The Africa Regional Centres of Excellence Programme (ArcX) has launched a new Call for Proposals to establish a network of Regional Centres of Excellence on Climate Change Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The ArcX cross-regional workshop on Biodiversity and Forests took place from 20 to 24 April 2026 at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, Italy. Bringing together key partners from across Africa and Europe, the workshop provided an opportunity to take stock of progress, strengthen collaboration and agree on priorities for the next phase of the programme.

The Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) for Biodiversity, Forests and Seascape Ecosystem Management, hosted by the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), has launched the Biodiversity Outlook for Eastern & Southern Africa (BOESA), a flagship regional platform bringing together geospatial intelligence, biodiversity data, scientific knowledge, stories and practical tools to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable development across Eastern and Southern Africa.

The OPERA (Ocean Prediction Enhancement in the Regions of Africa) project has launched its first online course OPERA MOOC Set 1: Fundamentals of Ocean Forecasting, developed as part of its Capacity Development Activities. Developed in Africa and designed for a global audience, the course aims to expand access to ocean forecasting knowledge and strengthen capacities in ocean science, climate resilience and sustainable coastal management.

From 9–12 June 2026, the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) hosted the Regional Geospatial Forum for Inclusive Biodiversity Action in Nairobi, Kenya, under the EU-funded ArcX Programme. The forum brought together Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), women, youth, governments, and conservation partners to explore how geospatial technologies can strengthen biodiversity conservation and support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Participants shared experiences o

The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) was awarded the 2026 Esri Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award, a distinction granted to only a small number of organisations from Esri's global user community each year.