About the GMES & Africa Programme

The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and Africa (GMES and Africa) is a flagship programme of the African Union Commission (AUC) under the African Space Policy and Strategy. It sets a pathway for the continent to be globally competitive in space activities, including Earth Observation (EO), and to develop a viable continental space programme. With continent-wide coverage, the programme is implemented through grants to African institutions under the banners of regional consortia. 12 consortia have been awarded grants through open competitive bidding to implement projects in water, natural resources, marine and coastal areas management. They represent 114 institutions, established in 45 African countries and 6 European Countries.

GMES & Africa builds on the existing projects in the continent (PUMA, AMESD and MESA) that have generated intellectual and infrastructural capacities in use of EO applications to enhance decision making in environmental management, through provision of evidence-based information.

The programme is jointly co-financed by the European Commission and the African Union Commission with a total budget of 30 Million EURO. The Programme uses and adapts the Copernicus Programme data and services to the African context. It is designed to specifically respond to African needs with respect to services related to water, natural resources, marine and coastal areas and to address the global needs to manage the environment, mitigate climate change and ensure civil security. The programme enables the implementation of the African Space Policy and Strategy, and harnesses the continent’s capabilities in utilizing space science and technology for economic growth and sustainable development.

In the implementation agreement, AUC is the ‘delegated authority’ responsible for the management of the programme.

GMES and Africa Programme aimed at improving 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 through the use of Earth Observation data and derived information.

The Programme has five outputs:

• Access to Earth Observation (EO) Data and Maintenance
• Natural and Water Resources Service
• Marine and Coastal Services
• Education and Training in EO
• Outreach and Raising Awareness