AGEOS.Tunisie Joins UN-SPIDER Network as Regional Support Office for North Africa
The United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) has formally welcomed the African Association for Geospatial Development, AGEOS.Tunisie, as its newest Regional Support Office (RSO). The announcement marks a significant step in expanding the use of space-based technologies for disaster risk management across North Africa and the wider African continent.
Mandate and Areas of Expertise
As a UN-SPIDER RSO, AGEOS will focus on strengthening the use of space-based information for disaster management across North Africa, supporting governments, public institutions, and local communities in building resilience to climate-related and disaster risks.
The organisation brings a broad portfolio of technical expertise to its new role. In the area of capacity building, AGEOS designs and delivers training programmes targeting institutions, professionals, and youth, covering topics such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Earth Observation, and GeoAI. Its learning approaches include hackathons, GeoLabs, and project-based initiatives, with outreach extending to schools, municipalities, and civil protection actors.
On the technical side, AGEOS develops operational tools for anticipatory action and early warning, including near-real-time dashboards and satellite-based environmental monitoring systems designed to respond to climate hazards such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and coastal erosion. The organisation also integrates advanced methodologies, including Digital Twins, three-dimensional modelling, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) data acquisition, into its disaster preparedness and urban risk analysis work.
AGEOS further conducts multi-hazard risk assessments, exposure mapping, and vulnerability analysis, and promotes community-based approaches through participatory mapping. These efforts are supported by a wide range of datasets, including open-source platforms such as OpenStreetMap, national geospatial databases, satellite and drone imagery, and environmental and climate data covering land use, water resources, and waste mapping.
Significance of the Partnership
The designation of AGEOS as a UN-SPIDER RSO reflects a growing recognition of the role that geospatial intelligence and space-based technologies can play across the full disaster management cycle, from prevention and preparedness through to response and recovery. For a region where climate-related hazards pose significant and recurring challenges, the partnership is expected to strengthen evidence-based decision-making at both institutional and community levels.
UN-SPIDER expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting its expectation of impactful work ahead as AGEOS assumes its responsibilities within the global network.
Background: What is UN-SPIDER?
UN-SPIDER operates under the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and serves as a global platform dedicated to ensuring that all countries have access to and can effectively use space-based information in disaster management and emergency response. Through its network of Regional Support Offices, UN-SPIDER extends its reach into specific geographic regions, working with governments, institutions, and communities to build technical capacity and resilience. AGEOS joins a growing international network of RSOs spanning multiple continents.
About AGEOS.Tunisie
Headquartered in Tunisia, AGEOS is a regional organisation that promotes the use of geospatial technologies, Earth Observation (EO), and Geographic Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) for sustainable development and disaster risk reduction. Its work spans across Africa and increasingly engages partners beyond the continent, positioning it as a key geospatial actor in the region.