It is hosted at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), with the mission to promote evidence-based decision making for peace, security and resilience using geo-spatial information technologies.

UNOSAT provides the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies with satellite analysis, training and capacity development, at their request.

UNOSAT also supports the UN Member States with satellite imagery analysis over their respective territories and provides them with training and capacity development in the use of geospatial information technologies.

[3] Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, UNOSAT has been analyzing damage using satellite imagery, for example for UNESCO, in order to assess the impact on cultural sites.

The institute is financed entirely from voluntary contributions mainly from UN Member States, other UN agencies, international and Intergovernmental organization, NGOs and the private sector.