RCMRD highlights Africa’s Earth intelligence agenda at GEO Symposium and Plenary

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) has outlined Africa’s strategic priorities in Earth observation and geospatial intelligence during its participation in the 2026 GEO Symposium and GEO-21 Plenary.

Serving as the AfriGEO Secretariat since 2019, RCMRD is engaging in thematic sessions and contributing as a participating organization at the global gathering, which brings together governments, space agencies, research institutions, private sector actors and development partners.

Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development said the discussions are taking place under the theme “Investing in Earth Intelligence for a Resilient Future,” with a focus on strengthening the use of Earth observation data to support resilience, development planning and environmental management.

The organization highlighted the AfriGEO Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) 2026–2036, noting its alignment with the GEO Post-2025 Strategy and its emphasis on locally relevant Earth intelligence systems, inclusive partnerships, capacity development and operational services across the African continent.

RCMRD emphasized that the plan is designed to enhance Africa’s ability to generate and apply geospatial data for decision-making in sectors such as climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, agriculture and sustainable development.

The GEO Symposium and Plenary continue to serve as a global platform for advancing cooperation on Earth observation and strengthening international partnerships aimed at addressing environmental and developmental challenges.