Our mission
Our Mission is to accelerate impact by fully capitalising on the power of satellite Earth Observation (EO) in international development assistance operations.
Knowledge Hub
Advancing and Building EO knowledge and Capacity (ABC). Extensive and interactive repository of European Earth Observation service capabilities.
MOOC on Satellite Earth Observation for IDA
The Space for International Development Assistance Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), created for the GDA, examines EO’s role in global development with expert insights.
Unveiling the unseen: Opening a window into the wider impact of Space for IDA
This short film captures Indonesia's 2018 disaster recovery with the help of external agencies and Earth Observation technology.
ESA GDA Impact Newsroom- Episode 11: July 2025
Episode 11. Welcome to the Impact Newsroom from the GDA programme, powered by the European Space Agency
ESA GDA Impact Newsroom- Episode 10: June 2025
Episode 10. Welcome to the Impact Newsroom from the GDA programme, powered by the European Space Agency
The GDA Forest Management activity officially began on 3rd September and will run for 21 months. This project aims to enhance forest management by using Earth Observation (EO) technology to … Read more
In a significant step towards deepening collaborations, Bruno Carrasco, Director General of the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), visited ESA’s ESRIN centre in … Read more
A recent study, drawing on Earth Observation (EO) Data, from European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth Observation for Sustainable Development (EO4SD) initiative, the predecessor of the Global Development Assistance programme, sheds … Read more
Balochistan represents a province of Pakistan located in the southwestern region of the country. It is the largest province by area, yet it is the least populated, with minimal infrastructure … Read more
The video developed by the Marine Environment and Blue Economy thematic activity emphasises the critical role of Earth’s oceans in providing jobs, food, and sustainable economic growth, covering more than … Read more
On May 15, 2024, ESA had the pleasure to host Renaud Seligmann, World Bank Director for Strategy and Operations of the Sustainable Development Practice Group at the ESA-ESRIN facilities in … Read more
The Blue Economy, which encompasses industries reliant on coastal and marine resources, plays a crucial role in the global economy, contributing over US$2.5 trillion annually. In addition to this substantial … Read more
In the Indian Ocean, there is a low-lying atoll island nation comprising approximately 1.200 islands, with 187 of them being currently inhabited. Given the limited land resources and high population … Read more
Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest freshwater lake by area and delivers valuable ecosystem services to local communities including domestic use, industrial and agricultural water provision, waste disposal, and hydropower generation. … Read more
Monitoring and continuously assessing seawater pollution play a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of marine environments, ensuring the preservation of seafood quality, and promoting the long-term sustainability of the … Read more
Ecosystems are intricate environments that face increasing pressures, primarily driven by human interference and climate change, with their impact being the most notable factor contributing to performance degradation. The success … Read more
Botswana, a landlocked country in southern Africa, is renowned for its vast mineral deposits and arid landscapes. However, this aridity comes at a cost: water scarcity. The country faces a … Read more
The European Space Agency and the European Commission (EC) recently held a Joint Earth System Science Initiative workshop aimed at promoting collaboration, exploring funding opportunities and enhancing scientific excellence in … Read more
ESA’s Global Development Assistance (GDA) programme recently participated in the “Bridging the Gap: Satellite Data and Models for Local Impact” online workshop organised by the University of Coimbra and its … Read more
In a recently launched publication titled “Earth Observation Services and Tools for Development: Examples from Indonesia“, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) presents a comprehensive exploration of the transformative role played … Read more
In early November 2023, Rochelle Schneider, Technical Officer for ESA’s Global Development Assistance activity focusing on Health, participated and presented at the United Nations World Health Organization Space and Global … Read more
