This is the second announcement for the United Nations/Sudan International UN-SPIDER Workshop: “Space-based Solutions for Disaster Management and Emergency Response” (09-12 December 2007, Khartoum, Sudan). The general objective of this Workshop is to increase the awareness of national and regional users of the potential of both the new UN-SPIDER programme and of space-based solutions for disaster management and emergency response.
More specifically, nominated National Focal Points from Northern and Eastern Africa and Western Asia will have an opportunity of working together during the workshop to share experiences and knowledge and learn of the potential of space-based solutions to support disaster management activities in their respective countries, learn how to access and use such solutions and also how to implement national policies and activities to take advantage of such solutions.
The specific topics of this Workshop will be:
(a) Presentation of the current status of space technology for disaster management and emergency response within the region;
(b) Current status on the availability and use of space-borne radar imagery;
(c) Define ways and means of efficiently coordinating and interacting with National Focal Points and the Network of Regional Support Offices, including defining possible activities to be carried out jointly;
(d) 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;
(e) Discuss the development of country profiles, user input for the establishment of a UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal and capacity building needs in the region;
(f) Special session on the use of space-based technologies and solutions to support complex emergencies;
(g) Discussion and update of “The Khartoum Vision: a Vision for Building Partnerships in the Use of Space Technologies”.
Participation is limited to 100 persons, except the first day which will have a total of 250 participants. Deadline for sending in your application (which we have attached to this e-mail) is 22 October 2007.
Within the limited financial resources available, a number of selected international participants, representing institutions from Northern and Eastern Africa and Western Asia, will be offered financial support to attend this International UN-SPIDER Workshop. This financial support will defray the cost of travel (a round trip ticket – most economic fare – between the airport of international departure in their home country and Khartoum) and/or the room and board expenses during the duration of the event. Nominated National Focal Points will be considered for financial support on a priority basis. Please note financial support is only available for participants representing institutions from Northern and Eastern Africa and Western Asia.
At its fiftieth session last June the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space endorsed the UN-SPIDER work plan, as amended, for the biennium 2008-2009. The plan of work, as developed, determines the need for UN-SPIDER to work closely with National Focal Points (NFPs). The National Focal Point will be the national institution representing the disaster management and space application communities that is nominated by its respective government to work both with the programme to strengthen national disaster management planning and policies and in the implementation of specific national activities that incorporate space-based technology solutions to support disaster management.
National Focal Points will be the main institution with which UN-SPIDER will work together to help promote the access to and the use of space-based solutions for disaster management. Governments may opt to nominate more than one National Focal Point.
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. The latest information and materials related to these activities are available online at www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/unspider/workshops.html
Source: UN-SPIDER
