The SADC Regional Remote Sensing Unit (RRSU) started its operations as a project in June 1988 with funding from the Government of Japan and technical assistance from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The first phase came to an end in 1992, after which the operational activities continued with support from the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme.

In April 1994 the second phase of the project started with financial support from the Government of the Netherlands and technical assistance from the FAO. This phase terminated in June 1998, after which the project was integrated in the organisational structure of FANR as a Unit. The RRSU is currently operated with funding from the European Commission project GCP/INT/952/EC - "EC-FAO Food Security Information for Action Programme"  implemented by FAO and RRSU.