A continent where decisions on policy and implementation programs, involving the production, management and use of Earth observation, are taken with the involvement of all stakeholders, through a coordination framework enabling the linkage country-region-continent that AfriGEO wants to build. This is expected to be realized, in the medium-long term, by strengthening and enlarging the role of the existing national, regional and continental institutions.
AfriGEO aims to provide the necessary framework for African countries and organizations as well as international partners to access and leverage on-going local and international bilateral and multilateral EO-based initiatives across Africa, thereby creating synergies and minimizing duplication for the benefit of the continent.
AfriGEO comprises 33 Africa based member states and more than 15 participating organizations that constitute the Africa Caucus. The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Nairobi Kenya, hosts the AfriGEO Secretariat since 2019.
AfriGEO's leadership comprises the Africa Caucus, the Steering Committee and the Secretariat. The Africa Caucus, represented by high-level officials of government agencies and Participating Organizations known as GEO Principals. The Africa Caucus represents Africa in the GEO Plenary, forms part of the GEO Executive Committee and Programme Board, provides strategic direction, fosters continental collaboration, and ensures alignment with national, regional and global Earth Observation priorities and investments. The Steering Committee supports the implementation of the Caucus's decisions and oversees activities and guides the operations of the Secretariat. The Secretariat provides day-to-day administrative and technical support, facilitates communication among stakeholders, and ensures the smooth execution of activities, events, and programmes.
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) established by the Resolution of the 3rd Earth Observation Summit in February of 2005, is a global collaboration dedicated to understanding our Earth in all its complexity. As a collaborative intergovernmental body, GEO is dedicated to co-producing user-driven Earth Intelligence solutions. By collecting and sharing vital information, ranging from satellite images of forests to oceanic temperature readings and beyond, GEO provides a comprehensive view of our planet's well-being, allowing us to monitor and safeguard its health. These are not just datasets; they're the tools that inform decisions, shaping policies and initiatives worldwide that guides society towards a sustainable future.
GEO established four Regional GEOs: AfriGEO (Africa), AmeriGEO (Americas), AOGEO (Asia-Oceania), and EuroGEO (Europe) to enhance regional collaboration, address region-specific challenges, and engage local stakeholders in Earth observation initiatives. The Regional GEOs play a distinct role in GEO’s structure by coordinating members, aligning global GEO activities with regional priorities, and driving region-specific initiatives that advance GEO’s mission.
National Coordination Mechanisms also known as National GEOs are country-level coordination mechanisms that bring together government agencies, research institutions, NGOs, academia, and private sector stakeholders involved in Earth observations. They play a critical role in aligning national priorities with regional and global initiatives under the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).
National GEOs serve as key nodes that facilitate data sharing, capacity building, and the implementation of Earth observation activities tailored to national needs. By strengthening coordination at the national level, they enhance Africa’s collective voice and impact within the broader GEO framework, driving sustainable development through the effective use of Earth observation data.
The member states are strongly encouraged to strengthen and establish national EO coordination mechanisms to:
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