{"id":2218,"date":"2024-06-13T18:09:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T18:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalearthafrica.org\/?p=2218"},"modified":"2025-05-23T11:34:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T11:34:31","slug":"information-for-agriculture-food-and-water-security-iafws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalearthafrica.org\/en_za\/information-for-agriculture-food-and-water-security-iafws\/","title":{"rendered":"Information for Agriculture, Food and Water Security (IAFWS)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the IAFWS project?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Information for Agriculture, Food and Water Security (IAFWS) project seeks to improve lives, through the productivity of smallholder farmers and demonstrate what can be learnt from Earth observation. The one-year exploratory project was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and led by Digital Earth Africa implemented in collaboration with the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) and the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to timely, consistent, open and free data to support informed decision making is a challenge. Earth observation is increasingly being identified as an essential enabler in addressing food insecurity, both in Africa and the world over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Earth Africa provides access to time series Earth observation data to allow generation of statistics to leverage effective planning and monitoring, leading to better food and water security outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project is an example of African-Australian collaboration enabling optimal use of Australian innovation and aid through institutions across Africa to improve livelihoods, through the productivity of smallholder farmers. Co-designing solutions with end-users and evidence-based planning are essential for sustainable development.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Ethiopia Consultation session participants<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Mori from the Office of the President of Uganda launching the IAFWS Program<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Uganda Consultation session participants<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Uganda Consultation session<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A set of consultations with East and Southern African agricultural and water management agencies, research and farmer organisations and agriculture communities have been conducted, to understand the specific needs, opportunities and gaps for using Earth observations based services to increase agricultural productivity and sustainability, including through improved water use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outcome of the project was to design a Roadmap for Digital Earth Africa that will guide the fit-for-purpose co-development of solutions focused on agriculture, food and water security. The Roadmap provides a path forward leveraging Earth observations across the continent for food and water security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download the Roadmap here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The countries in focus for the project were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n