The service solutions developed within GEO are aimed at addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and disasters. Yet, what impacts do these solutions have? How do they generate benefits for society? How might they better respond to the most pressing and emerging societal needs?

Answers to these questions rely on an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms through which the GEO solutions create value for key beneficiaries as well as for society as a whole. A holistic mapping of these impacts are needed to demonstrate the benefits, sustain investments and drive evolutions. Trustworthy socio-economic assessments, alongside improved narratives, also provide robust bases for needs and requirements when planning the evolution of GEO solutions and of future EO missions. When integrated with local contextual knowledge, they would also support wider and more equal uptake.

This session will introduce the GEO Impact Assessment Toolkit (GIAT), which is being developed by GEOValue to support GEO Initiatives in evaluating, and communicating, the societal, environmental, and economic benefits derived from their EO-based solutions. It is a practical guide aimed at equipping practitioners with the knowledge to conduct impact analyses and translate them into compelling value cases for broader audiences. Emphasis will be given to the need for mapping the impacts and needs of local users, communities, stakeholders, First Nations and Indigenous communities to ensure that the benefits of EO are equally distributed and accessible widely by citizens and society. Finally, the need to develop capabilities to anticipate prospective benefits from future solutions that respond to the users’ needs will be discussed. This will focus on exploring the interest of the GEO board members to equip the GEO with a long-term enabling mechanism capable of addressing the collection, curation, and analysis of geospatial information needs and requirements.