The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) and the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) Consortium, collaborating under the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) and Africa programme, hosted the Eastern Africa Regional Workshop in partnership with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) from July 24th to 26th, 2023, in Seychelles. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the Eastern Africa Region, including consortia partners, policy makers, and private sector representatives from 14 implementing countries namely; Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda
The three-day workshop, graced by Dr. Tidiane Ouattara – GMES and Africa Programme Cordinator, Mr. Tony Imaduwa (Seychelles' Permanent Secretary of Climate Change and Energy), Mr. Zachary Atheru (ICPAC), Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza (Director General, RCMRD), Ms. Gina Bonne (IOC), and Dr. Michael Hall (University of Seychelles), aimed to enhance engagement, foster dialogue, network, and raise awareness regarding GMES and Africa Phase II in Eastern Africa.
While giving his keynote opening remarks, Dr. Tidiane Ouattara emphasized academia and private sector synergy, highlighting their roles in innovation. He further identified the promising opportunities for the utilization of GMES and Africa Products and Services in decision-making and policy formulation across Eastern African Countries
Addressing participants, Mr. Tony Imaduwa, highlighted the challenges small Islands face due to limited resources. He stressed cost-effective monitoring solutions. Ms. Gina Bonne echoed this, emphasizing on the need to raise awareness about Earth Observation technology for African Islands. Additionally, Mr. Zachary Atheru praised EO's power for evidence-based policies which was stressed by Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza who called on the consortium’s engagement with policy makers.
A significant facet of the workshop involved the exchange of case studies and experiences that employ Earth Observation (EO) to address critical challenges such as Land degradation, coastal erosion, coastal flooding, and shoreline monitoring. The participants further engaged in discussions to collect valuable feedback and assess the evolving needs related to the developed products and services tailored for Island States
During presentations, RCMRD showcased its services namely; Land Degradation Monitoring and Assessment, Wetlands Monitoring and Assessment, and the Open Geographic Vector Database. Through platforms like the comprehensive geoportal https://gmesgeoportal.rcmrd.org/ ,RCMRD ensures that valuable datasets, tools, and products from these service areas are readily accessible for analysis and decision-making.
The GMES and Africa workshop yielded a comprehensive set of key recommendations, which serve as a roadmap for unlocking the full potential of Earth Observation (EO) data. Notable recommendations include building on existing capacities, fostering collaborations with regional institutions, and tapping into the vibrant potential of research in Universities. Moreover, the establishment of robust policies and protocols for EO data exchange and utilization emerged as a vital step. The workshop emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between science and policy through dissemination of EO information clearly understood by the decision and policy makers, ensuring a smooth flow of valuable insights for informed decision-making. Further recommendations encompassed the operationalization of EO infrastructure, the integration of coastal erosion mapping into early warning systems, and the continuous investment in technical capacity building for EO stakeholders. To enhance capacity building, the utilization of online training platforms was encouraged, alongside efforts to enhance awareness and sensitize stakeholders to the potential of EO.
In conclusion, the Regional Workshop served as a critical platform for engaging stakeholders in on opportunities in use of EO in addressing development challenges, knowledge exchange, collaboration, and capacity-building in the realm of Earth Observation, with the shared vision of harnessing technology for sustainable development across the Eastern African Region and Indian Ocean Islands
