UN-SPIDER Outreach Activities Participation

15 August 2007, 5:43pm

Resolution 61/110 of 14 December 2006 the United Nations General Assembly agreed to establish the “United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster management and Emergency Response – UN-SPIDER”, as a new programme of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. UN-SPIDER will provide universal access to all countries and all relevant international and regional organizations for all types of space-based information and services relevant to disaster management. The intention is to support the full disaster management cycle by being a gateway to space information for disaster management support, serving as a bridge to connect the disaster management and space communities and being a facilitator of capacity-building and institutional strengthening, in particular for developing countries.

Within its plan of work, UN-SPIDER is organizing a series of workshops and expert meeting bringing together experts and relevant professionals from around the world with the aim of discussing and shaping the future activities of this new programme. We have already sent out the announcementof the first workshop which will be held in Bonn, Germany.

The deadline for sending in applications to be considered for the Bonn workshop is Monday, 27 August 2007. We would also like to make you aware of other workshops and meetings also planned and we hope that your organisation or
institution would consider participating and contributing to at least one of the planned events. The latest information and materials related to these activities are available online at
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/unspider/workshops.html.

1.) United Nations International UN-SPIDER Workshop: “Space-based Information and Solutions for Disaster Management and Emergency Response” (Bonn, Germany, 29 to 31 October 2007).

Participation is limited to 80 persons.

Focus:

Identification of relevant space-based information for Disaster Management Support and Emergency Response; Definition of a Knowledge Portal to ensure that relevant information is easily accessible and disseminated to all interested end-users.

Identification of existing and planned Communities of Practice that contribute to bringing together the space-based technology and disaster management communities.

Discussion and definition of a knowledge management and transfer framework; GEOSS Capacity Building Task CB-07-02 - Knowledge Sharing for Improved Disaster Management and Emergency Response.

Harmonisation of the various existing initiatives that are contributing to helping developing countries access and use space-based technologies for disaster management and risk reduction.

2.) 4th UN-wide Meeting on the Use of Space Technologies for Emergency
Response and Humanitarian Assistance (27 November 2007, Bangkok, Thailand -
back-to-back with the 8th UNGIWG meeting 28 – 30 November 2007, Bangkok,
Thailand).

Participation is limited to representatives from United Nations agencies and from organisations and institutions interested in contributing to the work of the United Nations in the area of space-based information for disaster management, emergency response and humanitarian assistance. This meeting is being organised together with UNESCAP.

3.) United Nations/China Regional UN-SPIDER Workshop: “Building Upon
Regional Space-based Solutions for Disaster Management and Emergency
Response”(03-06 December 2007, Guangzhou, China).

Participation is limited to 40 persons.

Focus:
Presentation of the current status of space technology for disaster management and emergency response within the region.

Discuss the UN-SPIDER awareness raising strategy proposal building upon examples of similar successful strategies carried out by other organisations within the region.

Discuss the development of country profiles, user input for the establishment of a UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal and capacity building needs
in the region.

Define ways and means of efficiently coordinating and interacting with National Focal Points and the Network of Regional Support Offices.

Reflect on the best concepts for delivering support to both national activities and to national planning and policies that consider the use of space-based technologies.

Review and discuss activities to be carried out by National Focal Points with the support from UN-SPIDER and the Network of Regional Support Offices.

4.) United Nations/Sudan International UN-SPIDER Workshop: “Space-based
Solutions for Disaster Management and Emergency Response” (09-12 December 2007, Khartoum, Sudan).

Participation is limited to 100 persons, except the first day which will have a total of 250 participants.

Focus: Presentation of the current status of space technology for disaster management and emergency response within the region.

Special session on the use of space-based technologies and solutions to support complex emergencies.

Define ways and means of efficiently coordinating and interacting with National Focal Points and the Network of Regional Support Offices.

Reflect on the best concepts for delivering support to both national activities and to national planning and policies that consider the use of space-based technologies.

Review and discuss activities to be carried out by National Focal Points with the support from UN-SPIDER and the Network of Regional Support Offices.

Discuss the development of country profiles, user input for the establishment of a UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal and capacity building needs in the region.

Discussion and update of “The Khartoum Vision: a Vision for Building Partnerships in the Use of Space Technologies”.

5.) United Nations/Austria UN-SPIDER Workshop: Network of Regional Support
Offices (07-09 February 2008, Salzburg, Austria).

Participation is limited to 40 persons.

Focus: Bring together representatives of the Network of Regional Support
Offices to discuss and coordinate the implementation of the UN-SPIDER activities for 2008-2009.

Should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact Mr. Georg Magerl (Tel: +43-1-26060-4472, georg.magerl@unvienna.org). We are looking forward to seeing you at one or
more of these activities.

David Stevens
Programme Coordinator
UN-SPIDER
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Vienna - Austria
Tel. ++43-(1)-26060-5631 - Skype: tazarkount
FAX ++43-(1)-260607-5631 - E-Mail david.stevens@unvienna.org
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David Stevens

Programme Coordinator, UN-SPIDER, United Nations