UN Office for Outer Space Affairs and UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries join forces to expand access to and use of satellite data among

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – UNTCBLDC – exchanged letters agreeing to cooperate on building capacity to access and use satellite data among LDCs. 

The parties will focus on enhancing the capacity of experts and supporting policy- and decision makers in LDCs to access and use all types of space infrastructure, data, and applications. 

The capacity-building activities will focus in particular on the following areas:

1. to support the full disaster management cycle; 
2. to contribute to global health related challenges such as the pandemic of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); 
3. to identify and support priority areas to accelerate sustainable development through the enhanced use of space; and
4. to improve climate change adaptation and natural resources management. 

UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo said: “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. This cooperation will combine UNTBLDC’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”. 

“Access to timely satellite data allows governments and industries to share information, make informed decisions, act on time, and provide new applications in critical areas of development for Least Developed Countries,” said Joshua Setipa, UN Technology Bank’s Managing Director. “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 and natural resources management will promote the achievement of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.”