The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) participated in the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Global Development Assistance (GDA) Knowledge Event, held from 22 to 24 October 2025 at ESA’s ESRIN Centre in Frascati, Italy.
The event focused on exploring the potential of Earth Observation (EO) technologies to inform evidence-based policymaking, accelerate sustainable development, and strengthen partnerships through digital knowledge-sharing platforms.
The gathering brought together representatives from Member States, international financial institutions, the EO industry, think tanks, and space agencies. Participants explored how satellite data and analytics can address global challenges in agriculture, climate resilience, energy efficiency, and early warning systems – areas where timely, reliable information can guide critical policy decisions.
Representing UNOSSC, Mr. Dumitru Vasilescu, Research Specialist, contributed to sessions highlighting ESA’s latest EO capabilities and platforms, including the GDA Knowledge Hub, Analytics & Processing Platform (APP), and Fast EO co-Financing Facility (FFF). Together, these resources provide access to more than 120 case studies across 80 countries, demonstrating EO applications for sustainable development.
A major outcome of the mission was the co-design of a draft Action Plan to operationalize the LOI between ESA and UNOSSC. The plan defines joint activities in knowledge exchange, capacity development, and technical assistance to Member States, and is expected to be finalized in November 2025.
Discussions throughout the event underscored that co-design, local capacity-building, and integration with in-situ data are critical for ensuring EO solutions are demand-driven and regionally relevant. At the same time, participants identified persistent barriers – such as fragmented governance, limited institutional capacity, and insufficient awareness – that continue to hinder the effective use of EO data.
UNOSSC presented its South-South Galaxy and South-South and Triangular Cooperation Solutions Lab, engaging ESA and other partners in discussions to link the Galaxy with ESA’s GDA Knowledge Hub. This integration aims to strengthen South-South knowledge exchange, facilitate the sharing of EO-based case studies, and expand opportunities for collaboration across developing regions.
Looking ahead, UNOSSC and ESA will co-host a Member States briefing in November 2025 to share progress and present new opportunities for cooperation. The partnership marks a milestone in positioning Earth Observation as a strategic driver of innovation, resilience, and sustainable development across the Global South.
