Harmonising coastal risk monitoring across West Africa

A regional workshop on harmonising the Detailed Master Plan for the West African Coastline (2024 Review) and strengthening national monitoring of coastal risk indicators was held from 1 to 5 December 2025 in Saly, Senegal. The workshop brought together technical experts from 12 countries under the framework of the West African Coastal Observatory (ORLOA), with support from Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa) and the Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE).

Strengthening a shared coastal framework

The West African Coastal Master Plan (SDLAO) provides a common basis for regional coastal planning, dividing the coastline into zones and sectors assessed according to hazards and socio-economic and environmental pressures. Successive updates have confirmed worsening coastal erosion, flooding, urban expansion, and increasing pressure on ecosystems.

The creation of ORLOA in 2024 strengthened regional coordination by providing a mechanism to harmonise how coastal risks are monitored and reported. The current workshop supported the ongoing 2024 Review of the SDLAO, while aligning national approaches to monitoring coastal risk indicators.

DE Africa’s role in coastal monitoring

Digital Earth Africa supports ORLOA member countries through open-access, satellite-based services that enable consistent monitoring of coastline change and coastal ecosystems. Developed in collaboration with CSE and RCMRD, DE Africa’s coastline services support analysis of shoreline trends from 2000 to 2024 across all 12 member countries.

The workshop built on previous capacity development efforts and focused on strengthening practical skills in using DE Africa platforms for harmonised monitoring, reporting, and verification. Participants also explored DE Africa’s mangrove monitoring tools, which support the assessment of the health and extent of these critical coastal ecosystems.

Key outcomes

During the workshop, countries shared progress and challenges in national coastal monitoring. Common issues included data gaps, limited technical capacity, and increasing pressure from coastal infrastructure and urban development. Mangrove degradation was identified as a shared concern across the region.

DE Africa platforms were recognised as a key enabler for harmonised coastal risk monitoring, providing cost-effective tools for both regional analysis and detailed national assessments through cloud-based workflows.

The workshop reinforced the importance of continued collaboration and capacity development to support consistent and sustainable monitoring of coastal risk indicators across West Africa. ORLOA member countries highlighted the need for ongoing technical support to fully integrate DE Africa tools into national monitoring systems, strengthening regional coordination and evidence-based decision-making for coastal resilience.