New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/19/2014 -- The United Nations Statistics Divisions’ new Director, Stefan Schweinfest, who was promoted to the post in July, has lost no time in gaining exposure for the valuable work carried out by the Department. A major profile and interview on the work of the UNSD has appeared in the Global Government Forum. This is a website aimed at senior government officials around the world.

In the post he Stefan Schweinfest discusses all the major challenges facing the UNSD, such as the Post 2015 Development Agenda, the combining of statistics with geospatial data and sustainable development goals.

It is these last two, statistics with geospatial data, and sustainable development, which receive the most attention. In the post he discusses his excitement at the passing of the resolution on the forming of a global geodetic reference frame at the recent Fourth Session of the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) in New York:

‘All of the problems and challenges in the area of the environment, and particular global climate change and so on, do not stop at a political border. I think this is really a fundamental task where the UN is well placed to make a major contribution in the spirit of voluntary but effective co-operation.’

A discussion of sustainable development highlights the necessity of adding time to data so that we have a totally accurate picture of the constantly changing planet. Stefan summed it up: ‘If we look at a situation in a country, I don’t believe we are trying to take pictures. We are trying to make a movie. What we are really measuring is development over time.’

Stefan stresses the importance of rigorous, reliable data, free from political and other interference and highlights that such data requires investment in statistical systems all over the world. The post explains how the UNSD can assist in that project, and showcases the excellent work already done by the Department.

Read the full profile and interview with Stefan Schweinfest

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Kevin Sorkin