During the GEOGLAM capacity development (CapDev) workshop held in March 21-23, 2023, FAO Geospatial Unit (NSL) participated and contributed in delineating progresses, opportunities, priorities, and resources for the program. The workshop was useful to investigate possible collaboration and overlapping with FAO main mandate, which is to provide technical assistance in agricultural monitoring to defeat hunger and achieve food security.

GEOGLAM is a community of practice guided by the idea that inter- and intra-national collaboration and sharing of experiences, methods, data, and expertise can lead to a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Capacity development (CapDev) has been a key activity for GEOGLAM partners since even before the initiative’s inception. In fact, many of the early GEOGLAM participants were connected through technology transfer and capacity development engagements. The core principle of GEOGLAM’s CapDev approach is to emphasis on demand-driven interventions that focus on the needs of the user. 

CapDev interventions are spread across several GEOGLAM activities which have been managed so far with a decentralised approach leading to a lack of continuity across time or connection across projects. The growing demand for technology transfer and CapDev across existing GEOGLAM partners, there is a need to better coordinate and harmonise activities across the contributing initiatives, to support the maintenance of transferable resources, and to connect with parallel related efforts. 

The CapDev workshop held in March 21-23, 2023, was focused on updating everyone on progress and opportunities, set priorities, and identify resource needs to address them. To this end, the meeting reviewed progress with the GEOGLAM Capacity Development Guidance document, and the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) Guidance, and look at requests from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) for support. After building a common understanding of community opportunities, the workshop discussed a strategy for the implementation (including resource needs, gaps, and funding opportunities).