Wednesday, 27 April

8.00–9.00

Welcome, badge pickup and networking

9.00–9.30

1. Convene and Converge

Programme Director - Melanie Burke

9.30–10.30

2. Enabling AfriGEOSS Implementation: leadership, ownership, collaboration

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Moderator: Dr. Phil Mjwara, GEO Co-Chair, South Africa

Presentations:

• Overview of AfriGEOSS Steering Committee Recommendations, Humbulani Mudau, Department of Science and Technology, South Africa
• GEO National Coordination, Lerato Senoko, Department of Science and Technology, South Africa

Plenary Remarks and Discussion:

• GEO Principals (Members and Participating Organizations)
• Partners (AUC, AMCOMET, WMO-RA1)

10.30–11.00

Tea Break

11.00–12.30

2. Enabling AfriGEOSS Implementation: leadership, ownership, collaboration

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Moderator: Dr. Phil Mjwara, GEO Co-Chair, South Africa

Discuss and Converge on Next Steps:

• GEO Principals (Members and Participating Organizations)
• Partners (AUC, AMCOMET, WMO-RA1)

12.30–13.45

Lunch Break

13.45–15.30

3. Opening Ceremony

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Moderator: Prof. Amon Murwira, Chairman in the Department of Geography and Environment Science, University of Zimbabwe

Welcome Remarks:

• Dr. Eng. Mike Tumbare, Chairman Research Council of Zimbabwe
• Prof. Levi Nyagura, Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe
• Ms. Barbara Ryan, GEO Secretariat Director
• Dr. Phil Mjwara, Director General, Department of Science and Technology, South Africa (GEO Co-Chair)

Official Opening Speech

• Guest of Honour: Hon. Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, Minister for Policy Coordination and Promotion for Socio-Economic Ventures in the President’s Office, Zimbabwe

Capture the Moment - photo session

15.30–16.00

Tea Break

16.00–17.45

4. Earth Observations for a Food Secure Africa

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Introduction of the Session by Moderator: Lerato Senoko, Department of Science and Technology, South Africa

Panel Remarks and Discussion:

• Terry Newby, Agriculture Research Council, South Africa
• Benjamin Koetz, European Space Agency
• Farai Marumbwa, Botswana Department of Meteorology Services (MESA SADC THEMA)
• Stuart Martin, GeoTerraImage Pty Ltd (GTI), South Africa
• Andreas Brink, European Commission Joint Research Centre
• Farai Kuri, Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), Amon Murwira, University of Zimbabwe, Desmond Manatsa, Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE)

Moderated interventions from the floor

17.45–18.00

Day-1 Observations

Barbara Ryan, GEO Secretariat Director and Melanie Burke, Programme Director

18h00

Networking Session - Bush Dinner

Thursday, 28 April

09.00–10.30

5. Towards a Harmonized Land Cover Mapping for Africa in Support of Environmental Management

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Introduction of the Session by Moderator: Bulelwa Mohamed Semoli, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR), South Africa

Panel Remarks and Discussion:

• Phoebe Oduor, Regional Centre for Mapping Resource for Development (RCMRD)
• Tobias Landmann, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kenya
• Andreas Brink, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)
• Stuart Martin, GeoTerraimage Pty Ltd (GTI,) South Africa
• Alleta Nyahuye, Zimbabwe Environmental Management Agency (EMA)

Moderated interventions from the floor

10.30–11.00

Tea Break

11.00–13.00

6. Earth Observations Response to Societal Challenges

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Introduction of the Session by Moderator:  Foster Mensah, CERSGIS, University of Ghana, Ghana

Ignite Presentations:

• Bradwell Garanganga, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat
• Farai Marumbwa, Botswana Department of Meteorology Services (MESA SADC THEMA)
• John Kiema, Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD)
• Asiphe Sahula, South African Environmental Earth Observation Network (SAEON)
• Andreas Brink, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)
• Marcelin Sanou, Agence Panafricaine de la Grande Muraille Verte (APGMV)
• Benjamin Koetz, European Space Agency (ESA)
• Dewald Lloyd, Space Commercial Services (SCS-GI), South Africa
• Ben Maathuis, ITC-University of Twente, Netherlands
• Joerg Helmschrot, Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Use (SASSCAL)
• Amon Murwira, University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Godfrey Mutowo, Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)

Moderated interventions from the floor

13.00–14.00

Lunch Break

14.00–15.30

7. Sustainable Forest Management

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Introduction of the Session by Moderator:  Aboubakar Mambimba Ndjoungui, Gabon Studies and Observations Space Agency (AGEOS), Gabon

Rapporteur Phoebe Oduor (RCMRD)

Panel Remarks and Discussion:

• Giovanni Rum, Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat
• Amon Murwira, University of Zimbabwe (UZ)
• Florence Palla, Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC)
• Benoit Mertens, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)
• Siro Abdallah, IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC MESA)
• Senay Habtezion, International START Secretariat (START & GOFC-GOLD)

Moderated interventions from the floor

15.30–16.00

Tea Break

16.00–17.45

8. Private Sector Engagement

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Introduction of the Session by Moderator: Byron Anangwe, Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD)

Rapporteur Asiphe Sahule (SAEON)

Panel Remarks and Discussion:

• Eric Khamala, LocateIT Pty Ltd, Kenya
• Sias Mostert, Space Commercial Services (SCS) Aerospace Group, South Africa
• Patrick Ndlovu, Denel Spacetec, South Africa
• Charles Paradzayi, GISkonsult plc, Zimbabwe
• Stuart Martin, GeoTerraImage Pty Ltd, South Africa
• Yona Jairosi, Allied Systems Pvt Ltd and Rudolf De Munnik, ESRI SA
• Imraan Saloojee, South African National Space Agency (SANSA), South Africa

Moderated interventions from the floor

17.45–18.00

Day-2 Observations

Barbara Ryan, GEO Secretariat Director and Melanie Burke, Programme Director

18h30

Networking Session – Free Evening

Friday, 29 April

09.00–10.30

9.a) Contribution to the Implementation of the African Space Programme: EO Data and Infrastructure
space segment - available observations (space & in-situ data) and observational gaps

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Introduction of the Session by Moderator: Imraan Saloojee, South African Space Agency (SANSA)

Panel Remarks and Discussion:

• Ayman Mahmoud, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science (NARSS), Egypt
• Tendani Lavhengwa, South African National Space Agency (SANSA), South Africa
• Benjamin Koetz and Bruno Greco, European Space Agency (ESA)
• Sias Mostert, Space Commercial Services (SCS) Aerospace Group, South Africa
• Aboubakar Mambimba Ndjoungui, Gabon Studies and Observations Space Agency (AGEOS), Gabon
• AMCOMET and EUMETSAT statements

Moderated interventions from the floor

10.30–11.00

Tea Break

11.00–13.00

9.b) Contribution to the Implementation of the African Space Programme: EO Data and Infrastructure
ground infrastruture - data access, archive, processing and dissemination

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Introduction of the Session by Moderator:  Eric Khamala, LocateIT Pty Ltd, Kenya

Panel Remarks and Discussion:

• Isaac Kusane, Botswana Department of Meteorological Services (MESA SADC THEMA) with contributions from EUMETSAT
• John Kiema, Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD)
• Idah Sithole-Niang, Research Council of Zimbabwe
• Giovanni Rum, Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat
• Stuart Minchin, Geoscience Australia
• Ayman Mahmoud, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science (NARSS), Egypt
• Oma Oaiya, West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) (in collaboration with Yousef Torman, Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) and Bonny Khunga, Zambia Research and education Network (ZAMREN on behalf of Ubuntunet Alliance))

Moderated interventions from the floor

13.00–14.00

Lunch Break

14.00–15.30

10. Closing Ceremony: outcomes, commitments, bon voyage

Moderator:  Melanie Burke, Programme Director

• Presentation of Outcomes of the Symposium
• Adoption of the Victoria Falls Statement / Declaration

Closing Remarks:

• Ms. Barbara Ryan, GEO Secretariat Director
• Dr. Phil Mjwara, Director General, Department of Science and Technology, South Africa (GEO Co-Chair)
• Prof. Amon Murwira, Chairman in the Dep. of Geography and Environment Science, University of Zimbabwe

Vote of Thanks

• Ms. Susan Muzite, Executive Director, Research Council of Zimbabwe (GEO Principal Alternate)

15h30

Tea Break

16h00

Networking:  Sunset Cruise