The role of Space Technologies for

Sustainable Economic Growth and

Development High level conference “Space for the African

Citizen”16 September 2010, Brussels, Belgium

Menghestab Haile, World Food Programme

Main Causes of Food Insecurity and Underdevelopment

• Heavy dependency on traditional rain fed agriculture (over 70% of the population)

• Droughts, floods, land degradation and CC

• High disease burden (Malaria etc, HIV AIDS)

• Lack of rural infrastructure and high cost of transport

• Lack of agricultural marketing strategies

• Conflicts and civil strife

• Lack appropriate risk management systems

• Lack of reliable information and data

The vicious circle of land degradation and poverty

Rehabilitation of degraded hillsides to productive woodlots

Ground water recharged and base flow enhanced

Kids swimming in shallow well after the gulley is rehabilitated

Some of the challenges for economic growth and

Development

• Lack the necessary resources to increase agricultural productivity and increase rural income;

• Lack effective strategies and resources for risk management; and

• Lack institutional capacity and infrastructure to generate and share reliable information

Resources, Risk Management and Information

Opportunities for economic growth and Development

• Need to shift from the thinking of poverty reduction to economic transformation

– Growth Opportunities in the rural sector– Room for Technical Innovation– Develop Strategic Partnerships (public/private)– Aspire for mutual benefits (for Africa and

Europe)

• The importance of space tools and technology• Recognize the important role of the private sector

both in African and Europe

The private sector and technology

Generating enabling information to support Development

Using advances in satellite technologies and GIS effectively support sustainable development

• Satellite applications for enhanced environmental assessment and agricultural monitoring

• Satellite applications for effective communication

Relevant Space Technology Applications

Remote Sensing Applications• Baseline mapping for planning – land

use, land cover, agro-ecological zones, cropping patterns, dominant crops

• Agricultural Monitoring - Area cultivated, vegetation status, Rainfall and yield indicators

• Risk assessment for risk management – flooded area, drought affected area, etc

• Infrastructure assessment for humanitarian response – roads, airports, railways, markets

Relevant Space Technology Applications (2)

Satellite supported communications (Mobile phones and GPS applications)

• Market information (farmers have improved access to market information)

• Improved education delivery • Health delivery • Disaster response • Public information

EU has initiatives to support Africa to use space related applications

EU is putting significant resources for Africa

GMES and Africa is one of the initiatives

Some of the projects being implemented in Africa

include

– GARNET-E (led by Infoterra)

– GMFS (led by VITO)

– ISAC (led by VITO)

EU is encouraging participation of African private sector

The need to create an enabling environment to

support both African and European private

sector

Conclusion

• Satellite technologies can create enabling environment for economic transformation

• EU and other donors are supporting relevant initiatives in Africa

• European private sector is encouraged to play a role in implementing the various initiatives

• Necessary support and guarantee needs to be provided to support the private sector to innovate

• Need to develop enabling environment for African and European private sector to collaborate

• European private sector need to see Africa as an opportunity for making business EU grants should only facilitate business

Remarks

• Policy makers in Africa may not be aware of the availability of satellite technologies that can support their development efforts

• We need to engage with governments of developing countries at appropriate levels

• New technologies can give Africa a jump start in several sectors including the communication sector

• We need to shift our thinking of Africa as a business opportunity not just a continent dependent on foreign aid

• The EU needs to be commended for giving attention to Africa (for example GMES and Africa)

• Africa must make appropriate decisions as it gets enhanced attention from many parts of the world

Thank you for your attention

Menghestab HailePolicy AdvisorWFP Liaison Office to the AU and ECAAddis Ababa, EthiopiaMenghestab.haile @wfp.orgTel +251 115515188 ext 2255Mob +251 911505072Fax +251 115154988