From Data to Impact: Reflections on the 9th AfriGEO Symposium 2025

AfriGEO, an initiative of the African community within the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), continues to provide a crucial coordination framework for Africa’s participation in global EO activities. It serves as a Pan-African platform for building awareness, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing capacity across governments, research institutions, academia, and the private sector. As part of the GEO Post-2025 Strategy, AfriGEO plays an essential role in ensuring that Africa’s voice is heard in shaping the global Earth Observation agenda

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza, Director General of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), which hosts the AfriGEO Secretariat since 2019, emphasized AfriGEO’s role in advancing Africa’s Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want. He noted that over the years, AfriGEO has nurtured a strong community of practice in Earth Observation—one that drives innovation, promotes data sharing, and supports evidence-based decision-making. “We must continue to work together to enhance Africa’s capacity to use EO infrastructure and strengthen decision-making for sustainable development,” he urged participants.

The symposium’s theme, From Data to Impact, captured the growing realization that Africa’s future depends not just on collecting data, but on applying it effectively. Discussions centered on turning raw geospatial information into tools and insights that guide public policy, spur economic growth, and address challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, and food insecurity. Delegates also explored how artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and big data analytics can enhance decision-making and bridge Africa’s digital divide. In addition to plenary sessions and panel discussions, the symposium featured a pre-event day dedicated to hands-on training. On 6th October, participants had the opportunity to enhance their technical skills through workshops led by partners including World Cereal, Nature Drones, Senegal Flying Labs, CSE, Digital Earth Africa, ESRI, and GEO Human Planet. The training covered a range of EO applications, offering practical lessons in open data access, mapping, and spatial analysis for sustainable resource management.

Over the four days, one message resonated clearly: Africa must move beyond data collection to data-driven action. Delegates called for stronger open data policies, deeper regional collaboration, and more investment in innovation, youth empowerment and gender mainstreaming across all sectors. The symposium encouraged African governments, institutions, and partners to work together to make geospatial intelligence an integral part of planning and decision-making processes at national and regional levels. As the meeting concluded, there was a shared sense of optimism and responsibility. 

The discussions and partnerships formed in Dakar reflected Africa’s determination to make Earth Observation a driver of tangible change. By strengthening capacity, embracing technology, and building partnerships, Africa is positioning itself to transform data into real impact — delivering on the promise of a sustainable and prosperous continent envisioned in Agenda 2063. The 9th AfriGEO Symposium marked not just a continuation of dialogue, but a renewed commitment to collaboration and innovation. The outcomes will guide future initiatives and ensure that the momentum toward a more data-driven, resilient, and inclusive Africa continues to grow.