UNOOSA Leads Satellite Data Project

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have partnered to make satellite data easier to access among the countries.

The partnership, according to a statement from UNOOSA, will enhance the capacity and skills of policy and decision makers to access different types of space infrastructure in the world’s 47 LDCs, including 33 African nations.

The organisations will support data and applications that can help in disaster management cycles, planning for climate change adaptation and natural resource management.

It is understood that because satellite data is cheaper and easier to access than ever before, it has become a key tool that scientists can use to tackle a range of important development issues by combining geospatial data with other sources such as population data and censuses.

UNOOSA and the UN Technology Bank, with this partnership, will identify and support the acceleration of sustainable development through the use of space technologies and contribute to global health-related challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Through this agreement, we aim to bring space technology where it is most needed, helping some of the countries most exposed to disasters, to the effects of climate change and to challenges such as pandemics, acquire tools and capabilities to counteract them effectively’, Director of UNOOSA, Simonetta Di Pippo, said.

‘This cooperation will combine the UN Technology Bank’s established network among LDCs and its knowledge of their specific challenges with UNOOSA’s expertise in space applications for sustainable development, helping save and improve lives’.

For the Managing Director of UN Technology Bank, Joshua Setipa, her said ‘Access to timely satellite data allows governments and industries to share information, to make informed decisions, to act on time, and to provide new applications in critical areas of development for Least Developed Countries’.

‘The partnership and collaboration between the two agencies will focus on enhancing the capacity of experts and supporting policy- and decision-makers to access and use all types of space-based information that support the full disaster management cycle.

‘Improving the understanding of how LDCs use space-based solutions to address climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, and natural resources management will promote the achievement of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda’.

Source: UNOOSA

Photo source: Arctic Wolves

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