UNOSAT and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) launch “Joint Analysis and Geographic Information for Crisis Response and Impact Assessment

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) is a Directorate-General of the European Commission providing independent scientific and technological support for EU policy-making, among other things in the area of satellite applications and remote sensing. UNOSAT and JRC have cooperated for years on various topics including research, which is JRC primary area of involvement. The new agreement is a natural and positive development of such cooperation aiming at recognising the joint work done by UNOSAT and the JRC’s Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC). Both JRC and UNOSAT have deployed substantial research in the area of post-crisis impact assessment (both natural disaster and conflicts). While UNOSAT has an operational role in supporting the UN system in post crisis situations and in early recovery, JRC is mandated to make contributions to the Community Instrument for Stability under the lead of DG External Relations, especially in relation with the Joint Declaration on post-crisis assessment and recovery planning signed in September 2008 between the European Commission, UNDP, and the World Bank. The declaration builds on the experience of these three actors in post-crisis situations and provides the conceptual framework for bringing together the experience and the methodologies elaborated by UNOSAT and the JRC. The agreement, signed in March 2009, includes a technical annex ensuring synergy in a number of related areas which will benefit the work and outreach of both parties.   For more information on JRC and IPSC, see http://ipsc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/home.php