Kick-off of the « Earth Observation for Decision Support in Water and Natural Resources Management in North Africa » regional workshop, organized by the OSS within the framework of the GMES&Africa project, from October 19 to 21, 2022 in Tunis.

Decision-makers, researchers, experts and representatives of the private sector have come together today to discuss strategic and institutional issues relating to promoting the role of geospatial techniques in designing, implementing and monitoring sustainable development strategies and programs.

The opening session was marked by high-level speeches that all focused on issues and concerns about the workshop topic and which will be answered by the exchanges and round tables.

During her speech, Mrs. Ndeye Fatou MAR, Land Department Coordinator and 2nd Advisor to the OSS ES, highlighted the importance of making space science and technology data available to the stakeholders working on natural resources sustainable management and climate change adaptation.

Mr. Philipe ANKERS, representative of the FAO sub-regional office, expressed the commitment of his organization to support the GMES&Africa implementation.

Colonel Nizar Tabia , Head of  Unit at the National Center for Cartography and Remote Sensing (CNCT), insisted on the importance of reinforcing the partnership between the various stakeholders of the project.

Mr. Omrane Director of the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology in French Language based in Morocco (CRASTE-LF), emphasized the role of the centre in strengthening the knowledge of end users and in improving operational skills on crop mapping techniques using EO-based learning strategies. 

Dr. Hédi Gashout, Director of the Regional Center for Remote Sensing of North Africa (CRTEAN), explained that technological and space sciences inventions were impacting all aspects of our lives.

The sessions were officially opened by Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, Coordinator of the GMES&Africa program, who recalled the need to take full advantage of the climate change and land degradation fighting tools provided by science.