The 8th AfriGEO Symposium began today at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Nairobi, Kenya, gathering experts and stakeholders in Earth Observation (EO) from across the continent and beyond to enhance the development and adoption of EO resources for Africa’s sustainable development.
AfriGEO, an initiative by the African Community within the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), coordinates Africa’s participation in GEO activities. It aims to be a Pan-African platform that raises awareness and builds Earth Observation (EO) capacity across governments, research organisations, academia, and the commercial sector. The initiative provides a framework to strengthen partnerships and collaborations within Africa and serves as a gateway for international partners to engage with the continent. Additionally, AfriGEO supports implementing GEO objectives and programs in Africa, aligned with the GEOPost 2025 Strategy. Since 2016, the AfriGEO Symposia have been held annually, offering the AfriGEO community an opportunity to connect, engage, and build meaningful collaborations to address the continent’s developmental challenges using Earth observation.
The 2024 Symposium, themed “Earth Intelligence for Africa,” aims to facilitate this engagement by bringing together experts from various sectors to discuss, unlock, and activate integration, co-design, user engagement, partnership, and capacity development in Africa. Over the next four days, the AfriGEO Symposium will focus on the following priority topics:
- Agriculture, Food Security, Soil Moisture, and Agricultural Outreach Support
- Biodiversity, Land Degradation, and Sustainable Forest Management
- Land Cover for Africa, Land Administration, and Sustainable Urban Development
- Blue Economy and Water Resource Management
- Climate Services and Adaptation
- Health, Air Quality, and Disaster Management
- Innovation, Data, and Infrastructure
Day 1 Summary: 8th AfriGEO Symposium
The day began with an opening session moderated by Lulu Makapela from the National Earth Observations and Space Secretariat (NEOSS) in South Africa, who guided the participants through welcoming statements and keynote addresses.
Dr Emmanuel Nkurunziza, Director General of RCMRD, officially welcomed attendees to the Symposium, setting an optimistic tone for the day’s proceedings. Furthermore, Dr Nkurunziza underscored the symposium’s significance as a catalyst for positive change within Africa’s EO community in his address. Dr Nkurunziza emphasised that the gathering is an essential platform for exchanging best practices and innovative strategies, which are crucial for enhancing the adoption and integration of EO services across various African sectors. He pointed out that such cross-sectoral growth is vital for the continent’s sustainable development and long-term resilience.
Following this, Dr Mmboneni Muofhe, Deputy Chair of the Africa Caucus from South Africa, provided an insightful overview of the AfriGEO journey. He highlighted the remarkable progress made since the initiative’s inception at the first conference in 2016. In addition, Dr Muofhe emphasised the milestones achieved in building a robust EO ecosystem in Africa, noting that these successes pave the way for a more integrated and responsive EO community across the continent. He also laid the path forward, stressing the need for continued collaboration, innovation, and investment to ensure that EO technologies effectively address Africa’s unique challenges.
Prof Amos Kabobah, Co-Chair of the GEO Programme Board and Dean of International Relations at the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana, introduced the AfriGEO Capacity Development Fund. He described this initiative as a cornerstone of AfriGEO’s efforts to enhance EO capabilities across Africa. Furthermore, Prof Kabobah detailed how the fund aims to empower African nations by providing the resources necessary to build and sustain EO infrastructure, develop human capital, and foster innovation. Thus, he called upon stakeholders to support this fund, highlighting its potential to transform EO practices on the continent and enable African countries to meet their development goals.
Dr Ernest Acheampong from the GEO Secretariat then took the stage to discuss AfriGEO’s pivotal role within the broader GEO framework. He illustrated how AfriGEO serves as a bridge between Africa and the global EO community, ensuring that African voices are heard and that the continent’s unique needs are addressed in GEO’s global agenda. In addition, Dr Acheampong emphasised the importance of AfriGEO in aligning Africa’s EO initiatives with the GEOPost 2025 Strategy, which aims to advance EO for global sustainable development.
Dr Moses Akali, Director of the Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS), delivered the official opening address in Kenya. Dr Akali highlighted EO’s critical role in Kenya’s development strategy and commended AfriGEO for its efforts to promote EO to address the continent’s challenges. He underscored the importance of collaboration among African nations to harness the full potential of EO technologies, and he encouraged continued efforts to integrate EO into national policies and frameworks.
The keynote followed the opening session featuring distinguished speakers who provided deep insights into the EO market’s current state and future potential in Africa. Mr Mustapha Iderawumi, Senior Analyst at Space in Africa, comprehensively analysed the African EO ecosystem. In addition, he explored the evolving business trends within the sector, highlighting the rapid advancements and the increasing adoption of EO technologies across the continent.
Dr Jane Olwoch, Executive Director of the Southern Africa Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL), followed with a thought-provoking presentation titled “Earth Intelligence for Africa: Her Unique Perspective.” Dr Olwoch discussed the transformative power of EO, particularly in how it has evolved over the past decades to become an indispensable tool for sustainable development in Africa. In addition, she outlined the remarkable growth of EO applications across various sectors, noting how these advancements have contributed to better resource management, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness on the continent. Furthermore, Dr Olwoch also identified areas where further growth is possible, advocating for increased investment in EO infrastructure, capacity building, and cross-border collaboration.
The second half of the Symposium explored critical discussions on enhancing national EO capabilities and leveraging EO for disaster risk reduction across Africa. The afternoon’s agenda started with a plenary session titled “Understanding National EO Capabilities – Towards a National Coordination Mechanism,” moderated by Tumisang Modiole, Director of Earth Observations at South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation. Furthermore, this session brought together experts from various African nations to explore the implementation of the Earth Observation Maturity Index (EOMI) methodology. EOMI is a strategic tool for assessing the current state of EO activities, identifying gaps, and guiding targeted investments in EO infrastructure and capabilities. Representatives from Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa shared their countries’ experiences with the EOMI methodology. These representatives included:
- Dr Ernest Acheampong, Capacity Development Coordinator, GEO Secretariat.
- Adv. Lulu Makapela, The National Earth Observations and Space Secretariat (NEOSS), SA-GEO
- Dr Amadou Sall, Programme Coordinator, Natural Resources Management and Food Security, Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE), Senegal
- Dr Kofi Asare, Ghana Space Science & Technology Institute, Ghana
- Dr Mattew Adepoju, Director General, NASRDA.
They offered valuable insights into the challenges and successes of advancing their national EO initiatives. Similarly, the session underscored the importance of establishing national coordination mechanisms to ensure that EO efforts are effectively integrated into broader development strategies, thus maximising their impact on socio-economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Following this, the symposium transitioned into a focused discussion on “EO for Disaster Risk Reduction,” a session moderated by James Wanjohi, the Disaster Risk Reduction Project Manager at RCMRD. Therefore, the session was framed within the context of the “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Early Warning Initiative for All,” emphasising EO’s critical role in enhancing disaster preparedness and response across the continent. In addition, the session featured a diverse panel of experts, including representatives from Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister, Mozambique’s Disaster Risk Management and Resilience Program, and Esri Inc., as well as scholars from Kenyatta University in Kenya and the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Nigeria. These panellists included:
- Emmanuel Okecho, Disaster Preparedness Officer, Office of the Prime Minister-Uganda
- Dr Nuno Ibra Rename, Disaster Risk Management, Sustainability and Urban Resilience (DiMSUR), Mozambique.
- Olivier Cottray, Director of Humanitarian Solutions Esri Inc.
- Mercy Osumo, Kenyatta University – Kenya,
- Dr Felix Buba, Scientific Research Officer, African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education (ARCSSTE-E)-Nigeria.
The panellists explored the current landscape of disaster risk reduction systems in Africa, highlighting the integration of EO technologies in monitoring and mitigating the impacts of natural disasters. Discussions centred on the practical applications of EO data in predicting and managing risks associated with floods and other climate-related hazards. Furthermore, case studies and research presentations provided concrete examples of how EO builds resilience in vulnerable communities. Therefore, this underscores the need for continued investment in EO infrastructure and capacity building to enhance the continent’s disaster risk management capabilities.
Day 1 of the AfriGEO Symposium laid the groundwork for the next three days of in-depth discussions and collaborative efforts. The sessions highlighted the current state of EO in Africa. They identified key areas for growth and improvement, setting the stage for unlocking the full potential of EO in addressing Africa’s most pressing challenges. The day’s proceedings underscored the symposium’s central theme of “Earth Intelligence for Africa,” emphasising the critical role of EO in driving sustainable development, enhancing resilience, and improving the quality of life across the continent.