Digital Earth Africa, a leading provider of open and ready-to-use earth observation data for Africa, has launched its first office in Kenya. The new office, located at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), will provide researchers and policymakers with access to high-quality satellite imagery and data to help them address some of Africa’s most pressing challenges, including food security, habitat conservation, and climate change.
“We are excited to launch our first office in Kenya,” said Dr. Thembi Xaba, Managing Director of Digital Earth Africa. “Kenya is a leading country in Africa in terms of research and innovation, and we believe that our office here will help to accelerate the use of earth observation data to address some of the continent’s most pressing challenges.”
Earth observation data can be used to track changes in land use, vegetation, and water resources over time. This information can be used to improve agricultural productivity, monitor deforestation, and assess the impact of climate change. Digital Earth Africa’s data is free to use, which makes it accessible to a wide range of researchers and policymakers.
“We are committed to making earth observation data more accessible to everyone,” said Zviko Mudimu, Head of Operations at Digital Earth Africa. “We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to use this data to make a difference in the world.”
The launch of Digital Earth Africa’s Kenya office is a major milestone for the organization. It is the first step in a plan to expand its reach across Africa and make earth observation data more accessible to everyone.
Quotes from key figures:
“This launch marks an important milestone for our centre,” said Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza, Director General of the RCMRD. “We will commit to continue to support this initiative to improve the use of earth observation data.”
“We are excited to partner with Digital Earth Africa to bring this valuable data to Kenya,” said Dr. Mary Okello, Director of the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. “This data will be a powerful tool for researchers and policymakers as we work to address the challenges facing our country.”
“We are grateful to Digital Earth Africa for making this data available to us,” said Dr. Jane Kariuki, Director of the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization. “This data will help us to improve our understanding of the agricultural sector and develop more sustainable farming practices.”
