In a landmark moment for continental space development, the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) and Africa programme, which is the flagship Earth Observation (EO) initiative, has officially become an initiative under the African Space Agency (AfSA). This strategic integration marks a new chapter in Africa’s journey towards harnessing space science and technology for sustainable development, environmental resilience and policy innovation.

The official announcement was shared with Dr Sandile Malinga, Group Executive: CSIR Smart Society and the Head of Consortia and Technical Lead Partner of GMES and Africa, Sives Govender of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in July 2025.

Launched initially through a partnership with the European Union, GMES and Africa has provided real-time satellite data, supported thousands of trainees and empowered numerous African countries with decision-making tools in climate resilience, disaster response and marine resource management.

With its integration into AfSA’s framework, GMES and Africa will expand its reach and impact through enhanced coordination, infrastructure investment and unified policy strategies that align with Agenda 2063 and Africa’s vision for technological sovereignty.

Govender says, “GMES and Africa is no longer just a project, it is Africa’s commitment to owning its data, developing homegrown solutions and driving sustainable development through space innovation. As the CSIR, we are delighted by the announcement of the official integration, and we look forward to having a greater impact in the marine and coastal spatial information services we provide.”

The CSIR plays a central role as the technical lead for the GMES and Africa programme in Southern Africa, particularly through its leadership of the Africa Marine and Coastal Operations for Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean consortia and projects.

How CSIR contributes:

As EO experts, we develop and deploy EO technologies to monitor marine and coastal environments. Furthermore, we use satellite data to track oceanography variables, pollution, ship traffic and climate change impacts.

Together with our regional partners, we provide technical services and tools:

• That support small-scale fishers with data for safer and more sustainable operations; and
• That develop water quality applications to enhance environmental monitoring.

We provide capacity building and training:

• By training students and stakeholders in the Southern and West Indian Ocean regions of Africa in EO applications for marine and coastal resource management; and
• By hosting workshops to bridge the gap between science and policy, to ensure EO data informs decision-making and impacts livelihoods

Collaboration and policy support:

• By working with regional partners like the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management, the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to align EO services with Africa’s development goals; and
• By supporting the AfSA strategy by helping build local capabilities and institutional frameworks.
   

Sustainable development impact:

• By providing data to assist and support governments and communities in responding to climate-related hazards like coastal flood inundation and sea level rise; and
• By enabling coastal zone planning, marine ecosystem protection and resilience building across Southern Africa.

The CSIR strives to ensure that EO innovations are not just technical achievements but rather tools for impact and transformation.