Programme

GGOS Africa Workshop 2026

Building the Foundation for Geodetic Excellence in Africa

5th – 7th October 2026  |  Ole-Sereni, Nairobi, Kenya

The workshop took place on 5th – 7th October 2026 at Ole-Sereni, Nairobi, Kenya, with all sessions streamed online. Thank you to all the speakers, moderators and participants, in person and online. All times below are East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3).

Group photo of the GGOS Africa Workshop 2026 participants
Workshop participants, Nairobi. Full-resolution photo

Recordings, slides and session summary notes are linked under each session below. The summary notes were written from the session transcripts and are a guide, not an official record: please check against the recording before quoting anyone.

Day 1: Monday 5th October 2026

Theme: Foundation, Global Perspectives & GGOS Infrastructure

08:00 – 09:00

REGISTRATION

Moderator: Molyne Maranga

09:00 – 10:30

OPENING CEREMONY

Moderator: Paul Baki

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. Security briefing, welcome and round of introductions (recording)
  2. Welcome message – Hubert Mathebula (Global Geodetic Observing System - Africa)
  3. Welcome message – Richard Gross (President, International Association of Geodesy; IAG)
  4. Welcome message – Jack Radcliffe on behalf of Dr.-Ing. Laura Sánchez (President; Global Geodetic Observing System)
  5. Welcome message – Mr Nicholas Brown (UN-Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence; online)
  6. Welcome message – Mr Andre Nonguierma (UN-GGIM-Africa)
  7. Welcome message – Mr Weldon Maritim (Director: Survey of Kenya)
  8. Opening speech – Prof. Benedict M. Mutua, Ph.D., Rer. Nat., EBS (Vice Chancellor: The Technical University of Kenya)
10:30 – 11:00

BREAK & NETWORKING

11:00 – 13:00

SESSION 1: GLOBAL & AFRICAN GEODESY PERSPECTIVES

Moderator: Hussein Farah

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. State of Global Geodesy / UN-GGCE Africa Survey – Nicholas Brown (online)
  2. Development of Geodesy in Africa – Andre Nonguierma
  3. Historical Perspective of Geodesy in Africa – Patrick Voster
  4. Interactive Discussions
13:00 – 14:00

LUNCH BREAK

14:00 – 15:00

SESSION 2: INTRODUCTION TO GGOS & GGOS-AFRICA

Moderator: Jack Radcliffe

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. Global Geodetic Observing System – Laura Sanchez (online)
  2. GGOS-Africa (Framework, Objectives and ToRs) – Hubert Mathebula
  3. Interactive Discussions
15:00 – 15:30

BREAK

15:30 – 16:30

SESSION 3: GEODETIC & SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE IN AFRICA

Moderator: Emmanuel Proven-Adzri

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. Geodetic Infrastructure in Africa (GGOS Africa Survey) – Godfrey Ogonda
  2. Space Geodesy in Africa - Identifying New Fundamental Sites – Roelf Botha
  3. Interactive Discussions

Day 2: Tuesday 6th October 2026

Theme: AFREF, Partnerships, County Presentations, Applications & Social Excursion

09:00 – 10:30

SESSION 4: AFREF INFRASTRUCTURE & VERTICAL DATUM

Moderator: Roelf Botha

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. AFREF Infrastructure – Fernand Bale
  2. CORS in Africa – Martin Murimi
  3. Vertical Datum – Siphiwe Mphuri
  4. Interactive Discussions
10:30 – 11:00

BREAK & NETWORKING

11:00 – 13:00

SESSION 5: COUNTRY PRESENTATIONS

Moderator: Hussein Farah

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. Public-Private Partnerships in Establishment of Geodetic Networks – Yao Ziggy
  2. Country Presentation: Tunisia – Zouheir Fatnassi
  3. Country Presentation: Nigeria – Joseph Dodo
  4. Country Presentation: Zimbabwe – Charles Paradzayi
  5. Country Presentation: Uganda – Robert Wafula
  6. (Session 6) GNSS-IR monitoring of coastal and onland water levels in Cameroon – Dr Yap Loudi
  7. Interactive Discussions
13:00 – 14:00

LUNCH BREAK

14:00 – 15:00

SESSION 6: CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN GEODESY

Moderator: Bruno Kyamulesire

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. Contribution of Africa Geodesy to Geodynamics – Elfuraha Saria
  2. Contribution of Africa Geodesy to Astronomy – Roelf Botha / Emmanuel Proven-Adzri / Jack Radcliffe
  3. Contribution of Africa Geodesy to Space Weather – Paul Baki
  4. Close of Day 2 and announcements (discussion moved to Wednesday morning) (recording)
15:00 – 15:30

BREAK

Day 3: Wednesday 7th October 2026

Theme: Capacity Building, Analysis Centers & Strategic Way Forward

09:30 – 10:45

SESSION 7: GGOS-AFFILIATES PRESENTATIONS

Moderator: Jack Radcliffe

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. Interactive discussion (for session 6)
  2. Presentations by GGOS Affiliates (starting at 10:00)
10:45 – 11:00

BREAK & NETWORKING

11:00 – 13:00

SESSION 8: HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY IN GEODESY

Moderator: Roelf Botha

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. Human Resource Capacity and Computational Infrastructure in Africa (GGOS-Africa Survey) – Godfrey Ogonda
  2. Geodesy Education at AFRIGIST – Lazarus Ojiji
  3. Geodesy Education at RCMRD – Martin Murimi
  4. Pan-African Geodetic Research Consortium (PAGRC) – Charles Paradzayi
  5. Interactive Discussions
13:00 – 14:00

LUNCH BREAK

14:00 – 15:30

SESSION 9: GGOS & AFREF ANALYSIS CENTERS

Moderator: Hussein Farah

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. GGOS Analysis Centers – Aletha de Witt (online)
  2. CORS System Analysis and Computations – Muya Kamamia
  3. First Computations of AFREF – Elfuraha Saria
  4. AFREF Analysis Center – Andre Nonguierma
  5. Interactive Discussions
15:30 – 16:00

BREAK & NETWORKING

16:00 – 17:00

SESSION 10: WAY FORWARD & CLOSING CEREMONY

Moderator: Paul Baki

Session summary notes (PDF)

  1. Way Forward for GGOS-Africa Implementation – Hubert Mathebula
  2. Adoption of Workshop Resolutions – Hussein Farah
  3. Official Closing Ceremony – Jack Radcliffe

Additional presentation

Prepared for the workshop but not part of the programme

  1. Modern Geodesy and Imperatives for Integrated Capacity Development in Africa – Lazarus Mustapha Ojigi (AFRIGIST)