PRESS RELEASE

                                                                                     09 June, 2025

SASSCAL TO CO-HOST THE GMES & AFRICA SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGIONAL

STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP ON EO TECHNOLOGIES 

The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) is pleased to announce the upcoming GMES & Africa Southern Africa Regional Stakeholder Workshop, scheduled to take place from 17–18 June 2025 at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, South Africa.

This high-level regional workshop, co-hosted by SASSCAL and the CSIR, will convene policymakers, technical experts, researchers, and key stakeholders from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The event which will be held under the theme: ‘: “From data to impact: Earth Observation and Space Technology Solutions as a catalyst for enhancing Africa’s Policy and Economic Transformation” aims to foster the exchange of insights, experiences, and innovations related to the application of Earth Observation (EO) technologies for environmental monitoring and sustainable development.

Background

The GMES & Africa initiative is a flagship programme born of the strategic cooperation between the African Union Commission and European Commission. It is designed to respond to the increasing global need to manage environmental challenges, address the effects of climate change, and support civil security. Through satellite and ground-based EO systems, GMES & Africa provides reliable information services to governments, scientists, the private sector, and civil society across the continent.

In its second phase, now in its concluding year, GMES & Africa has made significant progress in developing regional capacities, strengthening institutional frameworks, and delivering EO-based services tailored to Africa’s sustainable development goals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purpose of the Workshop

The two-day regional workshop is designed to provide a collaborative platform for stakeholders to:

• Showcase the key achievements and milestones of the GMES & Africa programme during its second phase over the past four years;
• Promote mutual learning and knowledge exchange through the sharing of best practices, innovations, and experiences in Earth Observation (EO) applications;
• Highlight EO-based tools and services that have supported the formulation and implementation of regional and national policy objectives;
• Demonstrate the integration of EO technologies in advancing sustainable development strategies, particularly in the management of coastal zones, river basins, and fragile ecosystems.

• “From Data to Impact: Earth Observation and Space Technology Solutions as a Catalyst for Enhancing Africa’s Policy and Economic Transformation,”
  the workshop will highlight the pivotal role of Earth Observation (EO) data in driving evidence-based policymaking, informed economic planning, and sustainable natural resource management across the continent.
• This regional gathering will bring together a diverse group of participants, including representatives from SADC member states, basin commissions, the public and private sectors, technical implementing agencies, academic and research institutions, and civil society organisations actively engaged in environmental protection, climate resilience, and sustainable development initiatives.