3rd meeting of UN-SPIDER regional support office

In the past three years the Regional Support Offices (RSOs) have contributed extensively to the implementation of UN-SPIDER’s Plan of Work through their active participation in technical advisory missions, outreach and training activities and through the provision of technical advisory support, in particular in the case of those countries experiencing disasters. Covering Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the RSOs are at the core of UN-SPIDER’s support at the national level. The 3rd Annual Meeting of RSOs will take place on 6 – 7 February 2012 at the Vienna International Center. The meeting will bring together representatives from nine RSOs already established and representatives of government institutions from Indonesia, Hungary, Turkey, the Russian Federation and other countries which are in the process of formalizing agreements to become RSOs as well.

This meeting will focus on ways to enhance cooperation among RSOs, ways to take advantage of opportunities available to support efforts targeting prevention and mitigation, early warning, preparedness, response, and early recovery. In addition, the meeting will include presentations on the VALID project and on existing mechanisms that provide space-based information to support emergency relief operations. The meeting takes place in parallel with the 49th session of the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee of the Committee of Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).