On 13th March 2023, RCMRD under the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) and Africa joined the world in celebrating the World International Women’s Day under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This day was dedicated to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political inclusion of women, as well as advocating for women’s involvement in Innovation and technology.
RCMRD GMES and Africa project has been a champion for women empowerment through a number of actions such as the development of a Gender-sensitive training strategy which is meant to support empowerment of women with the relevant knowledge, skills and values on Earth Observation(EO) matters that allow them to contribute to the effective implementation of the programme in generating and applying EO-based information in natural & water resources and marine & coastal areas management.
At the continental level, GMES and Africa programme has brought together women in Geospatial space through the “Women in GMES & Africa”. This is geared towards promoting the Earth Observation data and products and sharing knowledge and best practices for the full involvement of women in GMES and Africa Programme implementation.
To commemorate this day, RCMRD consortium under the GMES and Africa highlighted how the programme has contributed towards involvement and representation of women in Innovation and Technology. We took this opportunity to highlight three women under the program on their perspective on women’s involvement in Earth Observation under the program and the geospatial space at large
According to Eunice Mwangi, Land Degradation Monitoring and Assessment Thematic lead under GMES and Africa, Women can benefit from training opportunities offered towards leveraging Earth Observation technology for environment resource monitoring. The spatial data can help the female scientist to practice and develop decision support systems that promotes sustainable livelihoods
Eunice Mwangi-Land Degradation Monitoring and Assessment thematic lead
Tsion Kebede, GMES and Africa Master’s Program beneficiary from Dilla University had this to say,’ I am honoured by the RCMRD GMES and Africa project for supporting me and other women to accomplish our MSc studies through the scholarship program on Earth Observation related area of study. I urge other girls to explore opportunities in EO through the RCMRD GMES and Africa program and be part of the advancement of EO to make a positive impact on the community’.
Tsion Kebede-GMES and Africa MSc scholarship Beneficiary
