By Aoma Keziah,
The 59th Governing Council meeting of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) opened in Nairobi, bringing together top government officials and technical experts from across Eastern and Southern Africa.
The annual gathering provides a platform for member States to review the Centre’s achievements and outline priorities for the coming year, with a focus on harnessing geospatial and Earth Observation technologies to drive sustainable growth.
Officiating the opening session, Kenya’s Deputy Head of Public Service, Mr. Amos Gatheca, commended RCMRD for its continued leadership in advancing geospatial innovation in the region.
“The Centre’s work has become increasingly important in shaping evidence-based planning and resource management at both national and regional levels,” he stated.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to supporting RCMRD’s mission, urging governments in the 20 member States to deepen collaboration and invest in digital mapping infrastructure.
“Strengthening partnerships with universities, private firms, and development agencies would be key to unlocking the full benefits of these technologies,” remarked Gatheca.
The Deputy Head of Public Service further encouraged the integration of geospatial tools in public decision making, aligning national efforts with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“This is the time for Africa to fully embrace the power of data. Through cooperation and shared innovation, we can ensure that technology truly serves our people,” he added.
The RCMRD Governing Council serves as the Centre’s highest policy and decision-making organ, bringing together Principal Secretaries representing Ministries of Lands and equivalent ministries from its 20 Member States. This year’s Council, chaired by Mr. Patrick Mucheleka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Zambia, will deliberate on the Centre’s performance and approve its strategic plan for the next phase of implementation.
“I reaffirm our Centre’s commitment to continue supporting Member States through the provision of geospatial data, technologies, and capacity-building initiatives, thanks to the Governing Council for its continued support in fulfilling RCMRD’s mandate,” remarked RCMRD Director General, Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza,
Established in 1975 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union (AU), RCMRD has evolved into a regional hub of excellence that promotes sustainable development by generating, harmonising, and disseminating spatial data critical for urban planning, natural resource management, disaster risk reduction, and food security.
The two-day meeting will review the Centre’s progress, partnerships, and strategic direction in advancing geospatial science and Earth observation to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063, underscoring the region’s growing recognition of geospatial technology as a driver of sustainable land use, disaster management, and climate resilience.