[UN SPIDER] Second Announcement: UN/Sudan International UN-SPIDER Workshop

[Georg MAGERL]

Dear Colleagues,

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, and;
   (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
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/unspider/workshops.html

Best regards,

Georg MAGERL

Associate Expert
Office for Outer Space Affairs / UN-SPIDER
United Nations Office at Vienna
P.O.Box 500, A-1400 Vienna
Tel:  +43-(1)-26060-4472
Fax: +43-(1)-26060-5830
E-Mail: georg.magerl at unvienna.org
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/unspider/index.html

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(See attached file: Sudan UN SPIDER Workshop Information_Note.doc)
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