Environment and Natural Resources Management Space Technology Applications Section

I. INTRODUCTION

1. The Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Development in Asia and the Pacific, held at Beijing during 19-24 September 1994, after detailed deliberations on various issues relating to promoting and enhancing the use of space technology applications, launched a Regional Space Applications Programme on Sustainable Development (RESAP) through the Beijing Declaration and the adoption of a Strategy for Regional Cooperation in Space Applications for Sustainable Development and an Action Plan on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific. The Ministerial Conference recommended the constitution of Regional Working Groups to promote regional cooperation in different themes of space technology applications for sustainable development in the region.

2. In pursuance of the recommendation of the Ministerial Conference and the Regional Strategy and Action Plan, the Regional Working Group on Satellite Communication Applications is hereby constituted as a regional cooperative network under RESAP of ESCAP. The Regional Working Group comes into existence on 26 February 1996 with the present terms of reference, and the following initial participating members: France, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Thailand.

II. OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS

3. The Regional Working Group on Satellite Communication Applications shall have the major objective of developing a self-sustaining mechanism for promoting regional cooperation on satellite communication applications and promoting technology transfer and exchange of information and experience among participating countries through sharing of information, conducting cooperative projects and participating in training programmes. The Regional Working Group shall have the following functions:

1. Review the status and capabilities in the area of satellite communication applications in the region with special emphasis on satellite based rural communication, health care, environment awareness promotion, distance education and information highway infrastructure;
2. Facilitate exchange of information on national policy, programmes and planning on satellite communication applications;
3. Formulate and implement collaborative projects in satellite-based rural communication, health care and distance education, data networking, and information highway infrastructure in the region;
4. Recommend mechanisms to involve government agencies, industries and NGOs in promoting satellite communication applications;
5. Establish appropriate linkages with other regional working groups for effective use of satellite-based communications in other sectors;
6. Identify and implement specific programmes for human resource development in satellite communication applications;
7. Promote conduct of system studies in specific areas of applications and advanced technologies;
8. Promote development of disaster warning systems, emergency communication systems and networking of information to enable member countries to deal with disasters rapidly and effectively;
9. Promote development of user-friendly technology and inexpensive systems.

III. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONAL MECHANISM

4. All members and associate members of ESCAP shall be eligible to be members in the Regional Working Group by expressing their interest of becoming a member and participating in the annual meeting.

5. Heads of national agencies responsible for coordinating satellite communication applications should be nominated as national contact points of the Regional Working Group and should participate in its annual meetings. The national contact point of the Regional Working Group shall act with general coordination of the national focal point for RESAP.

6. The Regional Working Group shall meet at least once a year to discuss common problems and develop cooperative programmes. The agenda may include the following items:

1. Exchange information;
2. Review activities and programmes of work;
3. Formulate collaborative projects;
4. Propose funding mechanism and solicit funds for implementing projects;
5. Propose annual work plan and report the progress of implementation to ICC.

7. The Regional Working Group should decide a coordination office located in the region in a national agency/centre situated in the ESCAP region and appoint a coordinator, who will be the nodal point for information flow to and from the Regional Working Group. The period for hosting the coordination office and its coordinator will be two years; however, it may be extended for one more term only if so decided by the Regional Working Group.

8. United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, representatives of other countries or organizations (NGOs, research institutions, universities) and experts in the field of interest, as the Regional Working Group may deem appropriate, may be invited to participate in its annual meetings in a consultative capacity.

IV. ROLES OF ESCAP AND HOST COUNTRY FOCAL POINT

9. The ESCAP secretariat, through its Space Technology Applications Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Management Division, shall:

1. Assist the coordinator in soliciting the nomination of members from participating countries;
2. Assist the Regional Working Group in organizing meetings, seminars and training;
3. Cooperate with the coordinator of the Regional Working Group and provide assistance in follow-up and realization of its recommendation;
4. Assist in project formulation, fund raising and implementation;
5. Facilitate information exchange through newsletters and reports;
6. Provide professional advice and input;
7. Provide a clearing house for information flow and interaction between members and the
8. coordinator of the Regional Working Group.

10. Regional members or associate members who possess centres of excellence in the field of satellite communication applications may offer to host the coordination office of the Regional Working Group. The host country, as the nodal point of the Regional Working Group, shall:

1. Host the coordination office of the Regional Working Group by providing necessary office facilities and operational support;
2. Designate a coordinator at its own cost and facilitate the coordinator in discharging his/her coordinating functions;
3. Interface with ESCAP for technical support and programme implementation as well as information exchange matters;
4. Initiate such activities as exchange of personnel, training, consultancy and technical visits, as requested by members of the Regional Working Group utilizing technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) mechanisms available at the ESCAP secretariat:
5. Provide coordination in association with ESCAP for conducting regional seminars/conferences and cooperative projects;
6. Facilitate appropriate coordination with ESCAP (after initial exchange of letters agreeing to host the Regional Working Group) on correspondence related to definition of substantive activities, budget estimation for external funding for programme support of these activities and exchange of letters for TCDC activities.

V. RELATION WITH THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL SPACE APPLICATIONS PROGRAMME (ICC ON RESAP)

11. The Regional Working Group shall report its work to the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development (ICC on RESAP), which functions under the purview of the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (Annex). The coordinator of the Regional Working Group shall attend and present the Regional Working Group report at the annual session of the ICC.

VI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

12. Any member of the Regional Working Group may propose an amendment to the terms of reference and the same shall enter into force, if approved by a consensus of the members in attendance.