The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa), formalising a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the use of Earth observation (EO) data and technologies in Zambia.

The MoU, signed in March 2026, establishes a three-year collaborative framework focused on strengthening national EO capabilities and supporting data-driven decision-making across key development sectors. Through this partnership, NRSC and DE Africa will jointly promote the strategic use of satellite-based information to address national and regional challenges, including agriculture, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

A key area of collaboration under the agreement is the co-development of EO applications, including the integration of DE Africa’s analysis-ready satellite data and tools into NRSC-led initiatives such as the Crop Monitoring System. This will enhance crop health monitoring, yield estimation, and agricultural productivity assessments.

The partnership also places strong emphasis on capacity building and skills development, with planned training and outreach programmes targeting students, early-career professionals, and key geospatial stakeholders. In addition, the MoU promotes research, innovation, and knowledge sharing, while encouraging stakeholder engagement to strengthen Earth observation adoption across Zambia.

Speaking on the milestone, NRSC noted that the agreement reinforces its mandate to serve as the national hub for remote sensing and Earth observation, while leveraging continental-scale EO platforms to deliver actionable insights for policy, planning, and sustainable development.