The Regional International Conference (RIC) has officially been opened by Hon. Judith Nabakooba, Minister of Lands, Housing & Urban Development – Uganda, and Chairperson Regional Centre for Mapping and Resources for Development (RCMRD) Conference of Ministers in Nairob, Kenya. Speaking during the official opening, Hon. Judith recognized the importance and the role played by the RCMRD member states in the field of science and technology, saying that they now have space policies and agencies.
‘RCMRD member States recognize the importance of science & technology, they now have space policies & agencies’.
RIC 2023 defines the community as: Users of the information from various domains (institutions, organizations, governments, private entities, academia, data providers, villages etc.) In addressing and achieving Sustainable Development Goals, the connection of the services, tools, data, information, methods to the community is critical. The participation of the various user categories of the said community from the data producers to beneficiaries has to be enhanced and perfected. Communication channels and information flow channels revamped and institutionalized within all the listed categories.
As the world focuses on improving the quality of life by utilizing information available on environmental related stress, Urbanization, Urban Growth, Land Conflicts, land Management, Poverty among others. The possibility that comes along with layering or bringing together the various layers of information through integration at various conferences is critical for not only reviewing the information already generated but also avoiding duplication of efforts. At RIC2023, RCMRD and Partners provides participants with an excellent opportunity to present their institution, innovations, share experiences, ideas, methods, technological advancements, and engage with key players from the boarder industry from all over the globe on the “NEXT LEVEL” ideas.
The conference provides an excellent platform of how geo-science can effectively be used to inform policy. Over the last six years, the conference has hosted over 4,000 delegates from Ministers, Principal Secretaries, Government Officials, Scientists, Development Partners, Researchers, Academic and Media groups.
The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) was established in Nairobi – Kenya in 1975 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the then Organization of African Unity (OAU), today African Union (AU). RCMRD is an inter-governmental organization and currently has 20 Contracting Member States in the Eastern and Southern Africa Regions; Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somali, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Reporting by JOHN TORIS.