental data that can enrich understanding and inform development decision making.

Governments, international organizations, and civil society can use this technology in every phase of their work– from planning to implementing new processes and measuring success – to create a better, more sustainable world for all.

Partners

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data:
• World Bank
• Hewlett Foundation
• World Economic Forum
• Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
• ONE Campaign
• CIVICUS
• g7plus
• Open Data Institute
• CIESIN
• Gates Foundation
• UN Statistics Division

Targets

SDG targets that require geospatial data will be supported by content and services from the ArcGIS platform.

Indicators

The Esri Living Atlas of the World that includes high resolution imagery, social, urban systems, economic, and environmental data will be available for use in development decision making by governments, international organizations, and civil society.

Data gaps and complementary data will be captured and developed through the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data and the SDG community of stakeholders.

Resources

ArcGIS platform (software, online services, and content) to support the least development countries in achieving the sustainable development goals.

Timeframe

September 2015 – September 2020