African Union Commission (AUC)

The African Union Commission (AUC) is the executive and administrative branch of the African Union, which was created in 1999 by the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), through the Sirte Declaration. The main purpose of the African Union is to accelerate the process of integration in the continent to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic, environmental and political problems. The Commission is Composed of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson and eight Commissioners.

In December 2007, a was approved during the EU-Africa Summit. Eight areas for strategic partnership have been defined, which include climate and space matters.

The African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture is in charge of the implementation of the programme, the MESA programme and the 6th Strategic Partnership on Climate. The Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology is responsible for the implementation of the 8th Strategic partnership on Science, Information Society and Space, which includes the initiative.

In 2008, EUMETSAT signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union Commission on its support to the AMESD programme.

African Centre for Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD)

Created in 1987 by the Conference of the Ministers of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the World Meteorological Organization, aims to contribute to the sustainable development of the African socio-economic sectors, through the use of information related to weather, climate and environment as resources for development. Cooperation between EUMETSAT and ACMAD started in 1996 and focuses on the use of the METEOSAT satellite data. Thanks to its specific reference role at continental level, ACMAD was involved in the PUMA Project, providing technical assistance for the validation of the PUMA receiving stations and participating in the Project Steering Committee.

ACMAD is a EUMETSAT’s partner for the activities related to Climate Monitoring in Africa. ACMAD regularly produces meteorological bulletin which are further disseminated through EUMETCast to the whole of Africa.

AGRHYMET Regional Centre

The Regional Centre was established in 1974 in Niamey (Niger) as a specialised institution of the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), with the mission of promoting information and training about food security, desertification control and the management of natural and water resources. The cooperation between EUMETSAT and AGRHYMET was established in 1996 and fosters the use of METEOSAT data for operational and development activities, including rainfall estimates, training, and agro-meteorological and hydrological applications. AGRHYMET was the reference Regional centre for Western Africa in the framework of the PUMA Project and is a Regional Implementation Centre in AMESD, responsible for the THEMA “Cropland and Rangeland Management“ in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.

Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar (ASECNA)

is an international organisation created in 1959 with the mandate of ensuring general air traffic safety for its 18 Member States, managing their air space and providing services for air traffic and aeronautical meteorology. ASECNA operates the Ecole Africaine de la Météorologie et de l’Aviation Civile (EAMAC) in Niamey, Niger. The close collaboration between EUMETSAT and ASECNA began in 1998 and aims at coordinating training activities on satellite meteorology for Africa, including the use of EUMETSAT data and products for educational purposes at EAMAC. EUMETSAT and EAMAC are regularly jointly organising training session on Satellite Meteorology for the French-speaking African users.

ASECNA has also developed a sound technical know-how for the operational reception and use of EUMETSAT data.