The African Union Commission (AUC) and EUMETSAT have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to further strengthen cooperation on Earth observation.
Next-generation satellites
The agreement gives African environmental and meteorological services access to EUMETSAT’s data from its next-generation satellite systems. It provides the framework for EUMETSAT and AUC to cooperate on deploying new infrastructure to receive data and build educational materials to ensure the biggest possible impact from the satellite data.
EUMETSAT has begun to deploy its Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellite system, with the launch of MTG-Imager 1 in December 2022. The satellite’s imagers have a constant view of Africa, as well as Europe, and its data will be released for operational use soon. The organization’s next-generation polar-orbiting satellites, EUMETSAT Polar System – Second Generation, will begin to be launched in 2025-26.
Precise meteorological data
“EUMETSAT is a key partner of the African Union in projects aiming to strengthen Africa’s meteorological, environmental and climate services,” said Phil Evans, director-general at EUMETSAT. “We have provided African nations with data and capacity-building support for more than two decades, within the framework of the European Union-Africa Partnership. This agreement will facilitate access to more of the precise, high-resolution data that data users in Africa need to help protect lives, infrastructure and livelihoods. The agreement recognizes and supports Africa’s space, meteorological and climate strategies.”
Professor Mohammed Belhocine, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, African Union Commission, added, “The MoU represents another milestone in Africa-Europe cooperation. It is a renewed opportunity for Africa to explore EUMETSAT’s next-generation infrastructure and tools for data harvesting and utilization. The agreement is timely and complements the Agenda 2063 and the African Space Policy and Strategy in deploying satellite data to address environmental and climate challenges. Such a mutual partnership is crucial for Africa’s drive to leverage its socio-economic transformation using space science and technology.”
In related news, EUMETSAT recently hosted a workshop at its headquarters to create a roadmap for cooperation that would enhance the use of satellite data for water management in Africa. Click here to read the full story.