
14 August 2007, 10:24am
1st GEO Donor Capacity Building Symposium
10-11 September 2007, Sevilla, Spain
The intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is leading a worldwide effort to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) over the next 10 years. GEOSS will work with and build upon existing national, regional, and international systems to provide comprehensive, coordinated Earth observations from thousands of instruments worldwide, transforming the data they collect into vital information for society.
GEOs capacity building efforts aim to build a global partnership between those whose capacity needs development and those who are able to assist in the process, recognizing that activities have intertwined social, environmental and economic impacts.
The following guiding principles underpin capacity building within GEO:
build on existing efforts and best practices;
focus on user needs;
foster global collaboration and partnership;
concentrate on end-to-end Earth observation needs in each of GEOs societal benefit areas, including user requirements; data access, collection, archiving and analysis; and product development and exchange;
enhance the sustainability of existing and future Earth observation capacity building efforts;
facilitate the development of comprehensive, sustainable capacity building efforts that address infrastructure, education and training and institutional capacity.
OBJECTIVES
The 1st GEO - Donor Capacity Building Symposium aims to establish a mutual dialogue between users, providers, facilitators and potential financial contributors. This will be achieved by:
highlighting the benefits of Earth Observation for sustainable development;
strengthening dialogue between different stakeholders;
demonstrating the current status of capacity building in GEO and providing examples of successful end-to-end cooperation;
exchanging information on donor strategies, priorities and needs; and
establishing a road map for the way forward for sustainable capacity building especially in developing countries.
PARTICIPANTS
The Symposium is open to senior officials from the following organizations:
National development and environment ministries
National and regional development agencies
International and regional development banks
Academic, research and training institutes
National and regional Earth observation-related agencies, non-governmental organizations and associations
Private foundations
Funding will be made available to participants from developing countries. For further information, please visit the GEO website: http://www.geocbsymposium.com
The language of the workshop will be English.
SYMPOSIUM SESSIONS
Benefits of coordinated Earth Ob servation
Capacity building in Earth Observation
Earth Observation for societal benefit
Funding mechanisms, priorities and needs
The value of working together
Enhancing the dialogue: thematic break-out groups
A partnership for the future: the Seville roadmap
The Symposium will have a Plenary Session and working group sessions on ongoing and future capacity building activities on the nine GEO Societal Benefit Areas.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
potential areas for partnership based on mutual understanding of needs and priorities;
better understanding of donor priorities;
sustainable dialogue established with the donor community to match longer term capacity building priorities with donor priorities.
SCHEDULE
Opening date for registration - 6 July 2007
Closing date for registration of participants in need of a visa* - 6 August 2007
Closing date for registration - 15 August 2007
For registration, please visit the Symposium website: http://www.geocbsymposium.com
For more information, write to: geocbsymposium@inm.es or call: (+34) 915819766; 915819864; 915819642
* A letter of invitation will be provided to participants in need of a visa. This will be sent after registration has been made.
GEO represents the global scientific and political consensus of 72 countries, the European Commission and 46 international organisations on Earth observation. It is organised to support decisions and actions related to the environment through the provision of coordinated Earth observation in the following GEO Societal Benefit Areas:
Disaster reduction
Human health improvement
Energy resource management
Water resource management
Understanding and adapting to climate variability and change
Improved weather forecasting
Management and protection of ecosystems
Sustainable agriculture
Understanding and conserving biodiversity
The Symposium will have a Plenary Session and working group sessions on ongoing and future capacity building activities on the nine GEO Societal Benefit Areas. This Symposium is a GEO event, supported and organized by the Spanish Ministry of Environment
GEO website: http://www.earthobservations.org
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Steven Ramage
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