28 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - When the de facto government in Afghanistan placed new restrictions on women’s freedoms, Ayesha’s university education was cut short. But she crafted success from crisis. She started a jewellery handicraft business using Afghan stones and now exports bracelets, necklaces and other jewellery pieces through online platforms. In 2023, Ayesha joined a UNITAR entrepreneurship training programme, where she learned how to develop a business plan and built her confidence to continue growing her venture.

28 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Nawid is an Afghan entrepreneur who founded and runs three businesses in Afghanistan in the agribusiness, green electronics and fashion, driven by a desire to do something for his people. Adapting to challenging circumstances and innovating within his means, Nawid demonstrates resilience and ingenuity in the face of adversity. In his newest venture, he is applying the knowledge and skills he learned from a 2023 UNITAR entrepreneurship training to support Afghan women.

Micky Welin's journey in disaster risk management (DRM) showcases the power of education and collaboration in enhancing disaster preparedness and response. Working as the Planning and Logistics Support Officer at Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Micky recognised the crucial need for advanced skills in Geospatial Information Technology (GIT) for effective disaster management.

Stepping up as a co-facilitator at COP28 negotiations on gender

Angela, or Angèle as she is called in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is a National Gender and Climate Change Focal Point (NGCCFP) at the UNFCCC for the DRC and works as a course guide for the night school for new negotiators organized by the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO). Initially, Angela was educated in the area of health (tracheostomy). Her journey related to climate change started at COP22 in 2016 in Marrakech, where she met the DRC Delegation, which led to her appointment as Gender and Climate Change focal point.

19 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – Tanzanian entrepreneur and assistant lecturer Angela Baltazary is passionate about conservation. Through the UNITAR programme on green livelihoods, she developed and embarked on a project to convert the methane in organic waste to protein, which would then be used in her venture that breeds, raises and harvests fish for food. Using organic waste in this way reduces greenhouse gases while contributing to public health and food security in Tanzania.

The increase in disaster occurrences and the high numbers of victims resulting from conflicts are urgent issues that require effective and rapid action. Satellite imagery analysis is a vital tool essential in this response, as it can cover large areas and provide accurate information in near real-time.
UNOSAT’s Emergency Mapping Service (EMS), funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA), provides satellite image analysis during humanitarian emergencies related to disasters, complex emergencies and conflict situations. With a 24/7 year-round availability to process requests, the team of experienced analysts ensure timely and tailored delivery of satellite imagery-derived maps (both web and static maps), reports and data ready for direct inclusion in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for evidence-based decision-making and operational planning.

Prashanthi Krishnamoorthy is the deputy director of the South Asia Division at the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, where she manages bilateral relations with India, Maldives and Pakistan. Prashanthi took part in the FY2023 UNITAR Hiroshima Training Programme on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation to enhance her ability to support and advance global disarmament and non-proliferation efforts.

The increase in disaster occurrences and the high numbers of victims resulting from conflicts are urgent issues that require effective and rapid action. Satellite imagery analysis is a vital tool essential in this response, as it can cover large areas and provide accurate information in near real time.



UNOSAT’s Emergency Mapping Service (EMS), funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA), provides satellite image analysis during humanitarian emergencies related to disasters, complex emergencies and conflict situations. With a 24/7 year-round availability to process requests, the team of experienced analysts ensure timely and tailored delivery of satellite imagery derived maps (both web and static maps), reports and data ready for direct inclusion in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for evidence based decision making and operational planning.

At a time when natural disasters are becoming more numerous and frequent, UNOSAT aims to equip all countries with geographical information systems (GIS) to make informed decisions and reduce the risks associated with these natural disasters. To this end, UNOSAT has set up the project ‘Strengthening Capacities in the Use of Geospatial Information for Improved Resilience in Asia-Pacific and Africa’. The project focuses on developing the capacity to use GIS in government agencies across eight partner countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Lao PDR, Nigeria, Solomon Islands, Uganda, and Vanuatu.

Captain Stanley Osaba, working at the National Emergency Operations and Coordination Centre under the Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management in the Office of the Prime Minister in Uganda, experienced a significant professional transformation. This transformation was sparked by his participation in a UNOSAT training course that covered the introduction and advanced GIS training sessions, which is part of the broader "Capacity Building in the Use of Geospatial Information for Improving Resilience in Asia-Pacific and Africa (2021-2024)" project. Initially a passive observer of GIS technology, Captain Osaba became an active participant, capable of developing GIS products and providing sound advice to specialists. "The training empowered me to confidently guide the specialists, offering informed views and recommendations based on my newfound understanding of the technology's capabilities," he explains.