Environment and Natural Resources Management Space Technology Applications Section

2. In pursuance of the recommendation of the Ministerial Conference and the Regional Strategy and Action Plan, the Regional Working Group on Space Sciences and Technology Applications is hereby constituted as a regional cooperative network under RESAP with heads of national centres/programme in space sciences and technology applications for members and associates members. The Regional Working Group comes into existence on 30 April 1996 with the present terms of reference and the following initial participating members: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.

1. Review the status and capability in the area of space sciences and technology in the region, with special emphasis on Earth-oriented space sciences and technology development and their applications;
2. Facilitate the exchange of information on national policy, programmes and planning of space sciences and technology development as well as their applications;
3. Promote the development of small satellites, scientific payloads/experiments and ground-based experiments on geosphere-biosphere and atmosphere for applications to sustainable development;
4. Promote cooperation in developing inexpensive satellite-based positioning systems, data collection platforms, Earth observation systems, and inexpensive ground stations;
5. Recommend mechanisms to involve government agencies, industries, universities and the private sector in promoting space sciences and technology development as well as their applications;
6. Suggest ways and means for enhancing and sustaining regional cooperation in space sciences and technology applications.

5. Heads of national agencies coordinating space sciences and technology applications on their designated representatives shall be nominated as national contact points of the Regional Working Group and shall 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:

(a) Exchange information;

(b) Review activities and programmes of work;

(c) Formulate collaborative projects;

(d) Propose its funding mechanism and solicit funds for implementing projects;

(e) Propose its annual work plan and monitor the implementation.

7. Regional Working Group shall decide a coordination office located in a national agency/centre for space sciences and technology applications in the region and appoint a coordinator, who will be the nodal point for information flow to and from the Regional Working Group. The term for hosting the coordinating office will be two years. It may be extended for one more term only if so decided by the 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.

(a) Assist the coordinator in soliciting the nomination of members from participating countries;

(b) Assist the Regional Working Group in organizing meetings, seminars and training;

(c) Cooperate with the coordinator of the Regional Working Group and provide assistance in follow-up and realization of its recommendations;

(d) Assist in project formulation, fund raising and implementation;

(e) Facilitate information exchange through newsletters and reports;

(f) Provide professional advice and input;

(g) Provide a clearing house for information flow and interaction between members and the coordinator of the Regional Working Group.

10. Regional members or associate members, who possess centres of excellence in the field of space sciences and technology 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:

(a) Host the coordination office of the Regional Working Group by providing necessary office facilities and operational support;

(b) Designate, at its own cost, a coordinator and aassist him/her in discharging his/her coordinating functions;

(c) Interface with ESCAP for technical support and programme implementation, as well as information exchange matters;

(d) 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) and other mechanisms available at the ESCAP secretariat;

(e) Provide coordination in association with ESCAP for conducting regional seminars/conferences and cooperative projects;

(f) Facilitate appropriate coordination with ESCAP on correspondence related to definition of substantive activities, budget estimation for external funding for programme support of those activities and exchange of letters for TCDC activities.