Press Release: Geospatial World and SDG Data Alliance sign Strategic Partnership at UNGA 80

Sergio Fernández de Córdova, Executive Chairman of PVBLIC Foundation and Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial World, pose at the MoU signing ceremony during Partnerships Day. Photo courtesy of PVBLIC Foundation.

NEW YORK CITY, 20 September 2025 – At the United Nations Headquarters during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, the PVBLIC Foundation’s SDG Data Alliance and Geospatial World formalized a new Implementing Partnership Agreement. The partnership underscores the importance of advancing the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) and supporting these developing states in achieving resilient prosperity. In recent years, the SDG Data Alliance has had multiple high-level interactions with Geospatial World, particularly through the annual Geospatial World Forum (GWF) convenings related to our global development and our common goal of advancing the geospatial capacities and knowledge of developing countries, especially LDCs and SIDS.

The Implementing Partnership was signed by Sergio Fernández de Córdova, Executive Chairman of PVBLIC Foundation and Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial World, during Partnerships Day at the UN SDG Media Zone, marking a new era for strategic collaboration between two leading organizations working at the intersection of geospatial innovation and sustainable development.

"Geospatial World firmly believes in the promotion and adoption of space and geospatial technologies, and their combined value towards supporting sustainable and inclusive development at local to global scales. Aligned with our vision to mainstream geospatial knowledge infrastructure and its integration with global development agendas, Geospatial World is proud to establish this partnership with the SDG Data Alliance and contribute our decades of knowledge, experience, and global network of geospatial leadership through meaningful and impactful programs of the PVBLIC Foundation and SDG Data Alliance," said Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial World.

“In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of the ABAS, we require data-centered partnerships to inform decision-making and better serve communities worldwide to plan, respond, and thrive,” said Dr. Greg Scott, Executive Director of the SDG Data Alliance.

Representing a new era of cooperation the Implementing Partnership will comprise collaboration around five areas of mutual interest and benefit: advancing geospatial knowledge and leadership; capacity and capability development; a SIDS Pavilion at Geospatial World Forum 2026; supporting Geospatial World Rising Stars; and contributing to High-level global convenings. Geospatial World further aims to support the SDG Data Alliance in the establishment and operationalization of the SIDS Global Data Hub.

“We believe that access to data is a fundamental human right and a defining asset class for development. When collected and integrated with geospatial tools and technologies, data becomes one of the most valuable assets we possess; guiding, informing, and enabling decisions, action, and impact. Data is also the foundation of a Beyond GDP framework, helping nations measure real value and chart resilient futures. Together, data, technology, innovation, and information systems create the pathways for a knowledge economy and digital transformation. At PVBLIC, through our four institutional pillars; Nature, Technology, Capital, and Multilateralism, we are proud to partner with Geospatial World to unlock solutions and better serve Small Island Developing States.” said Sergio Fernández de Córdova, Executive Chairman, PVBLIC Foundation

Established as a community-driven multi-stakeholder partnership, the vision of the SDG Data Alliance is to bring geographic information systems (GIS) technology, data, capabilities, resources and training to developing countries, especially Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). With Geospatial World, the SDG Data Alliance will work together to use the power of data and partnerships for a more sustainable, equitable and peaceful world. 

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ABOUT GEOSPATIAL WORLD

Geospatial World is an internationally recognized organization focused on promoting and advancing the geospatial industry globally through knowledge services, consulting, and events. Founded in 1997, and with its head office in India, Geospatial World is committed to serving stakeholders of the global geospatial community, advancing geospatial knowledge for the sustainability of everything through its events, consulting, and communications divisions. 

ABOUT SDG DATA ALLIANCE AND PVBLIC FOUNDATION

The SDG Data Alliance is a multi-stakeholder program managed by PVBLIC Foundation. PVBLIC Foundation is a global foundation dedicated to redesigning how society addresses its most daunting challenges. At the intersection of diplomacy, development, and innovation, PVBLIC is a trusted platform between governments, the United Nations, global family offices, and the private sector to advance bold ideas into large-scale change. Through its four institutional pillars; Nature, Technology, Capital, and Multilateralism, PVBLIC reconceptualizes potential by constructing the framework for future developments. 

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Media Contacts:

Mariana Mellado, Communications Coordinator | mariana.mellado@pvblic.org

Bárbara Gonzalez, Communications Coordinator | barbara@pvblic.org