Dr Emmanuel Nkurunziza, the Director General of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), and the Botswana Institute of Geomatics (BIG) have recently formalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the BIG 2023 Symposium. This significant partnership holds great potential in unlocking new opportunities and exploring the transformative role of geomatics in driving progress in Botswana.

The collaboration between both parties aims to foster synergy between two esteemed institutions. By combining their expertise and resources, they aim to enhance further geospatial research, development, and applications in Botswana. Furthermore, this collaboration is poised to profoundly impact various sectors such as land management, urban planning, natural resource management, environmental monitoring, disaster management, and many others.

In addition, this MoU holds promise for fostering regional integration and cooperation in the geospatial domain. By leveraging the strengths of RCMRD and the Botswana Institute of Geomatics, the partnership is anticipated to extend its impact beyond national borders, promoting knowledge transfer and collaboration among neighbouring countries.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the BIG 2023 Symposium, organised by the Botswana Institute of Geomatics. The forum brought together professionals and experts from various geospatial disciplines and was an invaluable avenue for practitioners to engage in insightful discussions, share the latest advancements and innovations, and address emerging challenges within geomatics.