The Programme

The GMES and Africa program was designed to address the specific needs of the African continent in developing services for water management, natural resources, and marine and coastal areas. It also aligns with broader global efforts to tackle environmental management challenges and ensure civil security.

However, GMES and Africa has also served as a strategic platform for the African Union to advance the institutionalization of the space sector as a key driver of Africa’s development. This effort culminated in the official creation of the African Space Agency (AfSA) in January 2023, following the approval of its statutes and the establishment of its headquarters in Egypt by the African Union.

Beyond this institutional achievement, the program has played a crucial role in advocating for the use of space technologies across African regions, institutions, the private sector, and policymakers, thereby fostering their integration into the continent’s development strategies.

Policies

GMES and Africa addresses at least eight (8) main policies and strategies at the continental level:

• Agenda 2063
• Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA)
• Abidjan Declaration (1976)
• African Union Blue Economy Strategy (2020)
• Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy (2013-2050)
• African Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (2004) - ARSDRR and Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in Africa (2016)
• African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032)
• African Space Policy (2019) and African Space Strategy (2019)

Objectives

The GMES and Africa 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

using Earth Observation data and derived information.

GMES and Africa will 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.

The Uniqueness of GMES & Africa

Unlike prior Earth Observation programmes in Africa, GMES and Africa introduces five 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.
• The engagement of African academia.
• Use of Copernicus Sentinel data.

Geographical Coverage

GMES & Africa covers the entire African continent, unlike its predecessors, such as MESA, which focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding the Northern Africa region. This arrangement will facilitate the ‘continentalization’ of GMES & Africa Services, enabling equal distribution of resources and strengthening EO capacity and collaboration across the entire continent.

Our consortia

The Programme is currently implemented by eight Consortia of institutions representing the African continent’s Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and Central regions.

What We Work On

Our services

Contact Us

African Union Commission
Department of Education, Science, Technologies and Innovation
P.O.Box 3243
Roosevelt Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Website: gmes.africa-union.org
Blog: gmes4africa.blogspot.com
Twitter: @GMESAfrica
Facebook: gmesafrica
Email: gmes@africa-union.org
Tel: (+251) 11 5517700