Represented by its Executive Director Yousef Torman, the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) participated in the RIC2019 Conference and the Fourth AfriGEO Symposium held in Nairobi during 12-16 August 2019. The Conference and the Symposium were organized by the Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD). RCMRD was established as an inter-governmental organization and currently has 20 Contracting Member States in the Eastern and Southern Africa Regions; Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somali, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The objective of this conference is to spur exchange of ideas on fast tracking application of earth observation and geo-spatial technologies in the development of decision-making. The theme for this year's conference was "Earth Observation for Evidence-Based Decision Making"
During the 4 days conference attended by 450 participants and 65 speakers, all discussed the use of space technology to tackle climate change and other weather-related disasters on the continent. They also discussed formulating ideas toward the utilization of earth observation and geospatial technology in development and decision-making with focus on agriculture and food security, weather and climate, water and water-related disasters, land use, administration and management, and the creation of innovation hubs.
ASREN Director participated made a presentation and participated in a panel discussion with focus on the importance of research and education networks in supporting the earth observation communities. He also emphasized on the opportunity provided by the AfricaConenct2 and AfricaConenct3 Projects as an opportunity for these communities to build on through providing high-speed and high quality network access and R&E services.
