1. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d “Building National and Regional Capacity” Prepared by Norberto Fernandez, UNEP Presented by Imraan Saloojee, GEO Secretariat GEO Capacity Building Committee – 7th meeting 3-5 June 2008, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

2. Short Background and objective (Strategy Actions/GEO CB Targets being addressed). This Task arose from a capacity building activity part of UNEP’s Programme of Work 2006-07, implemented by the Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA). The activity was broadened to accommodate Earth observations as a central component of environmental spatial data and information management. The objective of the Task is to build national capacity in selected developing countries by enabling human, technical and institutional capacity for environmental networking, observing/monitoring, and data and information sharing at the national level. This objective will be achieved through a participatory model based on existing national mechanisms, and includes key institutions (data providers, information disseminators and users), integrating regional and global tools and mechanisms for environmental data and observation systems. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

3. Milestones achieved to date 07Q2 – UNEP signed Memoranda of Understanding with implementing agencies in Latin America (CATHALAC), Albania (Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration), the Southern Caucasus region (Centre for Monitoring and Prognostication of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources, Georgia), and Mozambique (Ministry for Co- ordination of Environmental Affairs). 07Q2 – Meeting of the LAC Working Group on Environmental Indicators and its Technical Advisory Committee (4-6 July, Panama City). 07Q2 – Regional workshop for African countries for the review of draft materials for the “Africa Atlas on the Changing Environment” (30 July to 1 August, Cairo, Egypt). 07Q4 – National workshop for Albania on “Earth Observations, Environmental Data Sharing and Information Networking” (November 2007). GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

4. Milestones achieved to date (Cont.) 07Q4 – Technical Workshop on “Regional Geospatial Data Sharing Standards” (15-16 October 2007, Panama City). 08Q2 – Workshop on “EO and Environmental Data Sharing and Information Networking” for countries of the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia); Tbilisi, 1-4 April 2008. 08Q2 – Atlas of Africa’s Changing Environment finalised. 08Q2 – Translation of the interface and documentation for INPE’s Data Catalogue, from Portuguese to Spanish, completed. (the catalog is available at the INPE site in English, Spanish and Portuguese: http://www.dgi.inpe.br/CDSR/ ). http://www.dgi.inpe.br/CDSR/ GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

5. Expected milestones for 2008 Main expected accomplishment for 2008 is to start and complete implementation of project in Mozambique (currently delayed). June 08: Official release of the Atlas of Africa’s Changing Environment, on June 10th, at the AMCEN meeting in Johannesburg-South Africa, and simultaneously in Cairo, Dakar and London. Additional launches in Geneva, Paris, Washington D.C., and selected African capitals; side events at UN ECOSOC and GA meetings in New York. Jul-Dec 08: Capacity building training workshops in Africa (Dar es Salam, Accra, Port Louis and Cairo) on Ecosystem change monitoring and data visualization for decision making – follow up to the production of the Atlas of Africa’s Changing Environment. July 2008: Complete survey on “Needs Assessment and Capacity Building Opportunities in LAC”, in collaboration with CATHALAC and CentroGEO- Mexico. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

6. Expected milestones for 2008 (Cont.) A proposal for region-wide land cover mapping project using known international methodology and tools (GLCN and LCCS) under preparation by FAO and UNEP in conjunction with environmental authorities from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Sep 08: A 1st draft of the Atlas of Environmental Change in LAC will be presented to the TAC meeting that will be held in Panama City on the side of the GEO for the Americas Symposium. Dec 08: The Atlas of Environmental Change in LAC will be ready for printing. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

7. Extent of Participation/Recommendations for additional participants New partners, particularly in Latin America, are being sought to implement and move forward new activities emanating from this Task – for example INPE, the ANAM (National Environmental Authority of Panama) Other activities involving partners (organisations, experts, governments) could be initiated with additional resources, such as: Generation of products demonstrating the utility of spatial data to decision making, Short courses to strengthen national capacity in areas fundamental for a successful application of spatial information and EOS technologies, Methodologies for mapping and monitoring ILAC (Indicators of Sustainable Development) indicators using geo-spatial technologies. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

8. Coordination points with other GEO work plan tasks The intended coordination with the GEONET Cast group has not materialised yet. The capacity building activities carried out under this Task could be an excellent venue for cooperation with GEONET Cast to enhance both the delivery of capacity building and the implementation of GEONET Cast in more countries. Training activities could be coordinate between the GEONET Cast and the proposed follow up activities under this Task to enhance delivery at country level and GEO presence. There has been coordination with the USGS and CATHALAC for the alert system SERVIR. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

9. Potential risks that may impede completion of task Mozambique and Albania are “One UN Pilot Countries”. UNEP must work in these countries through the “One UN Delivery” approach. The coordination that this approach demands may cause delays in the implementation and follow up activities. International relations in the South Caucasus may be a barrier to joint implementation of a regional harmonised land cover mapping project. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

10. Gaps that have been identified that need to be addressed independently Additional responsibilities for Task Lead within his organisation has reduced time availability to monitor implementation of Task and, most importantly, to participate in CBC meetings and to liaise with Task Contributors – the later has been almost non-existent during the implementation of the Task. Development of short courses to strengthen national capacities in spatial data analysis and satellite image interpretation for environmental assessments and early warning. Organisation of events for sharing experiences (e.g. meetings, workshops, symposia) in the area of the application of spatial data/satellite technology. Creating alliances with private sector (data, software, and hardware providers) to assist capacity building in countries lacking technology. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

11. Potential Contributions to the CB portal /GEO Portal Opportunities will be explored as implementation of Task progresses. Concrete results from all or most regional projects (e.g. geo-spatial data sets) can be integrated in the existing global and regional GEO Data Portals. Expected products Participatory Model and implementation plan. List of relevant national and regional existing environmental monitoring activities that could be part of the participatory model for data and information access, sharing and exchange. Funding proposals for follow up, capacity building activities in response to identify needs. Atlas of Africa’s Changing Environment, and related website. LAC Atlas of our Changing Environment, and related website. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

12. Expected date of completion of task It is expected that all remaining activities will be completed by the end of 2008. Expectations of task lead from CBC Joint fund raising for follow up in capacity building and technology transfer activities. Facilitation of agreements for financial and technical support from the private sector to support national and regional initiatives of in capacity building and technology transfer. Increased strategic coordination for planning and delivery of capacity building activities at national level, across GEO Tasks. GEO Capacity Building Task CB-07-01d

13. Thank you (and my apologies for not being able to be here today) Norberto Fernandez, UNEP norberto.fernandez@unep.org