About ArcX

Title: Transversal Component. 

Main Objective: Operate through the JRC’s Africa Knowledge Platform and serve as an integration engine, connecting thematic sectors and aligning the contributions of the RCoEs around a unified and coherent vision.

Specific Objectives:

1. Ensure effective coordination of the ArcX programme through a robust and well-managed transversal mechanism;
2. Enhance the science–policy interface by providing targeted support services that facilitate evidence-based decision-making;
3. Strengthen knowledge circulation and collective learning across ArcX through an efficient and interoperable knowledge management mechanism;
4. Promote inter-sectoral networking and partnership opportunities by delivering tailored support services that connect actors across thematic and regional domains.

Starting Year: 2023
Implementation Duration: 6 years

Areas of Impact:

1. Strategic coherence;
2. Programme efficiency;
3. Reduced duplication;
4. Evidence-based decisions;
5. Policy harmonisation;
6. Uptake of scientific insights;
7. Knowledge circulation;
8. Collective learning;
9. Scaling of innovations;
10. Innovation ecosystems;
11. Cross-sector alliances;
12. Private-sector + Africa–Europe cooperation

Target Groups: Regional Centers of Excellence.

ArcX Partners: See ArcX Partners card and the ArcX Partnership Map.

Component Coordinator: Agriconsulting Europe S.A. (AESA).

Scientific and Technical Support from EC - DG JRC: DG-JRC Directorate D (Sustainable Resources) Unit D6 (Nature Conservation and Observations).

Title: Africa Regional Centres of Excellence - ArcX: Biodiversity & Forest Component. 

Main Objective: The Biodiversity & Forest Component of the ArcX programme focuses on the sustainable management of biodiversity, forests, protected areas, and ecosystems across Africa. Its goal is to maintain ecosystem services essential for the well-being of local populations.

Specific Objectives:

1. Establish Regional Centres of Excellence (RCoEs) as reference points for biodiversity data to inform policies;
2. Develop indicators and information systems to monitor the EU-supported NaturAfrica initiative;
3. Enhance cross-sectoral and cross-regional coordination among stakeholders to address challenges in Science, Technology, and Innovations (STI) for Africa’s green transition;
4. Focus on metrics for decision-making, effective management of protected areas, development of forest information systems, and supporting national conservation efforts and global reporting (e.g., NBSAPs).

Starting Year: 2024
Implementation Duration: 48-54 months

Areas of Impact:

1. Data Collection and Sharing: Harmonising and making biodiversity, forestry, and ecosystem data accessible through open-source systems;
2. Scientific and Policy Support: Delivering scientific and policy analyses to improve regional decision-making;
3. Capacity Building: Strengthening institutional and human capacities for better coordination among biodiversity stakeholders;
4. Global Engagement: Collaborating with continental and global institutions like the CBD to sustain biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.

Target Groups: Continental bodies, research institutions, academia, civil society, private sector, local communities, and all African citizens.

ArcX Partners: See ArcX Partners card and the ArcX Partnership Map.

Component Coordinator: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF).

Leading Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE): Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) (RCoE Western Africa), Observatoire des Forets d'Afrique Centrale (OFAC) (RCoE Central Africa), Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) (RCoE Southern and Eastern Africa)

Scientific and Technical Support from EC - DG JRC: JRC Unit D6 (Nature Conservation and Observations).

Title: Africa Regional Centres of Excellence - ArcX: Water Component. 

Main Objective: Strengthen water governance and resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa through research, capacity building, and inclusive solutions for sustainable water resource management and equitable access to WASH services.

Specific Objectives:

1. Conduct research on climate, hydrology, and the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus;
2. Provide science-based recommendations for water management and environmental risk reduction;
3. Develop human capacity through training and mobility programmes for young professionals.

Starting Year: 2024
Implementation Duration: 48 months

Areas of Impact:

1. Hydrology and Climate: Studies on surface and groundwater under changing climatic conditions;
2. Water Management: Policy and decision-support for transboundary basin management;
3. WEFE Nexus: Cross-sectoral linkages among water, energy, food, and ecosystems;
4. WASH: Equitable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services with gender-sensitive delivery mechanisms.

Target Groups: AUDA-NEPAD Networks of Water Centres of Excellence, regional organisations, river basin authorities, policy stakeholders, service providers, young professionals, and end-users.

ArcX Partners: See ArcX Partners card and the ArcX Partnership Map.

Component Coordinator: University of Stellenbosch.

Leading Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE): University of Stellenbosh

Scientific and Technical Support from EC - DG JRC: JRC Unit D2 (Ocean & Water).

Title: Africa Regional Centres of Excellence - ArcX: Agroecology Component. 

Main Objective: Strengthen Regional Centres of Excellence (RCoEs) in agroecology across sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate the transition towards productive, resilient, and sustainable food systems by integrating agroecological principles with scientific and local knowledge.

Specific Objectives:

1. Strengthen the scientific, technological, and institutional capacities of sub-regional organisations (SROs) and RMRNs/RCoEs in agroecology;
2. Enhance the contribution of RMRNs/RCoEs to transformative, high-quality agroecological research;
3. Improve cross-sectoral and inter-regional coordination to tackle science, technology, and innovation challenges in Africa’s green transition.

Starting Year: 2024-25
Implementation Duration: 38–46 months

Areas of Impact:

1. Data collection & sharing: Document and disseminate agroecological practices through open-source platforms;
2. Decision-support: Produce scientific and policy analyses for informed strategic planning;
3. Capacity development: Deliver targeted training and strengthen professional networks;
4. Innovation support: Develop and scale up innovative agroecological solutions;
5. Global engagement: Integrate African agroecology into international frameworks and global fora.

Target Groups: Scientific community (economists, agronomists, food-system experts, etc.), data and information managers, international organisations, private sector, universities, local communities, regional economic communities, continental bodies, African farmers, and citizens.

ArcX Partners: See ArcX Partners card and the ArcX Partnership Map.

Component Coordinator: Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM).

Leading Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE): Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF)

Scientific and Technical Support from EC - DG JRC: DG-JRC Directorate D (Sustainable Resources) Unit D5 (Food Security) and Unit D4 (Economics of the Food System).

Title: Africa Regional Centres of Excellence - ArcX: Ocean Component. 

The OPERA project (Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa) represents the ArcX Ocean component.

Main Objective: To improve ocean resources sustainability and human welfare by strengthening digital and scientific capacities in ocean monitoring and forecasting in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Specific Objectives:

1. Build cooperation and foster a coordinated and dynamic African ocean prediction community to enhance regional leadership and global collaboration in ocean monitoring and forecasting
2. Strengthen African capacities in ocean monitoring and forecasting at national, regional, and pan-African levels, improving access and use of digital ocean resources
3. Strengthen ocean regional and coastal forecasting systems for Essential Ocean Variables (currents, sea height, temperature, salinity, fish abundance, etc.)
4. Develop fit-for-purpose ocean data-driven applications and services to support sustainable blue economies, protect coastal communities and safeguard marine ecosystems
5. Develop an African Digital Twin Ocean/ocean Knowledge Hub framework to enhance sharing, accessibility, and use of digital ocean resources for informed decision-making and continued innovation
6. Strengthen the uptake and long-term impact of the project’s results by engaging stakeholders and users through co-design, targeted activities and knowledge tools, while fostering private sector participation and stronger links with policy.

Starting Year: 2025
Implementation Duration: 60 months

Areas of Impact:

1. Support policy and foster long-term commitment to help achieve goals of key ocean related priorities in African and European frameworks and increase long-term support for ocean monitoring and forecasting
2. Cooperation and community building to expand ocean prediction community in Africa, fostering cooperation within sub-Saharan Africa and with the global community
3. New services and applications to support disaster risk reduction and response, blue economy and marine conservation efforts
4. Capacity sharing knowledge & technology transfer
5. Strengthened capabilities enhance ocean monitoring and forecasting capacities
6. Stronger science policy pathways and engagement of the private sector.

Target Groups: African governments and decision-makers, Regional Centres of Excellence and scientific institutions, Local and regional authorities involved in coastal management and risk reduction, Blue economy stakeholders (fishing, aquaculture, maritime transport, offshore energy, etc.), Civil society (coastal communities, NGOs, citizen scientists).

ArcX Partners: See ArcX Partners card and ArcX Partnership Map.

Component Coordinator: Mercator Ocean International, as coordinator of the OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Centre (Click here to register).

Leading Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE): Mercator Ocean International

Scientific and Technical Support: Capacity Development – UNESCO Chair of Mathematical Physics and Applications CIPMA), Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS), University of Abomey Calavi

Title: Africa Regional Centres of Excellence - ArcX: Climate Change Resilience.

Main Objective: Strengthen the climate change and disaster resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa, by improving scientific and technological capacities of the Regional Centers of Excellence, their co-ordination and capacity to contribute to policy and decision making.

Starting Year: 2026
Implementation Duration: 48 Months

Areas of Impact: Still to be defined

Target Groups: Still to be defined

ArcX Partners: Still to be defined

Component Coordinator: European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) - pending contract signature.

Leading Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE): 

Scientific and Technical Support from EC - DG JRC: JRC Unit D6 (Nature Conservation and Observations); JRC Unit E1 (Disaster Risk Management).