As Daniel A. Matsapola of SANSA concludes more than four years of leadership within the CEOS Working Group on Capacity Development and Data Democracy (WGCapD), this moment offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on the journey, celebrate key achievements, and look ahead to the future of global Earth Observation (EO) capacity building.
Having first served as Vice Chair and later as Chair, Dan’s tenure has been marked by a strong commitment to WGCapD’s core mission: expanding access to EO data, promoting open-source tools, and delivering impactful training to users worldwide.
Strengthening Global Partnerships
A defining feature of this leadership period has been the strengthening of collaboration with United Nations entities. Through close engagement with UNOOSA, WGCapD significantly expanded its reach across the UN system. This collaboration led to the first joint UN-Space/CEOS WGCapD meeting and a series of successful training initiatives held in Brindisi, New York and Vienna. A most recent training on Resilience and Humanitarian Aid took place in March, 2026.
These efforts enabled participation from professionals representing more than 20 UN entities, reinforcing WGCapD’s role as a key enabler of EO capacity across international institutions.
WGCapD’s expanded engagement across the UN system through collaboration with UNOOSA.
Key Milestones and Strategic Impact
WGCapD’s progress during this period reflects strong collaboration across CEOS and partner organizations, including contributions towards CEOS Plenary 2025.
Engaging the Next Generation
One standout initiative has been the “CEOS in Schools” pilot, led by the UK Space Agency. Leveraging SANSA’s CEOS membership, the program reached learners aged 14–16 in South Africa’s North West and Eastern Cape provinces in collaboration with non-profit partners involved in NEOSS.
The first CEOS Youth Summit, part of the “CEOS in Schools” initiative led by the UK Space Agency.
Expanding Global Networks
The partnership with the EOTEC DevNet network has been instrumental in extending WGCapD’s global footprint. Now celebrating five years in 2026, this collaboration connects over 2,000 participants from major international networks including CEOS, UNOOSA, WMO, GEO, and VLab via vibrant regional communities of practice.
A recent highlight includes the 2026 Annual EO Providers Roundtable, which brought together over 110 practitioners and 15 training providers from across multiple regions. The Places to Find Trainings section of the EOTEC website also greatly compliments the CEOS Training Calendar that is managed by WGCapD.
Inclusive Engagement
WGCapD has also made important strides in engaging underrepresented communities, including Indigenous groups through collaboration with the GEO Indigenous Alliance and contributions to the GEO Indigenous Summit.
Supporting Emerging Space Agencies
Efforts to engage emerging space actors have led to meaningful outcomes, including the onboarding of the African Space Agency (AfSA) in February 2026 and new collaborative initiatives with ESA and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).
Key Deliverables Advancing Capacity Building
WGCapD continues to deliver practical tools and training to support global EO uptake. Recent and upcoming deliverables include:
- Guidance for Conducting Needs Assessments for Capacity Building
- Copernicus User Uptake in Africa
- Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Training
- Polarimetric SAR Training Course
- PUMAS Training on Sentinel-1 and SAOCOM-1
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, there is strong optimism about the growing recognition of capacity building across CEOS working groups and virtual constellations, including those focused on disasters, climate, and biodiversity. This momentum opens the door to deeper collaboration and expanded impact.
As WGCapD evolves, its continued emphasis on partnerships, inclusivity, and innovation will remain central to advancing global access to Earth Observation data and knowledge.
