In order to achieve sustainable progress towards development goals in Africa, it is necessary to carefully analyze environmental changes as well as the long-term impact of human activities. The GMES program provides an ideal framework for carrying out this type of analysis in a systematic way.
GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), an initiative of the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA), is developed to provide reliable and timely services on issues in a sustainable manner. environmental and safety, to meet the needs of users and public authorities.
A draft action plan to help Africa harness the benefits of space systems for sustainable development was outlined, and stakeholders were consulted through a public consultation. The plan focuses on applications in the following key areas:
- Natural disasters: reduction of risks related to floods, fires, cyclones, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc .;
- Food security and rural development: crop and pasture monitoring, vulnerability assessment, grasshoppers, water;
- Long-term management of natural resources: forest resources, biodiversity, soil resources, extent of land use, management of protected areas;
- Water resources management: integrated basin management, groundwater, water scarcity;
- Consequences of climatic variability and climate change: desertification, droughts, water scarcity, health;
- Marine and coastal areas: fishing areas, integrated management of coastal areas, transport, etc .;
- Conflicts and political crises: contested territory, precarious agreements, resources in conflicts, anti-personnel mines;
- Territorial and infrastructure development: spatial planning, urban expansion, road and hydraulic infrastructure, ecological footprint.
Several consortia have been set up to allow all organizations to work together and share data. For example, ABV is part of the West Africa Multiscale Flood Monitoring and Assessment Services (MiFMASS) consortium with lead the CSSTE.
Objective: Develop a flood monitoring and forecasting system for ECOWAS countries
Project duration: 36 months
Main objective
Improve the effectiveness of flood monitoring, assessment and management in West Africa by providing real-time Earth observation services to disaster management agencies and by strengthening their human capacity to respond. adapt to these services.
Study areas in West Africa
Nigeria: Ogun-Osun River Basin
Benin: Ouémé basin
Ghana & Burkina Faso: Black Volta Basin
Ivory Coast: District of Abidjan
Target groups / beneficiaries
Local communities and vulnerable populations (farmers, traders, fishermen) who are constantly affected by floods.
Disaster Management Organizations (DMOs)
Meteorological organizations
Hydrological organisms
Mapping agencies
Value to add
Establish and update flood database
Continually provide information before, during and after floods to disaster management agencies
Strengthen the capacity of disaster management organizations and other target groups in the use of Earth Observation data for flood monitoring, assessment and management.
Products and services – MiFMASS
Updated regional flood database
Digital maps (flood risk maps, etc.)
Damage assessment cards
Capacity building
Public awareness and enlightenment
Expected results
Develop and regularly update the flood database for the five (5) ECOWAS countries for a fully functional flood forecasting system.
Improve the knowledge of target groups to use Earth Observation data for flood monitoring, assessment and management.
Members of the CSSTE Consortium
Space Science and Technology Training Center (CSSTE), Nigeria
University of Ghana (Department of Earth Sciences, UG), Ghana
CSIR-Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), Ghana
National Water Institute (INE), Benin
Higher Institute of Space and Telecommunications Studies (ISESTEL) Burkina Faso
Volta Basin Authority (ABV), Burkina Faso
University Center for Research and Application in Remote Sensing (CURAT), Félix Houphouet-Boigny University, Ivory Coast.