Plenary_Mod-1Rec_AAG-ver'03

Copyright © AAG 2003Copyright © AAG 2003
CEOS Module-1CEOS Module-1
recommendations and formulationrecommendations and formulation
of the African Advisory Groupof the African Advisory Group
By: Conrad SebegoBy: Conrad Sebego
Management of Investment &Management of Investment &
Strategic TechnologyStrategic Technology
18th-20th November 2003, Colorado
Springs, Colorado USA

TopicsTopics
PreamblePreamble
Inhibiting factorsInhibiting factors
Dealing with challengesDealing with challenges
Module-1 w/s recommendationsModule-1 w/s recommendations
African Advisory GroupAfrican Advisory Group
Model for regional/continentalModel for regional/continental
partnershippartnership
Closing remarksClosing remarks

PreamblePreamble
The CEOS WSSD Workshop on Module 1, Education, TrainingThe CEOS WSSD Workshop on Module 1, Education, Training
and Capacity Building, held at Stellenbosch, South Africa, fromand Capacity Building, held at Stellenbosch, South Africa, from
2-3 October 2003, was designed to identify the key priorities of2-3 October 2003, was designed to identify the key priorities of
African institutions in education, training and capacity buildingAfrican institutions in education, training and capacity building
for the improved use of and access to remote sensing data infor the improved use of and access to remote sensing data in
support of sustainable development.support of sustainable development.
The organisers acknowledged the support provided by theThe organisers acknowledged the support provided by the
CEOS Secretariat, NOAA, UNESCO’s IOC GOOS Project,CEOS Secretariat, NOAA, UNESCO’s IOC GOOS Project,
UNESCO’s Crosscutting Project on the Applications of RemoteUNESCO’s Crosscutting Project on the Applications of Remote
Sensing in Africa, EIS -AFRICA, the University ofSensing in Africa, EIS -AFRICA, the University of
Stellenbosch, the Agricultural Research Council, the CSIR, andStellenbosch, the Agricultural Research Council, the CSIR, and
other partners in the successful organisation andother partners in the successful organisation and
implementation of the Workshop in partnership with Africanimplementation of the Workshop in partnership with African
stakeholders.stakeholders.

Inhibiting factorsInhibiting factors
Recognising that efficient, effective and widespread use ofRecognising that efficient, effective and widespread use of
Earth observation technologies requires appropriateEarth observation technologies requires appropriate
investment in:investment in:
• (i) data collection and processing systems, including(i) data collection and processing systems, including
computing facilities;computing facilities;
• (ii) communication infrastructures, easy Internet access,(ii) communication infrastructures, easy Internet access,
and connectivity with high bandwidth;and connectivity with high bandwidth;
• (iii) underpinning administrative and policy structures and(iii) underpinning administrative and policy structures and
institutions;institutions;
• (iv) local expertise (a skilled workforce); and(iv) local expertise (a skilled workforce); and
• (v) mechanisms for transferring technologies, knowledge,(v) mechanisms for transferring technologies, knowledge,
and dataand data

RecommendationsRecommendations
1.1. CEOS should encourage the formation ofCEOS should encourage the formation of
concrete partnerships between CEOS Membersconcrete partnerships between CEOS Members
and Associates and relevant African institutionsand Associates and relevant African institutions
for education, training and capacity building infor education, training and capacity building in
support of the WSSD Follow-up Programme.support of the WSSD Follow-up Programme.
These partnerships should center on issuesThese partnerships should center on issues
including water resource management, disasterincluding water resource management, disaster
and conflicts, climate change, and land useand conflicts, climate change, and land use
monitoring and GIS, while building uponmonitoring and GIS, while building upon
existing programmes and taking advantage ofexisting programmes and taking advantage of
new satellite (e.g. higher resolution) data.new satellite (e.g. higher resolution) data.

Recommendations (cont.)Recommendations (cont.)
2.2. CEOS should take advantage of the AfricanCEOS should take advantage of the African
Advisory Group that has been formed byAdvisory Group that has been formed by
stakeholders, including EIS-Africa, Africanstakeholders, including EIS-Africa, African
Association of Remote Sensing for EnvironmentAssociation of Remote Sensing for Environment
(AARSE), and other appropriate organizations to(AARSE), and other appropriate organizations to
assist the CEOS ad hoc Working Group onassist the CEOS ad hoc Working Group on
Education and Training (WGEdu) and the CEOSEducation and Training (WGEdu) and the CEOS
WSSD Follow -up Programme to ensure that topWSSD Follow -up Programme to ensure that top
African priorities are addressed in their efforts.African priorities are addressed in their efforts.

3.3. Progress and effectiveness should be measured by theProgress and effectiveness should be measured by the
CEOS ad hoc Working Group on Education andCEOS ad hoc Working Group on Education and
Training (WGEdu) and the African Advisory Group bi-Training (WGEdu) and the African Advisory Group bi-
annually and be reported back to CEOS, NEPAD andannually and be reported back to CEOS, NEPAD and
other key stakeholders.other key stakeholders.
4.4. CEOS should facilitate access to current high-resolutionCEOS should facilitate access to current high-resolution
data sets for specific key needs (e.g. food security,data sets for specific key needs (e.g. food security,
public health, poverty alleviation, disaster management,public health, poverty alleviation, disaster management,
ocean forecasting, water and sanitation, the developmentocean forecasting, water and sanitation, the development
of applications of satellite and other data havingof applications of satellite and other data having
significant socio-economic benefit in Africa) bysignificant socio-economic benefit in Africa) by
organisations such as universities, regional centres andorganisations such as universities, regional centres and
specialised agencies. The CEOS WGEduspecialised agencies. The CEOS WGEdu DraftDraft
Resolution on Satellite Data Provision should play a keyResolution on Satellite Data Provision should play a key
role in this process.role in this process.

5.5. CEOS should work in partnership with relevant AfricanCEOS should work in partnership with relevant African
institutes to assist in the development of keyinstitutes to assist in the development of key
applications, also to raise awareness and commitment inapplications, also to raise awareness and commitment in
Africa at high levels within governments andAfrica at high levels within governments and
organizations.organizations.
6.6. CEOS should consider supporting workshops in 2004:CEOS should consider supporting workshops in 2004:
-African Ministerial Conference on the Environment-African Ministerial Conference on the Environment
-AARSE-AARSE
-GOOS Africa-GOOS Africa
-NePAD/Ministerial Conferences-NePAD/Ministerial Conferences

7.7. CEOS should facilitate a greater understandingCEOS should facilitate a greater understanding
and use of publicly available data and openand use of publicly available data and open
source software, so that value added products cansource software, so that value added products can
be developed for practical applications andbe developed for practical applications and
operations responding to local, national andoperations responding to local, national and
regional requirements.regional requirements.
8.8. CEOS Members and Associates should supportCEOS Members and Associates should support
University partnerships, e.g. arrangementsUniversity partnerships, e.g. arrangements
between CEOS Member countries and Africanbetween CEOS Member countries and African
countries.countries.

9.9. CEOS Members should raise awareness andCEOS Members should raise awareness and
notify of availability of existing archived datanotify of availability of existing archived data
and products, and make education and trainingand products, and make education and training
resource portals of available satellite data andresource portals of available satellite data and
information readily available to African users.information readily available to African users.
CEOS Members and Associates should supportCEOS Members and Associates should support
initiatives that will lead to the establishment of ainitiatives that will lead to the establishment of a
regional Earth Observation Data Centre (EODC)regional Earth Observation Data Centre (EODC)
in Africa.in Africa.

10.10. CEOS Members and Associates should engageCEOS Members and Associates should engage
with the Africa Environment Informationwith the Africa Environment Information
Network (AEIN) framework, and similarNetwork (AEIN) framework, and similar
initiatives such as the Environmental Long-Terminitiatives such as the Environmental Long-Term
Observatories Network of Southern AfricaObservatories Network of Southern Africa
(ELTOSA), and support their implementation,(ELTOSA), and support their implementation,
e.g. by sharing of relevant data with participatinge.g. by sharing of relevant data with participating
agencies and countries.agencies and countries.
11.11. CEOS should take steps to minimise barriers toCEOS should take steps to minimise barriers to
accessing satellite data in Africaaccessing satellite data in Africa

12.12. CEOS should work in partnership withCEOS should work in partnership with
organisations such as EIS Africa, Economicorganisations such as EIS Africa, Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA), AARSE, andCommission for Africa (ECA), AARSE, and
similar organisations to support networking insimilar organisations to support networking in
satellite remote sensing applications.satellite remote sensing applications.
13.13. CEOS should raise the awareness of donorCEOS should raise the awareness of donor
communities on the benefits of the use ofcommunities on the benefits of the use of
remotely sensed data and applications,remotely sensed data and applications,
particularly in developing nations in support ofparticularly in developing nations in support of
sustainable development goals.sustainable development goals.

African Advisory GroupAfrican Advisory Group
BackgroundBackground
The African Advisory Group (AAG) wasThe African Advisory Group (AAG) was
formulated on a voluntary basis during the 1stformulated on a voluntary basis during the 1st
CEOS Education, Training and CapacityCEOS Education, Training and Capacity
Building Workshop held in Stellenbosch, SouthBuilding Workshop held in Stellenbosch, South
Africa from 2-3 October 2003.Africa from 2-3 October 2003.

Purpose of the AAGPurpose of the AAG
• AAG was established to work closely with the CommitteeAAG was established to work closely with the Committee
on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) duringon Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) during
formulation and implementation of the capacity buildingformulation and implementation of the capacity building
principles and recommendations that were an outcome ofprinciples and recommendations that were an outcome of
the Stellenbosch capacity building workshop.the Stellenbosch capacity building workshop.
• AAG to provide advisory support to the CEOS inAAG to provide advisory support to the CEOS in
identifying research and development priority areas thatidentifying research and development priority areas that
are relevant to the African continent where education,are relevant to the African continent where education,
training and capacity building in remote sensing and GIStraining and capacity building in remote sensing and GIS
technologies contribute effectively towards solvingtechnologies contribute effectively towards solving
sustainable development challengessustainable development challenges

Purpose of the AAG (cont.)Purpose of the AAG (cont.)
• AAG to work towards a coherent use of GIS andAAG to work towards a coherent use of GIS and
remote sensing technologies for the economicremote sensing technologies for the economic
development of the African continent by creating,development of the African continent by creating,
in collaboration with the CEOS, more education,in collaboration with the CEOS, more education,
training and capacity building opportunities fortraining and capacity building opportunities for
African institutionsAfrican institutions
• AAG to make sure that education, training andAAG to make sure that education, training and
capacity building is prominently integrated duringcapacity building is prominently integrated during
implementation of the other CEOS WSSD Follow-implementation of the other CEOS WSSD Follow-
up Programme Modules - measuring the progressup Programme Modules - measuring the progress
of these efforts on an annual basisof these efforts on an annual basis

• AAG to mobilize necessary support that will tapAAG to mobilize necessary support that will tap
into the flow of funds and other resources towardsinto the flow of funds and other resources towards
suitable projectssuitable projects
• AAG to supplement and compliment efforts in theAAG to supplement and compliment efforts in the
African continent by striving to build synergiesAfrican continent by striving to build synergies
between existing and new initiatives, and tobetween existing and new initiatives, and to
promote partnerships that will leverage resourcespromote partnerships that will leverage resources
• AAG to work closely with tertiary educationalAAG to work closely with tertiary educational
institutes in order to stimulate interest in remoteinstitutes in order to stimulate interest in remote
sensing and GIS capacity buildingsensing and GIS capacity building

• AAG to influence curriculum development inAAG to influence curriculum development in
individual countries to recognise GIS as anindividual countries to recognise GIS as an
enabling module for dealing with sustainableenabling module for dealing with sustainable
development challengesdevelopment challenges
• AAG to encourage youth participation in theAAG to encourage youth participation in the
GIS fieldGIS field
• AAG to implement awareness programmesAAG to implement awareness programmes
targeting decision making stakeholders intargeting decision making stakeholders in
individual countriesindividual countries

Model for regional partnership:Model for regional partnership:
Creating value and addressing challengesCreating value and addressing challenges
Remote sensing and geographic database and
communications infrastructure
Disaster
mitigation
Product
Development
Product
Development
Product
Development
Product
Development
Desertification
and long term
indicators
Oceans & water
resources
Raw data
Data Products
Information
Solutions
Atmosphere
and global
warming
Knowledge
UniversitiesUniversities
Value
Addition
Companies
Value
Addition
Companies
Regional CentersRegional Centers
Government
research
facilities
Government
research
facilities

Closing remarksClosing remarks
Extracts from speech by Deputy Minister: SAExtracts from speech by Deputy Minister: SA
Dept of Environment Affairs and Tourism-HonDept of Environment Affairs and Tourism-Hon
Rejoice MabudafhasiRejoice Mabudafhasi
““An aspect that is important in partnerAn aspect that is important in partner
relationships is the need for developingrelationships is the need for developing
countries to look at means to make acountries to look at means to make a
significant contribution to projects so that oursignificant contribution to projects so that our
projects do not become donor driven butprojects do not become donor driven but
country driven.”country driven.”

““We in Africa are committed to workingWe in Africa are committed to working
together with organizations that take thetogether with organizations that take the
development of Africa seriously and woulddevelopment of Africa seriously and would
gladly work with CEOS on the continent in linegladly work with CEOS on the continent in line
with the New Partnership for Africa'swith the New Partnership for Africa's
Development (NEPAD) objectives.”Development (NEPAD) objectives.”

Plenary_Mod-1Rec_AAG-ver'03

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