The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme provides accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security.
The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme provides accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security. It is headed by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The Maputo Declaration of October 2006 provided the necessity for the EU-Africa partnership to confirm the commitment to avail European infrastructure and facilities, under the Copernicus programme to Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. This commitment led to the launch of GMES and Africa process.
In order to rollout the implementation of the GMES and Africa initiative, three thematic areas were agreed upon and prioritised through consultations with African stakeholders, namely, (a) Long-Term Management of Natural Resources, (b) Marine and Coastal Areas, and (c) Water Resources Management, funded under the Pan African Program.
In 2017 the Council for Scientific Research (CSIR) and regional partners collaboratively submitted a proposal in the GMES Marine and Coastal thematic area in response to a call from the African Union Commission (AUC). The proposal was based on significant technical synergy and co-funding from a current Operation Phakisa project i.e. National Oceans and Coastal Information Management System (OCIMS) funded by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
