Catalysing Knowledge and Action at the 2025 NEOSS CoP Integrated Workshop

The NEOSS Communities of Practice (CoPs) reaffirmed their collective commitment to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and coordinated action at the Integrated Workshop held on 23 June 2025 at the CSIR ICC in Tshwane. 

At a time when South Africa faces converging challenges – from climate impacts and food security to the demands of urban resilience and the urgent need for stronger knowledge systems to guide evidence-based decisions – the workshop underscored that the country’s Earth Observation (EO) community is aligning its efforts to turn knowledge into impact.

Drawing on the expertise of the CoPs in Agriculture and Food Security, Circular Economy and Natural Resources Management, Climate Action, Data Governance, Human Settlements and Spatial Planning, Natural Capital Accounting, and Satellite Communications and Navigation, the workshop created a unique space for dialogue and synergy. Each community brought its own perspective and priorities, yet together they highlighted the interconnected nature of South Africa’s challenges and the importance of coordinated action.

This collective approach ensured that discussions went beyond technical updates to focus on how Earth Observation knowledge can be applied in practical, cross-cutting ways that directly serve national needs. These diverse but interconnected communities came together not only to share progress but also to align on how EO can be applied more effectively to address South Africa’s pressing priorities.

The day began with a welcome by Flora Makgale, Human Settlements and Spatial Planning CoP Co-Chair, who outlined the objectives of the workshop and reminded participants of the importance of working collectively. NEOSS Manager Lulu Makapela provided a recap of the 2024 outcomes, highlighting how CoPs had contributed to the EOMI assessment process and moved from abstract discussions to tangible results. This set the stage for a broader perspective, as Paola De Salvo, Felipe Carlos and Kalamkas Yessimkhanova of the GEO Secretariat presented the GEO Knowledge Hub (GKH) as a global repository of open, accessible and curated EO knowledge. They emphasised that the contributions of Member States such as South Africa are central to ensuring equitable knowledge access worldwide.

It was in this context that the focus turned to South Africa’s own milestone: the launch of the SA-GEO Knowledge Hub. Tshisi Mphaphuli, EO Infrastructure CoP Co-Chair, explained how the Hub has been developed to mirror and connect with the global GKH while tailoring its content to local realities. A live demonstration by Kwanele Ngongoma, NEOSS Junior Systems Administrator, showcased the platform’s functionality and ease of use, highlighting how it is designed to support decision-makers, researchers and community alike. The moment was formally marked by a launch statement from Itumeleng Makoloi, Acting Chief Director for Space Science and Technology at DSTI, who described the SA-GEO Knowledge Hub as a strategic national asset – a living library of South Africa’s EO resources. He emphasised its role in consolidating datasets, case studies, training materials and publications into one curated space, improving knowledge sharing, reducing duplication, and fostering collaboration across institutions.

From there, attention shifted to examining progress through the Earth Observation Maturity Index (EOMI). Moderated by Ndilisa Didiza, Co-Chair of the Agriculture and Food Security CoP, the session began with a global overview by GEO Secretariat’s Ernest Acheampong, who explained how EOMI helps countries benchmark their EO ecosystems. South Africa’s maturity was then explored through three perspectives: policy and institutional frameworks, presented by Tumisang Modiole of DSTI; infrastructure and technical systems, outlined by Dr Stewart Bernard, Co-Chair of the Natural Capital Accounting CoP; and ecosystem and stakeholder engagement, discussed by Imraan Saloojee, also Co-Chair of the Natural Capital Accounting CoP. Together, they demonstrated both the strengths of South Africa’s EO infrastructure and the areas requiring further investment and coordination. Panel reflections added further depth, with contributions from Phila Sibandze of the University of Fort Hare and Lesetja Mogoba of ZASpace, who emphasised that EOMI is not only a measurement tool but also a roadmap to guide national priorities.

In the final session of the day, the discussion returned to the Communities of Practice themselves. Co-facilitated by Dr Nale Mudau and Dr Bolelang Sibolla, the session invited participants to take the insights of the EOMI and the momentum of the SA-GEO Knowledge Hub launch and translate them into action. These exchanges demonstrated a maturing community that recognises its collective responsibility to ensure that knowledge does not remain static but is actively applied to solve real-world problems.

Earth Observation offers the tools to respond, but only when communities work in unison and when knowledge is accessible, coordinated and effectively translated into decision-making. By bringing together seven CoPs under NEOSS, anchored in the official launch of the SA-GEO Knowledge Hub and guided by the insights of the EOMI, the workshop positioned South Africa to take decisive steps towards a more resilient, knowledge-driven future.

The 2025 CoP Integrated Workshop demonstrated that South Africa’s EO community is not only growing but also consolidating its voice. What lies ahead is a collective responsibility: to keep building the momentum, keep sharing and keep transforming knowledge into action that benefits society.