On 28 February 2023, the Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development (RCMRD) and the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Kenya to foster collaborative efforts geared towards advancing research capabilities, cooperation, capacity-building initiatives and opportunities for fostering sustainable development.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of a 3-day integrated management programme hosted by the Global Monitoring for Environmental and Security (GMES) and Africa and RCMRD, dedicated to advancing the goals of the GMES and Africa programme on the continent. The strategic meeting chaired by Dr Tidiane Ouattara, a Space Science Expert and Programme Coordinator at GMES and Africa, was graced by GMES and Africa’s Heads of Consortia and project coordinators.

Furthermore, the MoU highlights potential efforts to foster growth in the field of research, including data acquisition, sharing, processing, products development and validation essential to advancing GMES and Africa phase 2 programme geared towards meeting the continent’s needs, particularly in the areas of mitigating environmental risks by improving access to data. 

In the first meeting on the 27th of February, stakeholders discussed strategic approaches, sustainability methodologies, and opportunities vital to ensure the effective implementation of GMES and Africa frameworks and secure working mechanisms that foster lasting results. 

The GMES and Africa Phase 2 commenced in January 2022 and is expected to end in December 2025. The total investment of the European Commission to GMES and Africa phase 2 is EUR 24,650,000 (USD 28 million). In addition, GMES and Africa phase 2 will focus on how EO applications and services can enhance environmental sustainability and socio-economic development in Africa and foster environmental and long-term natural resource management for human development.