United Nations regional UN-SPIDER workshop: building upon regional space-based solutions for disaster management and emergency response for the Caribbean

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) through its Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) programme, UNDP-Barbados and the OECS Sub-regional Office, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) and the Department of Emergency Management of the Government of Barbados are organising the above regional workshop to contribute to helping countries within the Caribbean and Central America learn how to access and use space technology for disaster management and emergency response.

Objectives:
-  To present the current status of space technology for disaster management and emergency response within the Caribbean Region;
-  To discuss the impact of global climate change on the increase of natural disasters in the region and how space-based technologies can contribute to mitigating these impacts;
-  To showcase regional space-based initiatives relevant to disaster management support (including risk reduction) and emergency response. This includes on-going and planned initiatives, case studies and best practices, archived data for disaster studies and capacity building opportunities;
-  To identify approaches towards the harmonisation of the various existing initiatives that are contributing to helping developing countries in the region access and use space-based technologies for disaster management and risk reduction;
-  To promote the Caribbean Strategic Framework on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) with the support of the UN-SPIDER National Focal Points and the UN-SPIDER Network of Regional Support Offices, and;
-  To 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.