Kenya Space Agency Explores Collaborations with Japanese Professors, Gates Foundation, and Global Flood Teams

The Acting DG, Kenya Space Agency Brig. Hillary Kipkosgey and his team hosted different teams to explore potential areas of collaboration. The following were the key highlights of the meetings:

Meeting with Japanese Professors from University of Tsukuba visiting Kenya: The DG held discussions with Prof. Kyosuke Yamamoto and Prof. Toshihiro Kameda, both from Tsukuba University in Japan. They explored collaboration on satellite and small rocket development, as well as a student exchange program. The team was accompanied by Dr. Shohei Aoki, Dr. Anthony Muchiri, and Dr. Patrick Muiruri, who are involved in the Nakuja project.

Meeting with Dr. Mollie Van Gordon (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation): The DG hosted Dr. Mollie Van Gordon to explore areas of collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Mollie, who is the Senior Program Officer leading the Geospatial Insights portfolio at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), was in the country for the Geopalooza 4.0 event held at the Safari Park hotel on July 24-26, 2024, that was opened by Brig. Kipkosgey on Tuesday. Geopalooza is a cross-sector geospatial-focused event that is meant to educate and inform stakeholders on the importance of geospatial work, technologies, data, etc. to contribute toward an increased likelihood that people and organizations prioritize funding and commit to geospatial projects, programs, and efforts. The meeting was organized by DevGlobal and BMGF with support from KSA.

Meeting with SERVIR Global and GEOGLOWS team: The DG hosted Prof. Jim Nelson (project lead, GEOGLOWS), Phoebe Oduor (NASA SERVIR) and Calvince Wara (Nile Basin Institute), who were in Nairobi to attend the Global Flood Partnership Conference 2024 organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), which took place on July 23–26, 2024. The team was keen to explore a potential collaborative partnership with KSA, on the use of satellite and earth observation technologies, particularly GEOGLOWS Streamflow Services, for flood forecasting for disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction in Kenya.