Join us for the online masterclass “Seeing Water Clearly: Geospatial Insights for Agrifood Water Action”, taking place Thursday, 12 February at 12:00 (Rome time, UTC+1), and are kindly encouraged to disseminate the event information through relevant networks.  

Water-related challenges in agrifood systems—such as water scarcity, flooding, drought, groundwater depletion and inequitable access to the resource—are inherently spatial. Therefore, effectively addressing them requires that we understand the complex interconnections between land, food, climate and people. This masterclass, which primarily focus on young professionals, will explore how maps, satellite data and geospatial thinking can support evidence-based water action across agrifood systems.

Through real-world case studies, demonstrations and interactive discussion, the masterclass will introduce attendees to the role of geospatial information in monitoring water availability, assessing risks and supporting informed decision-making. Participants will advance their understanding of  approaches for diagnosing water challenges, communicating spatial evidence, and engaging with geospatial data, methods, tools and standards. As part of the Agrifood Leadership Education Programme on Water Action (ALEP-WA), focusing on young professionals, the masterclass empowers youth with new geospatial insights to continue to bridge science, policy and leadership in water action.

The session is jointly organized by the Land and Water Division (NSL) and the Office of Youth and Women (OYW), and falls under the ALEP-WA initiative. It is the first in a two-part masterclass series on water action. Participants who complete both sessions will receive a certificate of participation.

>>> Register here >>>

Agenda (12.00 -13.30 UTC+1)

12:00–12:05 – Opening remarks

Livia Peiser, Senior Land and Water Officer, FAO 

12:05–12:15 – Setting the scene: Why water action needs a spatial lens

Rashed Jalal, Remote Sensing Expert, Land and Water Division, FAO

12:15–12:25 – What we can see from space: Geospatial and Earth Observation for water and agriculture

Rashed Jalal, Remote Sensing Expert, Land and Water Division, FAO

12:25–12:40 – From information to action: Decisions supported by geospatial evidence (case studies)

TBC

12:40–12:50 – Standards, credibility and comparability: Why how data is produced matters

Fatima Mushtaq, Land Cover Monitoring Specialist, Land and Water Division, FAO

12:50–13:00 – Communicating spatial evidence for policy, partnerships and communities

Rashed Jalal, Remote Sensing Expert, Land and Water Division, FAO

13:00–13:10 – Bringing it home: Entry points for participants and water action proposals (Demonstrations aligned with water action proposals)

Rashed Jalal, Remote Sensing Expert, Land and Water Division, FAO

13:10–13:25 – Q&A

Rashed Jalal, Remote Sensing Expert, Land and Water Division, FAO

13:25–13:30 – Concluding remarks and way forward

Livia Peiser, Senior Land and Water Officer, FAO