The overall objective of the AMESD programme in the IGAD sub-region is to enhance the assessment and monitoring of land degradation and natural habitats for sustainable land management.
Five (5) expected results have been formulated from the above objective:
1. Management capacity for the successful implementation and communication strategies for circulation of information and awareness raising.
2. Improved access to existing basic EO, field and ancillary data to IGAD users is ensured.
3. Operational information services are established in the field of land degradation and natural habitat conservation to improve policy and decision-making processes.
4. Political and policy frameworks strengthened to ensure active and sustainable participation of IGAD member states in the global environmental surveillance initiatives.
5. Adequate technical capacity of major stakeholders in IGAD is reached.
The general objective of ICPAC as the regional implementing centre (RIC) in IGAD will be to contribute towards the achievement of the above objectives by coordinating all actors to ensure the successful implementation of the action.
Specific objectives for the RIC are to:
i. Assess and strengthen existing networks and institutions related to the theme "Land degradation mitigation and natural habitat conservation" in order to constitute the regional thematic network. The actors of the network will include (i) the regional thematic partner, (ii) the collaborating associate institutions (iii) the target groups and (iv) the end-user community. The regional thematic partner will contribute to the elaboration and management of information to and from associates, target groups and end-users. The purpose of the network will be to achieve an efficient and easy means for sharing information/data, and to promote the participation of its members to the development and execution of the thema objectives.
ii. Carry out needs assessments of AMESD services by means of regular network workshops and continuous follow-ups.
iii. Define and develop methodologies related to the application of satellite data to land degradation and assessment and monitoring.
iv. Design, develop and operate operational geo-information services aiming at the production and distribution to the key beneficiaries of the project of a number of specific products assessing land degradation and changes in natural habitat areas in the IGAD region.
v. Ensure access to basic EO data (climate and vegetation products e.g. NDVI) for the regional theme partner, associates, target groups and end-users, through the Eumetcast receiving stations. Data will be collected, formatted and checked for quality and then use the data to generate intermediate/final products and thereafter, archive, exchange and share them within the network.
vi. Ensure the sustainability of the AMESD services through adequate trainings and human capacity building. Training will be organized for experts/trainers as well as for end users in the functioning of the receiving stations, application of the delivered services and products, general thematic topics related to remote sensing, GIS, database management, land degradation, natural habitat conservation, and environmental policy.
vii. Ensure that information and services are delivered to and used by policy and decision makers at sub-regional, national and local levels through training, demonstrations and awareness raising initiatives.
