The Global Monitoring for environment and Security (GMES) and Africa, has begun a series of information sessions in the five regions of Africa, to sensitize stakeholders about guidelines on applying for its Grant. A joint AU-EU initiative administered by the AU Commission through the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology, GMES & Africa seeks to promote the development of local capacities, institutional, human and technical resources for access to and exploitation of Earth Observation-based services on an operational basis for sustainable development in Africa. The programme is an important vector for the implementation of the Africa Space Policy and Strategy, aligned to Aspiration 7 of the Agenda 2063. It will be implemented through an open Call for Proposals, using AUC procurement procedures, to institutions that will act as regional outlets on the identified applications.

The GMES & Africa Information Sessions, which began in Kigali, Rwanda, are expected to make prospective institutions fully aware of different steps and criteria stipulated in the guidelines, thereby easing the evaluation and assessment processes and making the award procedure shorter and attainable. The exercise is also meant to generate ideas from the Regional Economic Communities and prospective applicants, on the best approaches to the execution of the GMES & Africa Call for proposals. It is designed to further stimulate institutions to come together and form strong consortia which will enable them to develop concrete proposals.

The programme conducted similar information sessions with stakeholders in Dakar, Senegal, and Harare, Zimbabwe. The next regional sessions are slated for 3 – 4 April in Cairo, Egypt; and 12 – 13 April in Libreville, Gabon.