EO AFRICA R&D Research Projects 2025-2027 – Awarded Proposals:
EO AFRICA R&D Research Projects 2025-2027
Following the successful first three rounds of calls for research proposals, the EO AFRICA R&D Facility, in coordination with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the African Union Commission (AUC), launched in Apr 2025 a 4th call for proposals. The aim of this call is to extend the support to African-European collaborative research efforts in the domain of EO applications. Similar to the previous calls, applicants were invited to submit their research ideas to create EO-based algorithms and workflows by leveraging cutting-edge cloud-based data access and computing infrastructure to tackle water and food security challenges in Africa.
This grant provides the selected proposals with 30,000 EUR for research activities during a period of 15 months. In addition, awarded projects will get free access to cloud-based Virtual Research Environments through the Innovation Lab of the Facility, dedicated user and technical support, access to EO AFRICA Space Academy events, and integration into the EO AFRICA Network for international scientific collaboration.
The submitted proposals were evaluated by the Selection Committee in collaboration with ESA and AUC, resulting in 10 research tandem projects (listed below).
Funded Projects:
| Title | Countries | Co-Pi’s | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Satellite-based Water Assessment for Holistic Integrated Lake Information. (SWAHILI_GH_GB) |
Ghana United Kingdom |
Siabi, Ebenezer Kwadwo Borgomeo, Edoardo |
| 2. | Enhancing Land Degradation Neutrality reporting in Kenya through EO-based woody weeds monitoring. (EOWM_KE_DE) |
Kenya Germany |
Agboka, Komi Mensah Dubovyk, Olena |
| 3. | Smart Irrigation Scheduling and Yield Forecasting for Maize in Namibia’s Maize Triangle Using Earth Observation. (SISMaT_NA_GB) |
Namibia United Kingdom |
Ajayi, Oluibukun Kuta, Abdullahi |
| 4. | Water Yield Estimation and Irrigation Demand Modelling using Multi-Sensor Earth Observation Data within a Tropical River Basin. (RIverWISE_NG_SE) |
Nigeria Sweden |
Fashae, Olutoyin A. Akinyemi, Felicia O. |
| 5. | Machine-Learning-driven Flood Resilience Framework in Ethiopian Lake-Watersheds. (ML-FReF_ET_IT) |
Ethiopia Italy |
Abebe, Sintayehu Gariano, Stefano |
| 6. | WAter and Salinity Stress IMpact on crop yield due to unconventional water use for irrigation employing satellite data and agro-hydrological modelling. (EO-WASSIM_MA_IT) |
Morocco Italy |
Ouakil, Abdelhadi Paciolla, Nicola |
| 7. | Space-based impact assessment of invasive alien trees on evapotranspiration and water security in southern Africa. (SATWAT_ZA_NL) |
South Africa Netherlands |
Rebelo, Alanna Van Cleemput, Elisa |
| 8. | Cloud-Based and AI-Enhanced Earth Observation for Mapping and Forecasting Hydrological Extremes and Irrigation Demand in selected catchments in Malawi. (CAEOM_MW_NL) |
Malawi The Netherlands |
Chunga, Brighton Karthikeyan, Brindha |
| 9. | Unlocking the Potential of the Ungauged Small Reservoirs to Mitigate Water Scarcity and Enhance Food Security. (STORE_ZM_HU) |
Zambia Hungary |
Banda, Kawawa Vekerdy, Zoltán |
| 10. | Monitoring and modelling the microbiological quality of current and future surface waters in West Africa using Earth observation data. (MOQA-EO_BF_FR) |
Burkina Faso France |
NIKIEMA, D. Edwige Robert, Elodie |
