Ethiopia is playing a pivotal role in advancing Africa’s space observation capabilities and geospatial information infrastructure to foster data-driven development planning and evidence-based policymaking across the continent, according to a senior official at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Andre Nonguierma, Chief of the ECA’s Geospatial Information Management Section, commended Ethiopia’s proactive stance in expanding its national space program and leveraging Earth observation systems for socio-economic transformation.
Nonguierma highlighted that Ethiopia’s recent satellite launches and its growing application of remote sensing technology have significantly enhanced its capacity to gather critical data. This information is vital for national policy design, resource management, infrastructure mapping, and continuous progress monitoring.
“Geospatial information serves as a critical infrastructure for sustainable development,” Nonguierma noted, emphasizing that location-based data allows governments to identify specific community needs, target infrastructure investments efficiently, and evaluate long-term development outcomes.
He further underscored the necessity of continental cooperation, urging African nations to pool resources and align national geospatial frameworks with official statistics. According to Nonguierma, integrating geospatial technology with statistical data systems enables policymakers to make well-informed decisions, respond effectively to environmental challenges, and build resilient economies.
Ethiopia’s contribution extends beyond domestic efforts to international leadership. Nonguierma pointed to Ethiopia’s active engagement in global geospatial governance, particularly through its representation on the bureau of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).
Echoing these views, Nonmcebo Nkonyane-Simelane, a land surveyor with the Surveyor General’s Department of the Kingdom of Eswatini, stated that Ethiopia’s milestone achievements in geospatial management serve as an encouraging model for other African nations.
“Continental cooperation enables countries to share experiences, adopt best practices, and strengthen their respective national geospatial capacities,” Nkonyane-Simelane remarked, stressing the importance of regional knowledge-sharing platforms.
The comments were delivered on the sidelines of the Tenth Session of the Statistical Commission for Africa, hosted at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa. Convened under the theme “Unleashing the Value of Data in Africa: Making Official Statistics a True Mirror of the Continent,” the high-level gathering brought together leaders of African statistical offices, geospatial experts, and international development partners.
Running alongside the commission is the Twelfth Meeting of the Regional Committee of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Africa (UN-GGIM: Africa). The combined sessions aim to deepen technical collaboration across member states, improve data integration between statistical agencies and space agencies, and establish standardized frameworks to monitor sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
