Djibouti Joins SCO Charter, Strengthening Climate Risk Management and Space Capabilities
In an announcement by Mr Aboubakar Hassan, Secretary-General of the Djibouti Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Djibouti has officially become a signatory of the Space Climate Observatory (SCO) Charter, furthering its commitment to tackling climate risks and enhancing its space technology capabilities.
The announcement follows Djibouti’s strategic mission to the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) in Paris, where Djibouti laid out its vision to become a regional leader in climate risk management. Mr Hassan highlighted that Djibouti aims to establish its regional observatory as a hub for experts, focusing on improving the region’s capacity to anticipate and manage climate-related challenges.
A vital element of this endeavour is deploying remote sensing technologies, prioritising satellite imagery from platforms such as Landsat, Sentinel, and SPOT satellites. These tools will be critical in gathering data to monitor environmental changes, enabling better decision-making and response strategies.
Furthermore, Mr Hassan also emphasised the country’s focus on developing human capital in the space sector. Djibouti has initiated the training of core remote sensing experts in collaboration with French universities, equipping local professionals with the skills to process and analyse satellite data more effectively. In addition to these developments, Djibouti is set to embark on a five-year partnership with CNES and other key French institutions to expand its space capabilities. In addition, this collaboration will support the nation’s efforts to integrate space technologies into its broader development agenda, focusing on sustainability and innovation.
By joining the SCO international charter, Djibouti commits to sharing data and expertise with global partners and fostering collaboration on regional and international projects to address climate risks through space technologies. “This partnership reflects our dedication to building local capacity and advancing our space capabilities in ways that support sustainability and innovation for the future,” Mr Hassan stated.