Cairo welcomes North African GMES&Africa stakeholders for an optimized use of space data in natural resource management
The North Africa consortium regional workshop of the GMES&Africa program opened yesterday, July 7, in Cairo and will continue until July 9. Organized by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) in collaboration with Egypt’s Desert Research Center (DRC), it brings together a range of participants from the institutional, scientific, technical, and private sectors.
The purpose of this meeting is to consolidate the achievements of GMES&Africa second phase, supported by the European Commission and whose regional coordination was recently transferred to the newly established African Space Agency (AfSA) in Cairo.
The workshop provides an opportunity to assess the integration of Earth Observation data into public policies and to identify the tools likely to strengthen their institutional and operational ownership.
During the opening ceremony, Prof. Ghada Abd El-Moneim Hegazi, DRC Vice President, and Mr. Mustapha Mimouni, OSS Technology, Information and Remote Sensing Department Director, emphasized the importance of leveraging geospatial tools to address land degradation, sustainable water management, and food security challenges. Their presentations highlighted the benefits of institutionalizing platforms, adopting mobile applications, and integrating AI into services for the agricultural sector.
Discussions strongly emphasized the program's structuring role in supporting national institutions, particularly through technical assistance, as well as the provision of early warning tools and systems aimed at improving drought prevention and mitigating the impacts of desertification and climate change.
GMES&Africa has particularly contributed in the establishment of a positive environment for advocacy with decision-makers, encouraged the creation of innovative hubs, and consolidated national collaborations. Discussions highlighted the importance of supporting research centers by funding master's and PhD scholarships.
Technical sessions provided an opportunity to explore the potential of Earth Observation for monitoring land degradation, supporting international sustainable development agendas, and defining strategies at the national and sub-regional levels.
The workshop will proceed, in a spirit of regional collaboration and experience sharing around technological solutions adapted to the North African context.