Experiences and results of users of Earth Observation data from Sentinel2 tabled for discussion in Morocco

Hailu Wudineh

06 March 2018

Experiences and results of users of Earth Observation data from Sentinel2 tabled for discussion among scientific and research communities in Rabat, Morocco.

It was discussed during the international workshop on the Contribution of Sentinel2 Satellite Imagery for Research and applications for managing Environmental resources in Africa. The workshop ran from 06 to 08 February 2018, in Rabat, Morocco.

GMES and Africa Support Programme is a pan-African Earth observation programme that uses Earth Observation data and information from Sentinel Satellites for the management of natural and environmental resources and civil security in the entire Africa.

GMES and Africa’s Programme Coordinator and Space Science Expert, Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, briefed participants of the workshop how the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and Africa (GMES and Africa Programme) using Earth Observation contributes to the realization of aspirations of African States stipulated in Africa’s Agenda 2063. GMES and Africa Programme is part of a global and African strategy that contributes to the implementation of Agenda 2063 and to the realization of the aspirations contained therein.

Dr. Tidiane underlines the close relationship between aspirations of Agenda 2063 and concrete needs of populations. He also briefed the role of Earth Observation for contributing to the management of abundant natural resources and environmental resources of Africa.

GMES and Africa Support Programme aims to improve African policy-makers’, planners’, scientists’, business and private sector and citizens’ capacities to design, implement, and monitor national, regional and continental policies and to promote sustainable management of natural resources through the use of Earth Observation data and derived information.

The GMES and Africa Support Programme through its recently awarded thirteen consortia of institutions based in different regions of Africa, will provide marine and land services using data from Sentinel Satellites of the Copernicus Programme.

Fifty representatives of research institutions, universities and user communities attended the workshop.

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ABOUT THE GMES AND AFRICA SUPPORT PROGRAMME

GMES and Africa Support Programme is a 30 million Euro joint programme co-financed by the European Commission and the African Union Commission. The Programme will use and adapt the Copernicus Programme data and services to the African context. It is designed to specifically respond to African needs with respect to services related to water, natural resources, marine and coastal areas and to address the global needs to manage the environment, and ensure civil security. It is to enable the implementation of the African Space Policy and Strategy, formulated to harness the continent’s capabilities in utilizing space science and technology for economic growth and sustainable development. In the implementation agreement, the African Union Commission is the ‘delegated authority’ responsible for the management of the programme.

GMES and Africa Support Programme aims to improve African policy-makers’, planners’, scientists’, business and private sector and citizens’ capacities to design, implement, and monitor national, regional and continental policies and to promote sustainable management of natural resources through the use of Earth Observation data and derived information.

Unlike prior Earth Observation Progrmammes, the GMES and Africa introduces four key innovations: The inclusion of the North African countries; the programme is managed entirely by the African Union Commission; the engagement of African private sector and academia; it uses data from Copernicus Programme.

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