Geographic Information Support Teams

Information managers deployed by OCHA work closely with their humanitarian partners to develop information products and tools, such as geographical and thematic maps, databases and digital reference libraries that improve the coordination of humanitarian assistance.

OCHA also facilitates the work of the Geographic Information Support Team,  GIST is an inter-agency initiative that promotes the use of geographic data standards and geographic information systems in support of humanitarian relief operations.  GIST members are technical experts and information specialists from the UN and donor agencies involved in disaster management and/or humanitarian assistance. 

Members of GIST include:   World Food Programme, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, OCHA, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF, World Bank, World Health Organization, US Agency for International Development/ Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office/Joint Research Centre (ECHO/JRC), UN Development Programme and UK Department for International Development (DFID).  OCHA acts as the GIST Secretariat.

More information can be found on the website of the Data Repository of the Geographic Information Support Teams. (https://gist.itos.uga.edu/index.asp)