NASA and USAID Advance the Creation of the SERVIR-Central America Hub in Collaboration with CATIE

•   High-level USAID and NASA delegation visits CATIE to strengthen regional efforts
  
  
  

On September 5, 2024, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) took an important step towards the development of the SERVIR-Central America Hub by hosting a high-level delegation from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at its headquarters. This visit is part of the co-development process of the Hub SERVIR, a key program that aims to integrate space technologies to enhance climate resilience in the Central American region.

The delegation, composed of Nancy Searby, Capacity Building Program Manager of NASA's Earth Action Program; Dan Irwin, Global Program Manager of SERVIR; Chelsea Kay, Climate Adaptation and Resilience Advisor at USAID; and Ashley Netherton from USAID’s Regional Program for Central America (E-CAM), was received by Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE; Alejandro Solís, Director of the SERVIR Central America project; and Pablo Imbach, Leader of CATIE’s Climate Action Unit.

During the visit, authorities discussed CATIE's institutional role and the progress made in the co-creation sessions for the Hub. Hub.

“We are happy to welcome this delegation and grateful for their collaboration. This program will be a catalyst to integrate and promote our actions in the region,” said Pocasangre.

Irwin, for his part, highlighted CATIE's importance as a strategic partner: “This is our first meeting of many. CATIE is the perfect institution to host SERVIR Central America, and we are committed to working together to benefit the region's communities.”

From USAID, Netherton emphasized the long history of collaboration with CATIE. “We share many goals and objectives, and that is what unites us in this new initiative we are about to begin, seeking the benefit of Central American communities. With this new hub, tenemos oportunidades de tomar estas increíbles herramientas que NASA está generando para realmente beneficiar a la población de Centroamérica, para ayudarles a tomar mejores decisiones en sus vidas para enfrentar el cambio climático y la degradación ambiental”, mencionó.

The new Hub SERVIR-Central America Hub will aim to harness NASA's technological capabilities to provide key data that strengthens and complements decision-making in the area of climate change.

This delegation's visit marks a key milestone in the process, consolidating the collaboration between these organizations and paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable future for the region.