INGOs and IGOs Role in Strengthening Regional Partnerships

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs: Global Mandates

The Office implements the decisions of the General Assembly and of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS);

Performs functions of the Secretariat of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its Scientific & Technical Subcommittee and Legal Subcommittee;

Coordinates the inter-agency cooperation within the United Nations on the use of space technology (UN-SPACE);

Implements the United Nations Programme on Space Applications;

Maintains coordination and cooperation with space agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations involved in space-related activities;

Maintains, on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space and;

Is responsible for the implementation of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) programme.

Space and Sustainable Development

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

– Outcome document: “The Future We Want“ [GA resolution 66/288]

– High-level Representatives of States and Governments expressed their conviction of:

§274 [...] the importance of space-technology-based data, in situ monitoring and reliable geospatial information for

sustainable development policymaking, programming and project operations. In this context, we note the relevance of

global mapping and recognize the efforts in developing global environmental observing systems, including by the Eye on Earth Network and through the Global Earth Observation System of

Systems. We recognize the need to support developing countries in their efforts to collect environmental data.

Space and the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda

United Nations System Task Team (UNTT) on the Post-2015 Development Agenda

– “Realizing the Future We Want for All: Report to the Secretary General”

– Contributing to make the Post-2015 Development Agenda transformative

Para 73. Improved scientific understanding and knowledge-sharing on climate change, natural hazards, the space environment and natural resource limits will be necessary for effective policy-making for sustainable development.

Para 79. Improving access to geographical information and geospatial data, and building capacities to use scientific information in areas such as climate monitoring, land use planning, water management, disaster risk reduction, health and food security, will allow for more accurate environmental and social impact assessments and more informed decision-making at all levels.

Space Technology and its Applications: Role and potential Clean environment, water availability & food security are essential for human health

– Agriculture & food security: predicting crop yield, land cover & use, soil moisture &type … – Assessing extent of desertification, droughts and floods – Monitoring of water quality and assessment of wastewater salinity – Air composition and quality tracking, greenhouse gases monitoring – Ocean observations: sea level, surface winds, sea ice extent, ocean colour, etc. – Climate change monitoring – Mapping public health situation and environmental influences – Tele-medicine for remote and rural areas

Addressing issues caused by increasing world population and energy demand – Optimising and directing the developments of cities – Minimising the damage of urban growth – Possible new energy sources & estimation of the volume of biomass – Coastal mapping and monitoring

Space inspires people and can act as catalyst for change in society – Space science provides job in the high-tech industry – Astronauts as role models to increase interest in science

Space Technology Applications: Disaster Management

United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER)

– Providing technical advisory support to Member States

– Knowledge on disaster management cycle: Mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery

– Bridging providers and users of space-based data and products

Proposed Official Working Session at The Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in Sendai (February – March 2015)

– “Earth observations to support national and local disaster-risk reduction initiatives“

– Showcase how geospatial and space-based applications are actually used and identify the areas for improvement

“UN/Germany International Conference – Global Solutions for the Challenges of Sustainable Development in Societies at Risk” in Bonn, May 2015

– Facilitate the coordination of global efforts by the space community and provide guidance to decision-makers from the disaster management community

– Identify ways in which Earth observations can be used explicitly to contribute to the implementation of the post-2015 and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

UN-SPIDER Activities

Knowledge Portal

The UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal is a web-based tool

for information, communication and

process support

Fostering Cooperation

UN-SPIDER fosters alliances and creates forums where

both space and disaster management communities

can meet

Capacity Building

UN-SPIDER facilitates capacity building and

institutional strengthening, including the development

of curricula and an e-learning platform

(e-SPIDER)

Technical Advisory Support

UN-SPIDER provides support to countries in

assessing national capacity and in evaluating disaster

and risk reduction activities, policies and plans

and many more…

UN-SPIDER Network – Regional Support Offices

Indonesia

Nepal

Pakistan

Russian Federation

Argentina

Colombia

Nigeria

Algeria I.R. Iran

Hungary

Romania

Ukraine

Kenya

West Indies

CATHALAC

ADRC

A Regional Support Office (RSO) is a regional or national centre of expertise that is set up within an existing entity by a Member State or group of Member States. RSOs communicate and coordinate with UN-SPIDER to support outreach, capacity building and advisory support activities of the Programme

RSOs or similar regional partners are key to supporting implementation of global UN mandates such as ours, in light of the limited resources Member States provide

Such organizations volunteer as a result of calls for support by UN, committing through their Governments or senior leadership to support (within a region) specific mandates, project development, resource sharing and providing more local expertise

Algeria RSO (ASAL) proposal for hosting a regional capacity building workshop on space technologies for disaster management for French-speaking Western and Northern Africa regions

Kenya RSO proposal to work in partnership with AFRICOM to host a capacity building workshop for Kenya with regional participation (follow-up of Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia Technical Advisory Missions)

International Organizations can easier identify and foster partnerships, given their specific roles or mandates. UN Regional Commissions are key

UN-SPIDER Technical Advisory Missions

Government

Main stakeholders

Mission Team

Multi-disciplinary

Multi-organisation

Observations and

Recommendations:

Policy Making

Awareness Raising

Capacity Building

Coordination

Information Sharing

Data Standards

Data Access

Space-based tools

for improved Disaster Risk

Reduction and Emergency Response

Technical Advisory Missions (2008 - 2014)

Guatemala

Ecuador

Jamaica

Dominican Rep.

Fiji

Tonga

Nigeria

Namibia Mozambique

Malawi

Cameroon

Cabo Verde

Togo

Burkina Faso Sudan

Myanmar

Sri Lanka

Bangladesh

Samoa

Solomon Islands

Maldives

Vietnam

Ghana

Kenya

Zambia

Questions?

czaran@unoosa.org