EOTEC and Partners Highlighted EO Capacity Building Innovations at GEO Global Forum

To advance dialogue on Open Data, Open Knowledge, EOTEC and partners contributed to a community event at the GEO Global Forum, held May 5-8 in Rome, Italy. 

The session, titled “Energizing EO Capacity Building on Flood and Drought Management: the Nexus between SDGs 11 and 17,” took place on 5 May and focused on the intersection of Sustainable Development Goal targets 11.5 (reducing disaster impact) and 17.6 (fostering partnerships for progress).

Ten organizations collaborated on the session, sharing experiences from across regions and sectors. Presentations covered a range of innovations in EO partnerships for flood and drought monitoring—spanning data access, tool development, knowledge sharing, community engagement, and collaboration models.

Speakers included Lawrence Friedl, Director of Engagement in the NASA Earth Science to Action program and co-chair of EO4SDG, and Martyna Stelmaszczuk-Górska of EO College and the EOTEC Secretariat. Co-organizers and contributors included: GEOGLOWS, Digital Earth Pacific, UNOOSA/UN-SPIDER, the SDGs Today of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Eurisy, EARSC, the Beyond Center for EO Research and Remote Sensing, and WMO’s Integrated Drought Management Program.

This session formed part of a packed agenda of 19 community events, the ODOK Workshop, 8 plenary sessions, booth-side events, and a dedicated Student’s Day. Throughout the Forum, EOTEC DevNet also supported discussions on capacity building, youth engagement, and the launch of the GEO Youth Community of Practice, reinforcing the need for structured, inclusive, and collaborative approaches to strengthen EO capacity globally.

The Forum celebrated 20 years of GEO and emphasized the growing importance of Earth Intelligence in empowering action for people and planet. GEO remains a key partner in EOTEC DevNet’s Global Leadership Task Team.