1. AfriGEOSS - An Initiative to Implement GEOSS in Africa Capacity Building Elements Andiswa Mlisa (GEO Sec)
AfriGEOSS-EOPOWER-GEOGLAM Southern Africa 1st Workshop, Symposium, 8-9 May 2014, Pretoria, South Africa

2. Source: World Factbook,
Africa in Context
Europe
China
Argentina
India
USA
“48 States”
New Zealand
The Size of Africa
Africa in Context …
Africa covers 20% of Earth’s land surface
Accounts for 15% of the world’s total human population
China 9,596,960 Km2
USA 9,363,071 Km2
India 3,287,590 Km2
Europe 4,936,973 Km2
Argentina 2,766,890 Km2
New Zealand 268,680 Km2
TOTAL : 30,220,164 km2
Area of Africa: 30,318,830 km2
Source: World Factbook,
© GEO Secretariat

3. …Africa in Context … Issues and challenges food security
water scarcity
environmental degradation
peace and security
access to health
climate change
energy resources

4. GEO OBJECTIVES
Improve and Coordinate Observation Systems (avoid duplications)
Provide Easier & More Open Data Access
Foster Use (Science, Applications)
Building Capacity
Identify gaps in observations (based on user requirements)
…Earth Observation Systems should be coordinated and shared internationally … to answer Society’s need for informed decision making

5. GEOSS for AFRICA
CBERS Africa, GEONETCast, SERVIR Africa, Sand and Dust Storm Warning System, AEGOS, Wildland Fire Early Warning System, Puma, AMESD, BIOTA, TIGER, SoDa, MERIT, African Protected Areas, ClimDev Africa, ChlorOGIN, FAO-AfriCover, MAFA, ARMC, EAMNET, WATPLAN, AFRIMASON, GARNET-E, SAGA-EO, EOPower, GEONETCab, AGRICAB, MESA, GEO Global Land Cover, GMES & Africa, GEO BON, GEOGLAM; GFOI; Africa Water Cycle Initiative, Blue Planet; MESA, GMES & Africa etc.

6. African Participation in GEO
Member States (22):
Algeria
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Congo, Republic of the
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Egypt
Ethiopia
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea, Republic of
Madagascar
Mali
Mauritius
Morocco
Niger
Nigeria
South Africa
Sudan
Tunisia
Uganda
Participating Organizations (5):
AARSE
ACMAD
EIS-Africa
RCMRD
UNECA
RECTAS

7. AfriGEOSS‘s Mission Statement
Enhance Africa’s capacity for producing, managing and using Earth observations data and information, by developing a continental coordination framework involving the national (countries), the sub-regional (Economic Regions + other sub- regional Institutions) and the regional levels.
This would greatly improve Africa’s contribution to GEOSS development as well as the actual use of available data and information for decision making.

8. Objectives
Coordinate and bring together relevant stakeholders, institutions and agencies across Africa
Provide a platform for countries to participate in GEO and to contribute to GEOSS;
Assist in knowledge sharing and global collaborations;
Identify challenges, gaps and opportunities for African contributions to GEO and GEOSS; and
Leverage existing capacities and planned assets and resources.

9. Progress to Date
Engage with SADC Officials, Permanent Missions to UN in Geneva, January 2014
Working Group Workshop, March 2014, Nairobi, Kenya
Side event, exhibition, & showcase, GEO-X Plenary, January 2014
Stakeholder Workshop on 6th November 2013
Launched 5th November 2013, joint AfricaGIS2013 & GSDI 2014, Ethiopia 2013
Engagement with African Union Commission, November 2013
Letters to GEO Principals - existing and planned activities related to the enhancement of capacity of African countries, July 2013
Endorsed by GEO-IX Plenary, Brazil, November 2012

10. Implementation Approach
Bottom up and top-down approach;
Address both infrastructure and services/application components, based on the build-up of sub regional networks;
Re-establish strong contacts with GEO Principals and enlargement of the GEO partnership in Africa;
Develop an extensive inventory of current and planned initiatives and available resources and map initiative to AfriGEOSS objectives;
Link existing initiatives, not yet connected to GEO;
Leverage resources to fill identified gaps;
Influence upcoming initiatives;
Raise awareness and outreach

11. Implementing AfriGEOSS
Strengthen national coordination and capacity
Synergies with existing initiatives & programmes
Provide linkage support for contributors
Contribute to GEOSS and global initiatives
Influence upcoming initiatives
Results will be first reflected in all GEO Tasks and , progressively, in other activities/initiatives that are not part of the GEO Work Plan.

12. Infrastructure Coordination of satellite observations and products
SANSA (SADC); NASRDA (West Africa); Egypt & Algeria (North Africa);
AGEOS (Central Africa), SEAS Project contributing to IN-01
Clarify operation plans for Malindi station (East Africa)
Establish contact with Reunion ground station, radar data for East Africa
Build synergies with ARMC
SANSA & NASRDA registered as Service Provider & Project Manager for the Disaster Charter

13. Global Projects e.g. GEOGLAM
EOPOWER-AfriGEOSS SADC Workshop, 8-9 May 2014, South Africa
Common elements of national agriculture systems
Scaling issues up national to sub regional, down national to local (district) unit
Users needs/application priorities
Gaps (Capacity (Institutional, HR), Data (EO), and Infrastructure)
Components of a Sub regional GEOGLAM System

14. Resource Mobilisation
Defining a mechanism for coordination of contributions
Proposals (Horizon 2020)
Working Group for Land Cover in Africa
African partners in Ecosystems proposal
Initial contacts with African Development Bank
Leveraging planned Workshops and Conferences
WGLCA workshop, March 2014, Kenya
EOPOWER SADC Workshop, May 2014, SA
Eumetsat Africa User Forum, September 2014, SA
AARSE conference, October 2014, SA

15. Institutional Development
Strengthen relationship with GEO Principals
Establish relations with Permanent Missions (presentation to SADC Officials, Permanent Missions to UN in Geneva)
Organise national meetings – bring all stakeholders and introduce GEO & AfriGEOSS
Build relations with SBA related Ministries and Foreign Affairs Ministries
Be ready to contact National Focal Points for specific societal benefit areas
Bilateral agreements to leverage resources

16. Advance GEOSS Policy Mandate
Member States to coordinate with relevant Ministries in their countries to have EO & GEOSS in the national statements & declarations (share discussion documents to GEO for inputs)
WCDRR 2015 Conference (2nd Hyogo Framework of Action
5th Regional Platform for Africa, 13 – 16 May 2014,
Secretariat through ISDR Support Group
Egypt in the bureau organising the PrepComs
UN Climate Summit, September 2014
Abu Dhabi meeting
Solicit engagement with former President of Ghana
SDGs / Future Earth / etc
Through national

17. Policy Endorsement
Africa-European Union Strategic Partnership, 4th EU-Africa Summit, Roadmap , April 2014, Brussels.
“…. We will ensure the establishment of a coherent framework for the development of Earth Observation activities in Africa so that space strategically contributes to Africa’s socio-economic development. Our cooperation will be in line with the priorities of the Africa Space Policy and Strategy and AfriGEOSS, the African segment of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO), in order to deliver services in priority domains for Africa …”
Engagement with EC on GMES & Africa
Through

18. Call for Participation
Progressively align relevant national investments with GEO Programmes – link your programmes to AfriGEOSS
Increase national and regional interagency & interdisciplinary coordination to expand the support for GEO
Establish national GEO coordination bodies
….Post 2015 Ministerial Guidance

19. THANK YOU