Statement of Senegal
GEO Global Forum 2025 / GEO-20 Plenary
Statement of Senegal
Senegal reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the vision and mission of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). As an active Member, Senegal continues to integrate Earth Observation (EO) into its national development strategies, fostering a robust ecosystem of partnerships and initiatives that leverage EO for informed decision-making, resilience, and innovation.
In the past five years, Senegal has amplified its role in the GEO community through active engagement in key initiatives:
- SERVIR West Africa, delivering operational EO-based services in climate resilience, agriculture, land productivity, and sustainable development monitoring (SDGs).
- GMES & Africa, enhancing regional capacities and the use of EO for environmental governance and disaster risk reduction, particularly through the GDZHIAO Project led by CSE, focusing on wetland and flood monitoring across ten West African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, and Senegal). This initiative is developing critical Earth Observation tools for wetland assessment and conservation while contributing to updating Ramsar Information Sheets across the region
- Digital Earth Africa, promoting access to Analysis Ready Data and supporting national EO service uptake. The Centre de Suivi Écologique (CSE) serves on the Technical Advisory Committee, contributing to the development of specialized tools for wetland monitoring and implementing capacity building initiatives across the region.
- Sen SAT and ASES (Agence Sénégalaise d’Études Spatiales), established in 2023, has achieved significant milestones:
- Launched its first nanosatellite, Gaindesat-1A.
- Signed a cooperation agreement with the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to join the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), marking Senegal's entry into deep space exploration.
- Initiated the development of a sovereign satellite constellation, with plans to deploy 5 to 8 satellites by 2028, in partnership with Prométhée Earth Intelligence.
- Commenced the construction of a national satellite assembly, integration, and testing center, aiming to bolster local industrial capabilities in the space sector.
- Launched the "Sénégal Space Valley" project, envisioned as a hub for innovation, research, and training in space technologies.
- PROCASEF, applying geospatial data to secure rural land tenure and support agro-pastoral productivity.
- GEO-Senegal, a revitalized national multi-stakeholder platform steering EO integration into policy frameworks and coordinating national contributions to GEO.
- GEO-LDN (Land Degradation Neutrality) Initiative, where Senegal actively participates in Working Groups, contributes to the development of Earth Observation protocols for monitoring land degradation, implements local activities on land degradation assessment, and supports the monitoring of SDG indicator 15.3.1 (proportion of land degraded).
- West African Regional Coastal Observatory (ORLOA), where Senegal plays a central role in strengthening coastal monitoring through Earth Observation. Under UEMOA's oversight, this WACA ResIP initiative uses satellite imagery and geospatial data analysis to track coastal erosion, flooding risks, and sea-level rise impacts. ORLOA's data products support evidence-based decision-making across the region, connecting partners including IUCN, the Abidjan Convention, World Bank, and FFEM to enhance West Africa's coastal resilience through coordinated monitoring and intervention strategies.
- OBAPAO (Observatory for Biodiversity and Protected Areas in West Africa), a regional initiative led by CSE for monitoring and conserving biodiversity and protected areas, organizing capacity-building activities, supporting implementation of Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (30x30), and collaborating with international partners like IUCN, UEMOA, and CIFOR-ICRAF.
Senegal is also honored to host the upcoming AfriGEO 2025 Symposium in Dakar, under the theme “Data to Impacts”. This event will serve as a continental platform for dialogue, innovation, and strategic alignment toward GEO’s priorities.
Looking forward, Senegal calls for sustained investment in African EO capabilities, equitable access to data and technologies, and enhanced coordination among national, regional, and global actors. Earth Intelligence must be at the core of our collective response to environmental and socio-economic challenges.