Cooperation with UNOSAT

ESA and UNOSAT Collaboration

UNOSAT is a United Nations initiative launched in 2000 whose mission is to provide the UN family and its member states with satellite imagery through the development and provision of satellite and GIS applications in support of humanitarian relief coordination, disaster management and prevention, and early recovery (www.unosat.org).

After beginning to collaborate one year ago, UNOSAT and ESOA have now decided to formalise their cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. This MoU constitutes a framework within which the two organisations plan to work together to identify the appropriate satellite resources to optimise the deployment and use of satellite solutions for international development and emergency response. In addition they will further raise awareness within the user communities of the unique ability of satellite technology in the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery phases of the crisis management cycle.

With this agreement, ESOA members hope to offer the international community a coordinated approach to respond not only to emergencies with the best and often only telecoms solution that works when all others are either overloaded or destroyed but also to help the UN humanitarian missions all over the world with reliable and inexpensive satellite communications.

The collaboration will seek to:

• Improve the organisations' mutual understanding of how satellite applications can address specific aspects of the disaster management cycle such as disaster prevention and vulnerability reduction, emergency response and relief coordination, early recovery and reconstruction and urban development and sustainable agricultural planning
• Identify pilot initiatives to demonstrate the advantages of satellite applications for the benefit of developing countries and for the achievement of public sector objectives
• Work together to raise awareness of the role of satellites and satellite telecommunications with international and national entities involved in disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery