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Stories

Voices and success stories from the GDA community
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Tracing macroplastics in West Africa’s coastal waters
Marine
08 October 2025

Tracing macroplastics in West Africa’s coastal waters

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing global environmental challenges, threatening marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and human livelihoods. In West Africa, where millions depend on the ocean for food … Read more
Satellite Data Supports Forest Inventories in Mexico
Forest Management
10 September 2025

Satellite Data Supports Forest Inventories in Mexico

The ESA Global Development Assistance (GDA) Forest Management activity is supporting the World Bank in the Mexico Strengthening Entrepreneurship in Productive Forest Landscapes Project. This collaboration focuses on enhancing the … Read more
Using Earth Observation to Plan Educational Services in Uganda
Transport & Infrastructure
09 September 2025

Using Earth Observation to Plan Educational Services in Uganda

This case study is part of the ESA GDA Transport & Infrastructure (T&I) consortium’s broader work to support International Financial Institution (IFI) teams with innovative, user-tailored Earth Observation (EO) services. … Read more
Monitoring Transport Vulnerabilities in Guinea-Bissau
Transport & Infrastructure
25 August 2025

Monitoring Transport Vulnerabilities in Guinea-Bissau

The ESA GDA Transport & Infrastructure (GDA T&I) activity is supporting the World Bank’s Enhancing Connectivity in Northern Guinea-Bissau Project to better understand mobility patterns, assess infrastructure vulnerability, and identify … Read more
Supporting Georgia to improve climate resilient water management for agriculture
Water Resources
29 July 2025

Supporting Georgia to improve climate resilient water management for agriculture

Georgia faces a complex array of water-related challenges, demanding a nuanced approach to enhance planning and management. The western region, characterised by prevailing westerly winds, benefits from abundant rainfall, fostering … Read more
Understanding Forest Management Needs through User Engagement
Forest Management
24 July 2025

Understanding Forest Management Needs through User Engagement

ESA’s Global Development Assistance (GDA) Forest Management activity supports the integration of satellite Earth Observation (EO) into the forest sector programmes of International Financial Institutions (IFIs). Designed and implemented by … Read more
Satellite Data Helps Angola Tackle Urban Mobility Challenges
Transport & Infrastructure
07 July 2025

Satellite Data Helps Angola Tackle Urban Mobility Challenges

The ESA Global Development Assistance (GDA) Transport & Infrastructure (T&I) activity is contributing to the World Bank-led Angola Urban Sustainable Mobility Project, which aims to enhance transport infrastructure in Angola’s … Read more
How innovation can resolve conflict in the Sahel
Water Resources
30 May 2025

How innovation can resolve conflict in the Sahel

ESA’s Global Development Assistance (GDA) programme was recently featured at IFAD’s Innovation Day, with the “Water for Peace” initiative showcased in IFAD’s innovation marketplace. The project, implemented by IFAD in … Read more
GDA Forest Management Brochure: Leveraging EO for Sustainable Forest Futures
Forest Management
27 May 2025

GDA Forest Management Brochure: Leveraging EO for Sustainable Forest Futures

Building on the recent launch of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Global Development Assistance Forest Management (GDA Forest) activity, the consortium has published a new brochure that outlines the opportunities … Read more
Tracking surface water dynamics for agricultural resilience in Timor-Leste
Water Resources
27 May 2025

Tracking surface water dynamics for agricultural resilience in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste, an independent nation in the Indonesian archipelago, faces significant climate-related risks. The country’s agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including erratic seasonal rainfall, tropical storms, and … Read more
Supporting the Bioeconomy in the Amazon through Infrastructure Vulnerability Analysis
Transport & Infrastructure
03 April 2025

Supporting the Bioeconomy in the Amazon through Infrastructure Vulnerability Analysis

The ESA GDA Transport & Infrastructure (GDA T&I) activity is supporting the “Brazil Proactive, Safe, and Resilient Road Asset Management Program, a World Bank-led initiative. This collaboration aims to address … Read more
Bridging Data and Action for Global Forest Sustainability
Forest Management
01 April 2025

Bridging Data and Action for Global Forest Sustainability

Building in the lessons learned from the EO4SD Forest Management project, the ESA GDA Forest Management activity will support International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank and the … 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
Conclusion of ESA’s GDA Marine Environment & Blue Economy Thematic Activity
Marine
07 February 2025

Conclusion of ESA’s GDA Marine Environment & Blue Economy Thematic Activity

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Global Development Assistance programme’s (GDA) thematic activity on  Marine Environment & Blue Economy has reached its conclusion, marking the successful end of a transformative initiative … Read more
Balancing Water Demand: EO Support of Mexico’s Integrated Water Management  
Water Resources
06 February 2025

Balancing Water Demand: EO Support of Mexico’s Integrated Water Management  

Irrigation districts form the backbone of Mexico’s agricultural sector, producing one-third of the nation’s essential food supply. Yet, as urban sprawl encroaches on agricultural zones, tensions over water resources are … Read more
Accelerating EO Mainstreaming in Global Forest Management: Lessons from EO4SD
Forest Management
03 February 2025

Accelerating EO Mainstreaming in Global Forest Management: Lessons from EO4SD

The use of Earth Observation (EO) technologies in forest management offers unique opportunities to address global challenges such as deforestation and climate change. Drawing on lessons learned from the ESA … Read more
Bridging Gaps by Understanding Cambodia’s Transport and Mobility Patterns
Transport & Infrastructure
04 November 2024

Bridging Gaps by Understanding Cambodia’s Transport and Mobility Patterns

The GDA Transport & Infrastructure (GDA T&I) activity is supporting the World Bank’s Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice team in gathering actionable insights on Cambodia’s infrastructure and transportation systems. Overcoming … 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
Global Collaboration on Transport and Infrastructure Development Needs
Transport & Infrastructure
09 August 2024

Global Collaboration on Transport and Infrastructure Development Needs

Like its predecessor, the EO for Sustainable Development (EO4SD) initiative, the ESA Global Development Assistance (GDA) programme was launched to support International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and their Client State (CS) … Read more
Building a Resilient Future: Tackling Floods, Droughts, and Water Scarcity in Pakistan
Water Resources
25 July 2024

Building a Resilient Future: Tackling Floods, Droughts, and Water Scarcity in Pakistan

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
Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean area
Marine
14 June 2024

Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean area

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
Web-based Application for Historical Data of Coastal Vulnerability Indices in Maldives Region
Marine
07 June 2024

Web-based Application for Historical Data of Coastal Vulnerability Indices in Maldives Region

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
GDA Transport and Infrastructure Brochure: A deep dive into the new GDA AID Activity
Transport & Infrastructure
16 May 2024

GDA Transport and Infrastructure Brochure: A deep dive into the new GDA AID Activity

Following the recent launch  of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Global Development Assistance Transport & Infrastructure (GDA T&I), the consortium released a comprehensive brochure providing detailed insights into the various … Read more
Battling pollution threats of Africa’s largest freshwater lake
Water Resources
08 April 2024

Battling pollution threats of Africa’s largest freshwater lake

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
Navigating to Tomorrow: ESA’s GDA Unlocks the Future of Transport and Infrastructure
Transport & Infrastructure
20 March 2024

Navigating to Tomorrow: ESA’s GDA Unlocks the Future of Transport and Infrastructure

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Global Development Assistance (GDA) programme has launched a new Agile Information Development (AID) activity focusing on transport and infrastructure, a new thematic area, unexplored even … Read more
Seawater Pollution Assessment and Monitoring in the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Region
Marine
26 February 2024

Seawater Pollution Assessment and Monitoring in the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Region

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
EO-based ecosystem assessment to support Blue Carbon evaluation in Tunisia
Marine
31 January 2024

EO-based ecosystem assessment to support Blue Carbon evaluation in Tunisia

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
GDA AID Water Resources in support of combating water scarcity in Botswana
Water Resources
26 January 2024

GDA AID Water Resources in support of combating water scarcity in Botswana

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