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Stories

Voices and success stories from the GDA community
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ESA and ADB advance Earth Observation cooperation in Manila visit
Partnership
01 June 2026

ESA and ADB advance Earth Observation cooperation in Manila visit

A delegation from ESA visited the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Manila from 15 to 17 April 2026, taking stock of a partnership that has steadily integrated Earth Observation … Read more
A new evidence-based system to strengthen drought resilience in the Horn of Africa
FAST EO Co-FINANCING FACILITY
26 May 2026

A new evidence-based system to strengthen drought resilience in the Horn of Africa

Drought is considered one of the world’s most economically damaging natural hazard. It is also one of the hardest to see coming and the least understood. In fact, unlike floods … Read more
From Space to Seascapes: Using EO to Strengthen Blue Carbon Assessments in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
FAST EO Co-FINANCING FACILITY
18 May 2026

From Space to Seascapes: Using EO to Strengthen Blue Carbon Assessments in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

The World Bank is increasingly turning to Earth Observation (EO) to strengthen how it plans, assesses, and invests in coastal and marine environments. In the Red Sea and Gulf of … Read more
Coastal carbon and fishery assessment in Madagascar and Comoros
FAST EO Co-FINANCING FACILITY
20 March 2026

Coastal carbon and fishery assessment in Madagascar and Comoros

Satellites supporting coastal resilience in Madagascar and Comoros Across the western Indian Ocean, coastal ecosystems play a vital role in protecting communities, sustaining livelihoods, and responding to climate change. Mangrove … Read more
Announcing the winner of the ESA GDA Impact Stories from Space Challenge
IMPACT COMMUNICATION
03 March 2026

Announcing the winner of the ESA GDA Impact Stories from Space Challenge

The GDA Impact Stories from Space Challenge is created to surface clear, evidence-based examples of Earth Observation (EO) being used in development and resilience work. Its aim is to highlight … Read more
From space to preparedness: How Earth Observation can strengthen emergency response and resilience in the Dominican Republic
FAST EO Co-FINANCING FACILITY
21 January 2026

From space to preparedness: How Earth Observation can strengthen emergency response and resilience in the Dominican Republic

How does Earth Observation move from a map to a decision in development finance? In the Dominican Republic, the World Bank used ESA’s GDA Fast EO Co-Financing Facility to integrate … Read more
Enhancing Earth Observation for land cover and land use classification in Vietnam
FAST EO Co-FINANCING FACILITY
05 January 2026

Enhancing Earth Observation for land cover and land use classification in Vietnam

For International Financial Institutions, the challenge is no longer whether Earth Observation can add value, but how satellite data can be integrated into operational analysis in a way that is … Read more
ESA’s GDA in 2025: A year of acceleration, partnerships and measurable impact
IMPACT COMMUNICATION
29 December 2025

ESA’s GDA in 2025: A year of acceleration, partnerships and measurable impact

Partnerships that shape how Earth Observation enters development finance A central thread throughout the year was the deepening exchange with International Financial Institutions (and not only them). Rather than isolated … Read more
Using satellite images to support erosion control in Madagascar
FAST EO Co-FINANCING FACILITY
15 December 2025

Using satellite images to support erosion control in Madagascar

Earth observation is emerging as a key resource for development finance. In Madagascar, it gives the German Development Bank KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau) a clearer view of where anti-erosion measures … Read more
Earth Observation in Action: ESA at ADB’s INSPIRE Forum
Public Health
23 July 2025

Earth Observation in Action: ESA at ADB’s INSPIRE Forum

The European Space Agency (ESA), through its Global Development Assistance (GDA) programme, contributed to the INSPIRE Health Forum 2025 (INclusive, Sustainable, Prosperous and REsilient Health Systems in Asia and the … Read more
From space to strategy: using EO to improve urban development, starting in Sarajevo
FAST EO Co-FINANCING FACILITY
14 July 2025

From space to strategy: using EO to improve urban development, starting in Sarajevo

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently conducted a deep dive impact assessment of its activities in Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, leveraging Earth Observation (EO) technologies to … Read more
Harnessing Earth Observation for Sustainable Water Management in Afghanistan
FAST EO Co-FINANCING FACILITY
03 April 2025

Harnessing Earth Observation for Sustainable Water Management in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s water resources face increasing pressures from growing demand, climate change, and limited in situ data availability. Through the European Space Agency’s Global Development Assistance (ESA GDA) Fast Co-Financing Facility, … Read more
Driving sustainability with new insights: refining deforestation KPIs to strengthen green financing
Partnership
21 March 2025

Driving sustainability with new insights: refining deforestation KPIs to strengthen green financing

This blog is a repost of a publication by our partner, the World Bank. This data story is the second part of a series on new satellite-based data about deforestation … Read more
Tackling the Sargassum Challenge: Reflections on the Conference on Sargassum
Partnership
22 October 2024

Tackling the Sargassum Challenge: Reflections on the Conference on Sargassum

In early October, Fabio Cian, the ESA representative to the World Bank, had the privilege of attending the Second EU-Caribbean Global Gateway Conference on Sargassum in Grenada, eastern Caribbean, as … Read more
Informal Settlements and Urban Sprawl: Insights from Recent Research leveraging EO
Partnership
12 September 2024

Informal Settlements and Urban Sprawl: Insights from Recent Research leveraging EO

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
Introducing the new World Bank E-Platform: Weather and Climate Services for Resilient Development
Climate Resilience
31 August 2023

Introducing the new World Bank E-Platform: Weather and Climate Services for Resilient Development

When it comes to tackling the uncertainties of our changing climate, information on water, weather, and climate is vital. Making informed decisions to enhance resilience across sectors like food production, … Read more
ESA and the World Bank: 15 Years of Collaboration
Partnership
10 July 2023

ESA and the World Bank: 15 Years of Collaboration

2023 marks a significant milestone and is the opportunity to celebrate the 15th year anniversary of the fruitful collaboration between the World Bank and the European Space Agency (ESA). Over … Read more
Space to empower rural food producers
Partnership
04 July 2023

Space to empower rural food producers

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently formalised their partnership with United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through the signature of a Letter of Intent. The official announcement took … Read more