Data for Development

Access to data, and ensuring that stakeholders are able to use it, is fundamental to tackling many global development and humanitarian issues — from tracking disease outbreaks to improving food security. This series explores the practical ways that satellite data can be harnessed to support the work of development professionals and aid workers. It will outline some of the existing challenges that currently hinder the application of space technology in international development, and shine a spotlight on some of the strategies to make data more usable for the sector in the future.

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Harnessing space tech for global development

Opinion: The rise of satellite imagery — what does it mean for aid and beyond?

Opinion: The rise of satellite imagery — what does it mean for aid and beyond?
By Einar Bjørgo

Space technologies are everywhere, but Earth observation has some catching up to do if it’s to go mainstream. Now, this might just be happening, writes UNOSAT’s Einar Bjørgo.

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Down to a tree: Amazon forest tracking moves to the next level

Down to a tree: Amazon forest tracking moves to the next level
By Gareth Willmer

Satellite technology is being used to tackle deforestation, but many are looking at enabling wider use. After a surge in deforestation in the Amazon, here's a look at recent developments that may help.

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Why we need to think about ethics when using satellite data for development

Why we need to think about ethics when using satellite data for development

By Maria Politzer

Development professionals are increasingly using satellite data in a number of useful ways. But while stakeholders explore how it can contribute to the realization of SDGs, it’s also vital to consider how to collect and use that data ethically.

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To infinity and beyond: Funding the future of space projects for development

To infinity and beyond: Funding the future of space projects for development

By Gareth Willmer

Space projects are promising — from reducing the human cost of natural disasters to boosting crop yields. But one perennial problem is securing access to sustainable, long-term funding. Here’s a look at what the future holds.

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Q&A: Satellites to the rescue in the Solomon Islands?

Q&A: Satellites to the rescue in the Solomon Islands?

By Rebecca Root

How are the Solomon Islands tackling the double threats of COVID-19 and climate change? Brian Jones, British high commissioner to the Solomon Islands and Nauru, shares his thoughts.

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Train and retain: Forecasting disaster with geographic systems in the Pacific

Train and retain: Forecasting disaster with geographic systems in the Pacific

By Gareth Willmer

Remote-sensing technology is increasingly available to aid island nations in tackling climate change. But this alone is not enough. For long-term sustainability and in-country skills retention, effective training is needed.

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How a new data portal aims to accelerate insights for the Pacific

How a new data portal aims to accelerate insights for the Pacific

By Lisa Cornish

The Pacific Data Hub is already providing access to more than 5,000 data sets from 78 organizations supporting the priorities of Pacific countries. But its launch is just the beginning of data availability.

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Harnessing satellite data for pandemic response: Lessons from COVID-19

Harnessing satellite data for pandemic response: Lessons from COVID-19

By Malia Politzer

When countries went into lockdown earlier this year, it seemed satellite data could provide useful tools for governments to coordinate a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are the lessons learned.

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Remote sensing specialist and soil scientist win Africa Food Prize

Remote sensing specialist and soil scientist win Africa Food Prize

By Sara Jerving

Africa's top food prize is awarded to a man making fertilizer more affordable for smallholder farmers in west Africa and a woman working with governments to integrate remote sensing into agriculture and drought monitoring systems.

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Opinion: Satellite imagery — global data for global goals

Opinion: Satellite imagery — global data for global goals

By Nikhil Seth

The global coverage of satellite imagery is a perfect tool to support the Sustainable Development Goals. UNITAR’s Nikhil Seth explains how this can be done in practice.

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HCombining maps, data, and local knowledge to improve humanitarian response

Combining maps, data, and local knowledge to improve humanitarian response

By Malia Politzer

For humanitarian workers responding to natural disasters, having instant access to up-to-date and accurate maps can mean the difference between life and death.

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The rise of collaborative mapping for the masses

The rise of collaborative mapping for the masses

By Gareth Willmer

Collaborative projects for mapping in disaster, health, and conflict situations are on the rise as satellite technologies improve, becoming accessible for a much wider range of people worldwide. Many of these initiatives rely on volunteers, with students ideally placed to step in.

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How mapping skills can drive progress on the SDGs

How mapping skills can drive progress on the SDGs

By Catherine Cheney

Geospatial data has become more widely available, but new tools to turn real-time data into insight and action often launch without the training to help make sense of and act on data. SDGs Today is providing real-time data to bridge that gap.

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Harnessing the potential of satellite data to leapfrog progress across Africa

Harnessing the potential of satellite data to leapfrog progress across Africa

By Natalie Donback

Capacity is one of the biggest barriers to advancing the use of satellite data in development. Devex explores how universities across Africa are trying to fill the gap by ramping up their data science degrees and providing shorter courses to policymakers and professionals in the sector.

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Space tech is helping conservation efforts better inform development in Africa

Space tech is helping conservation efforts better inform development in Africa

By Sara Jerving

Satellites have been used in Africa to prevent poaching; monitor deforestation and grassland degradation; and prevent uncontrollable wildfires.

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Q&A: More than just the 'map guy' — advancing geospatial knowledge in Vanuatu

Q&A: More than just the 'map guy' — advancing geospatial knowledge in Vanuatu

By Lisa Cornish

As a geospatial scientist supporting emergency response in Vanuatu, Ian Huri has become more than just “the map guy” due to Tropical Cyclone Harold and COVID-19. He told Devex how he is using these disasters to educate on why spatial data matters.

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Opinion: Key considerations for tracing COVID-19 with geospatial data

Opinion: Key considerations for tracing COVID-19 with geospatial data

By Cassandre Pignon

Low- and middle-income countries should carefully assess whether digital contact-tracing apps are worth the investment, according to this op-ed.

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Mapping Makoko: How data could help legitimize Nigeria's informal settlements

Mapping Makoko: How data could help legitimize Nigeria's informal settlements

By Oluwatosin Adeshokan

Over half of Nigeria’s urban residents live in slum settlements. But on many digital maps, they do not exist. One project is looking to harness data imagery to fill these gaps and drive inclusion for these communities.

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Gridded population datasets: Which one is fit for purpose?

Gridded population datasets: Which one is fit for purpose?

By Lisa Cornish

Gridded population datasets — spatial databases on global populations — enable better policy and program planning in development and humanitarian settings. But awareness of them is low. A new report aims to fill that gap.

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Opinion: Protecting East Africa’s food supply during COVID-19

Opinion: Protecting East Africa’s food supply during COVID-19

By Rodger Voorhies

Swarms of locusts could wreak havoc on the region’s food supply at a time when shutdowns and market disruptions are also threatening to create a food crisis. The Gates Foundation’s Rodger Voorhies takes a look at the interventions needed.

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Data mapping key to track disease spread and plug health gaps, experts say

Data mapping key to track disease spread and plug health gaps, experts say

By Gareth Willmer

The ability to map accurately and in detail is crucial for getting medical aid to people who need it. Devex takes a look at how satellites address data gaps as the world seeks to achieve universal health coverage.

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How satellite images could improve water management in Africa

How satellite images could improve water management in Africa

By Sara Jerving

A new partnership between the International Water Management Institute and Digital Earth Africa aims to create easy-to-interpret datasets for governments and others to make more informed decisions around allocating water.

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Opinion: Tackling COVID-19 — how location intelligence can speed public health response

Opinion: Tackling COVID-19 — how location intelligence can speed public health response

By Este Geraghty

During public health emergencies, populations depend on responders to assemble relevant data and perform analysis to accelerate and enhance decision-making. Can modern technologies such as GIS support this work?

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Turning The Tide
How user-friendly satellite data could revolutionize development

How user-friendly satellite data could revolutionize development

By Flavie Halais

Thanks to advances in technology, satellite imagery is more accessible than ever. Here’s how the development community can benefit from analysis-ready data.

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When it comes to data for the SDGs, money and agreement are still lacking

When it comes to data for the SDGs, money and agreement are still lacking

By Lisa Cornish

According to global data experts, it is make or break time for the SDGs — and governments need to get the basics of standards, funding and structure right to realize progress against the goals.

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More news on on satellite data for global development

Building a business case for development finance of geospatial data

Building a business case for development finance of geospatial data

By Lisa Cornish

The need for aid programs to produce real and tangible results quickly means that data remains an underfunded area of development financing. For geospatial data, the story is the same. At 2019’s GEO Week, Devex spoke with experts for approaches that may improve funding prospects.

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Opinion: NGOs can do more to stop wasting data. Here's how.

Opinion: NGOs can do more to stop wasting data. Here's how.

By Diego Menchaca, Tiago Beck

While the benefits of data sharing and open data are categorical, sadly 86% of research data is never reused. International development is no exception to this reality. Read more on the barriers to data sharing, and measures NGOs can take to prevent valuable data from going to waste.

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Q&A: Lack of human resources biggest challenge for data in the Pacific

Q&A: Lack of human resources biggest challenge for data in the Pacific

By Lisa Cornish

Paul Anderson, inform project manager with the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, was among the participants of the Pacific Island program at GEO Week. He discusses what he sees as the challenges and opportunities for utilization data to support policymaking in the region.

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CommonSensing

CommonSensing

CommonSensing is an innovative international project based on a partnership between Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, and a consortium of international partners working together to support and build climate resilience and enhance decision making through the use of satellite remote sensing technology. Led by UNITAR-UNOSAT, consortium partners include Satellite Applications Catapult, UK Meteorological Office, Sensonomic, Devex, and the University of Portsmouth. CommonSensing is part of the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme, a £152 million ($199 million) multi-year program launched in 2015, funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Global Challenges Research Fund.

Satellite Applications Catapult

Satellite Applications Catapult

Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd is one of a network of U.K. technology and innovation companies which aim to drive economic growth through the commercialisation of research. The aim of the Satellite Applications Catapult is to support U.K. industry by accelerating the growth of satellite applications and to contribute to capturing a 10% share of the global space market predicted by 2030. It aims to achieve this by exploiting the innovation potential in the U.K. industrial and academic communities, by being a focal point where small and medium enterprises, large industry and end users can work together with researchers to challenge barriers, explore and develop new ideas, and bring these to commercial reality.

UK Space Agency

UK Space Agency

At the heart of United Kingdom efforts to explore and benefit from space, the UK Space Agency is responsible for ensuring that the U.K. retains and grows a strategic capability in space-based systems, technologies, science and applications. The Agency leads the U.K.’s civil space program in order to win sustainable economic growth, secure new scientific knowledge, and provide benefit to all citizens.