[VIDEO] ESA’s GDA mid-evaluation progress film

The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) component of the European Space Agency‘s (ESA) Global Development Assistance (GDA) programme presents a new short film. This film highlights the progress and future directions of ESA’s GDA programme after it reached its midterm milestone. It explores the programme’s advancements through a collaborative approach involving key international partners, including the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank.

The film shows the successful implementation of ESA’s GDA programme, which has significantly advanced the integration of satellite Earth Observation (EO) into development operations. It emphasises the programme’s achievements, such as launching numerous Agile Information Development (AID) activities and cross-cutting initiatives that have supported, at its midpoint, over 60 European service providers and 68 International Financial Institution (IFI) projects.

The film also underscores the value proposition of EO for IFI operations, including comprehensive coverage, timely delivery, detailed nature, and cost efficiency. It highlights how ESA’s GDA activities have improved understanding and use of EO data among IFI project representatives, bridging knowledge gaps and enhancing operational efficiency.

Furthermore, the film explores capacity building and skills activities in diverse contexts worldwide. Examples from countries such as Bangladesh, Georgia, Pakistan, and South Sudan demonstrate how EO has enabled better management of development projects and empowered local communities.

Overall, the film provides insights into the future of ESA’s GDA programme, emphasising the importance of continued collaboration and innovation to maximise its impact in international development assistance. The programme is poised to expand and this is facilitated by four new cross-cutting tools. These are the ABC Knowledge Hub for enhanced knowledge sharing, the Analytics & Processing Platform (APP) for streamlined data processing, Fast EO co-Financing Facility (FFF) unlocking faster financing and the Impact Sphere for improved communication. Altogether these tools will amplify ESA GDA’s overall effectiveness and reach.

The film was produced by Imperative Space as part of the M&E activity with support from Caribou Space and was first shown at the ESA GDA Industry Engagement Day at ESRIN in December 2024.