Statement of Jokkolabs Banjul , The Gambia Statement by Jokkolabs Banjul for the GEO Global Forum 2025 & GEO-20 Plenary
Group on Earth Observations – GEO Global Forum 2025 & GEO-20 Plenary
Statement of Jokkolabs Banjul
The Gambia Statement by Jokkolabs Banjul for the GEO Global Forum 2025 & GEO-20 Plenary
Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Delegates, GEO Community, and Partners.
Jokkolabs Banjul is honoured to participate in the GEO Global Forum 2025 and the GEO-20 Plenary, joining a global coalition committed to advancing Earth Intelligence for all. We commend the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) for its visionary Post-2025 Strategy, which sets a bold course for leveraging Earth observation (EO) to address the world’s most pressing environmental and development challenges
Supporting GEO’s Vision: Earth Intelligence for All
Jokkolabs Banjul fully endorses GEO’s mission to make trusted Earth intelligence universally accessible, empowering societies to achieve a sustainable future. The Post-2025 Strategy’s commitment to global equity in EO—ensuring resources and opportunities reach communities with diverse needs and capacities—is particularly resonant for Africa and The Gambia, where access and capacity gaps persist
Our Commitment: Local Action, Global Impact
As a leading innovation hub in West Africa, Jokkolabs Banjul is dedicated to:
- Bridging the Digital Divide: Facilitating access to EO data and tools for local innovators, policymakers, and youth, ensuring that Earth intelligence is not just available, but actionable at the grassroots level.
- Capacity Building: Providing training, mentorship, and collaborative spaces for young people, women, and entrepreneurs to develop EO-driven solutions for climate resilience, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and urban planning.
- Inclusive Co-Design: Actively engaging communities, including Indigenous peoples and marginalized groups, in the co-development of EO services, in line with GEO’s principles of free, prior, and informed consent and respect for local knowledge
- Open Data and Innovation: Championing open access to EO data and fostering partnerships with the private sector, academia, and civil society to spur innovation and job creation
By Poncelet Ileleji – CEO Jokkolabs Banjul, The Gambia