ICT based tools of MESA transferred to GMES and Africa
Hailu Wudineh
31 October 2017
Following a series of consultations in the last six months between the two Programmes, ICT based tools of MESA have been transferred to GMES & Africa
The Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) was a joint AU-EU programme which has been in operation in the area of Earth Observation (EO) for the past four years. The Programme is now officially closed, and the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, and Africa (GMES & Africa) Support Programme is taking over.
 
Staff of the AUC Departments of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST), and Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA), Coordinators, Technical Assistant team leaders and  experts of the two Programmes, attended the handover ceremony at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
 
Speaking on behalf of the Director of HRST, the GMES and Africa Coordinator, Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, underlined the importance and positive results of the collaboration between the two departments, noting that the transition to GMES and Africa is meant to facilitate a continuation of MESA. The idea of GMES and Africa, he continued, is to take over and build on  the technical and human resources of MESA.
 
The Director of DREA, through the MESA Coordinator, Dr. Jolly Wassambo, pledged the seamless support of the African Union Commission in providing EO applications and services. He said "achievements registered under the MESA demonstrate the practical contributions of EO to towards achieving the continent’s development agenda (Agenda 2063). As GMES & Africa takes over, the DREA Director said he has "no doubts about the commitment of the AU Commission to continuing its support to the new programme".
 
Africa’s efforts in the development of Earth Observation (EO) applications is long-standing. The continent has steadily been driving towards maximizing the exploitation of Earth Observation applications for sustainable development.  Unlike MESA, the GMES and Africa support programme covers all 55 African countries.  
 
Handover MESA to GMES: The actors
 

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  • The infrastructure inventory was performed later by the G&A and MESA Staff, on the 17/11 2:30 pm, and the equipment physically left the MESA office to be stored in the former office of the HRST Director (PAU building). An inventory sheet has been recorded and signed after physically checking the items, to be passed to the AU. 
  • Some equipment were installed by MESA while others were not, meaning that they have been handed over in their boxes.  
  • On 16/11, the MESA Coordinator indicated to the G&A Coordinator that a draft memo were send to AHRM (HRST was copied) to point that the equipment that is still under the custody of the AU stores will need to be given to HRST for use by the GMES programme.  
 
 


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