Current status and global trends in Capacity Development in EO & Geo-information Freek van der Meer (ITC) GEO side event ‘Capacity Development for Stimulating Innovation in Global Monitoring of Agriculture: from research to operations’ GEO-XIII Plenary 7-10 November 2016, St Petersburg, Russian Federation

About ITC Established: 1950 - Appeal by UN in framework of official development

assistance – Official Development Assistance Aim: Build capacity for economic development in developing world Main instrument: Postgraduate education and training, research, project

services Main field of science: earth observation, geoinformation science applied to

problem-solving in earth sciences, natural and water resources and urban studies

Achievements 23 000 alumni (predominantly) mid-career professionals

Definition UNDP: UNDP defines capacity development as the process through which individuals, organizations and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the capabilities to set and achieve their own development objectives over time.

This is a long term process. ‘One off’ approaches do not work. It implies sticking with the process also under difficult circumstances. Embed in national systems, do not see it as a stand-alone project, do not

see it as a project with a fixed lifetime

Source: UNDP

Source: UNDP

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GIS/RS training course, Geological Survey Cyprus, 1994.

training

data

Data archiving system

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Human resource development, the process of equipping individuals with the understanding, skills and access to information, knowledge and training that enables them to perform effectively.

Organizational development, the elaboration of management structures, processes and procedures, not only within organizations but also the management of relationships between the different organizations and sectors (public, private and community).

Institutional and legal framework development, making legal and regulatory changes to enable organizations, institutions and agencies at all levels

NEW Dimensions to Capacity Development The government to government or country to country

dimension considering that in a globalizing world countries cannot maintain to operate as stand-alone entities->government is essential in initiation phase The cross cutting dimension of the government and

academic sector against the private sector->’entrepreneurs’ -> private sector is key for growth South South->trilateral collaboration

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Implications Diversify delivery modes Pursue partnership with client sector Participate in networks Address (financial, institutional) sustainability

requirements Shifting skill sets from technologists to negotiators,

communicators, managers

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Earth Observation Is connected to society and other Geo technologies

Rapid acceptation and use of geospatial data applications and technologies

robo-fly, developed at Harvard, weight < 1g

Observation 1

Source: Tom Veldkamp

Society is changing We communicate many hours each day with ‘new’ social media in E-environment We are getting used to instant access to information and support We have become more entrepreneurial

Human Capacity Building

Observation 2

Source: Tom Veldkamp

Open and free data OPEN DATA POLICY is the starting point for any

capacity to be developed! Free data would be great. Money is often an issue. Timely data is required for many applications. Data continuity is critical for sustainable use of EO

products

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Pre-requisite For CD in EO

Capacity Development for EO: status 2016 The good news: If plenary agrees CB/CD is a foundational task Capacity development is integral part of all GEO flagships, initiatives, community activities GEO has the potential of offering the longterm commitment to make capacity development in EO work The bad news: Capacity development is more needed than ever (e.g., de SGD’s) There is not enough coordination in capacity building in GEO so likely there is overlap, gaps, missed synergies and lack of sharing of best practices The focus in GEO is too much on data and individuals Recipients of CD often not represented in GEO boards We find it hard to measure impact of what we are doing or lack a framework for monitoring impact

Source: personal view: you may agree or agree to disagree

https://www.oxfam.org/

A small detour

Capacity Development for EO: status 2016 - What do we need to know? Resourcing: how much resources are needed? Q Activities: what is being done? Q Output: what are the deliverables? Q Outcomes: what is the net effect of activity+output? nQ Impact: what is the long term effect? nQ Sustainability: is this impact sustainable? nQ (….and for 3 dimensions: people, institute, legal framework) Q=quantifiable nQ=not (easily) quantifiable

Are we doing things right, are we doing the right things?

What difference does it make?

Capacity Development for EO: status 2016 - What do we need to know? This requires a framework and a monitoring system!

Source: www.uwex.edu

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Capacity Development for EO: status 2016 monitoring an organization's clarity of mission – this involves evaluating an organization's goals and how well those goals are understood throughout the organization. monitoring an organization's leadership – this involves evaluating how empowered the organization's leadership is-how well the leadership encourages experimentation, self-reflection, changes in team structures and approaches monitoring an organization's learning – this involves evaluating how often an organization participates in effective self-reflection, and self-assessment. monitoring an organization's monitoring processes – this involves evaluating how well an organization participates in self-monitoring.

Source: Ubels, Jan; Acquaye-Baddoo, Naa-Aku; Fowler, Alan (2010). "18". Capacity Development in Practice. Capacity.

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Netherlands Initiative for Capacity development in Higher Education - NICHE

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Final statements: What are the future needs in building up capacity in earth observation in the thematic areas that we have expertise in (and ones we need to develop!)? What modus operandii fit with these needs? How to travel ‘last mile’ in order to embed Earth Observation firmly in society? What success stories in capacity development can we tell? Capacity is not built in meeting rooms like this one!

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Thank you!

Current status and global trends in Capacity Development in EO & Geo-information

Panel discussion: what works where (WWW) in capacity development

Session lead: Freek van der Meer Session panel: Andiswa Mlisa Nancy Searby Chris Mannaerts Form: group discussion plenary reporting

Part 1: 30 minute discussion in three groups Group 1: What is the role of MOOC’s, WIKI’s, new ICT support tools, social media in capacity development in earth observation in the context of GEO? - Chris Mannaerts rapporteur Group 2: What instruments are available or needed to measure and monitor the outcomes (the net effect of an activity+output) and the impact (the long term effect) of capacity development efforts in GEO? – Andiswa Mlisa rapporteur Group 3: How can we improve coordination of regional capacity development initiatives in GEO to foster best practices and create synergies avoiding overlap? – Nancy Searby rapporteur Part 2: 10 minute reporting per group to set the ‘way forward agenda’ for capacity development

Panel discussion: what works where (WWW) in capacity development