{"id":5213,"date":"2025-11-27T08:14:39","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T08:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalearthafrica.org\/?p=5213"},"modified":"2026-03-11T09:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T09:40:57","slug":"geoscience-australia-appoints-the-long-term-owner-of-the-digital-earth-africa-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalearthafrica.org\/pt\/geoscience-australia-appoints-the-long-term-owner-of-the-digital-earth-africa-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Geoscience Australia appoints the Long-Term Owner of the Digital Earth Africa Program."},"content":{"rendered":"

Canberra, Australia \u2013 Geoscience Australia (GA) is pleased to announce that the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe<\/em>)<\/strong>, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, has been appointed as the Long-Term Owner of the Digital Earth Africa (<\/strong>DE \u00c1frica<\/strong><\/a>) Program.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The appointment of icipe<\/em> follows a comprehensive and competitive open tender process to award a services contract for the transition to long-term ownership of the program. Funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (Helmsley Charitable Trust), the appointment marks a critical milestone in the journey to establish DE Africa as a fully African-owned and sustained initiative beyond March 2028, when fiduciary oversight will transfer from GA to the long-term owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Alison Rose, Chief of Space Division, Geoscience Australia said:<\/strong> \u201cWe are thrilled with the outcome. icipe brings over 50 years of pan-African science-led development leadership, with expertise in designing, deploying, and maintaining scalable, secure, high-performance data platforms. icipe has demonstrated expertise in governance, leadership, resource mobilisation, stakeholder engagement and capacity building, aligned with DE Africa\u2019s mission and vision, making icipe uniquely positioned to ensure DE Africa\u2019s continuity and growth beyond March 2028.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Rose also expressed her sincere appreciation for the Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS)<\/a> for its leadership as Interim Host since April 2024, guiding the program through a critical period during the process to secure a Long-Term Owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Abdou Tenkouano,<\/strong> Director General of icipe<\/em>, commented:<\/strong> \u201cWe are honoured to be appointed Long Term Owner of Digital Earth Africa. Since 2011, icipe has been at the forefront of applying Earth <\/em>o<\/em>bservation<\/em>s<\/em> (EO) to address Africa\u2019s most pressing challenges, making us a natural partner to enhance the DE Africa program. Our vision for DE Africa is not simply to \u2018own\u2019 it, but to strategically integrate it into a collaborative ecosystem that secures its future and expands its impact.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Tenkouano further stated: \u201cOur commitment to retaining DE Africa’s identity as a pan-African initiative is paramount. We will prioritise African governance, leadership, user-driven science, partnerships, and capacity building to ensure the program remains relevant and responsive. We are confident that our strategic approach and unique positioning will ensure the program’s seamless continuity, accelerate and elevate its mission, and secure a sustainable future for DE Africa for years to come.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Helmsley Charitable Trust<\/strong> also welcomed the appointment. Walter Panzirer, a Helmsley Trustee, said: <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe remain unwavering in our commitment to Digital Earth Africa\u2019s success. Our investment ensures DE Africa continues to leverage cutting-edge technology and science to provide a free, public-good, Earth observation data infrastructure that most African nations would otherwise not have access to. With informed decision-making, leaders can strengthen community resilience and accelerate progress toward sustainable development. Securing a long-term owner in Africa is a landmark step for keeping African interests at the forefront, increasing user adoption, expanding in-country impact, and fostering self-sustainment well beyond our grant.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

icipe<\/em> will assume full operational management and delivery of Digital Earth Africa from 1 April 2026. DE Africa platform and services will remain fully operational throughout the transition between December 2025 through March 2026, with continued support for stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the transition period and beyond, the Digital Earth Africa community – including funders, partners and users – will continue to play a vital role in shaping the program\u2019s future direction and development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further information will be released in the coming days on Digital Earth Africa’s social media channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sobre a Digital Earth Africa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Earth Africa is a program that exists to improve the lives of people across the African continent by translating Earth observations (EO) into insights that will support sustainable development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Earth Africa\u2019s platform & services enable African governments, industry and decision makers to track changes across the continent in unprecedented detail. \u200b\u200bThis provides valuable insights for better decision making across many areas, including flooding, drought, soil and coastal erosion, agriculture, forest cover, land use and land cover change, water availability and quality, and changes to human settlements. \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DE Africa goals:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n