​According to the UNDP Human Development Report 2023/2024, environmental degradation—including water scarcity and coastal erosion—significantly undermines food and water security, particularly in fragile regions. The EO Clinic addresses environmental degradation by providing satellite-based insights to improve planning and support sustainable development in fragile regions.

Source : UNDP

The EO Clinic project enables development banks and agencies to integrate satellite data into projects across multiple sectors such as agriculture, climate change, water resources, urban planning, and disaster risk management. It also acts as a testbed for innovative Earth Observations (EO) applications, combining satellite data with non-EO sources (e.g., socio-economic indicators) to derive high-impact development metrics.

The EO Clinic support was requested by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) to build local capacities in remote sensing technologies for the Gaza Strip. 

The region faces rapid environmental changes, including land use shifts, coastal erosion, flooding, and drought, which have led to serious challenges such as food insecurity and risks to coastal residents. The project aims to address these issues by enhancing the use of Earth Observation (EO) data for planning and monitoring, particularly in understanding coastal erosion dynamics. The EO Clinic's support also includes delivering EO training to local professionals, promoting the adoption of remote sensing for sustainable development. The project will contribute to building the capacity of local stakeholders to better manage the environment and address critical issues, including coastal protection and land use planning.