Community members raise their hands in a pledge to look after the forest, in Mau Forest, Kenya. Photo by Patrick Shepherd/CIFOR-ICRAF

The East and Southern Africa Forest Observatory (OFESA) project has been a pivotal initiative in environmental conservation and sustainable forest management. Spanning 2020-2023, it sought to address critical gaps in forest monitoring and management across Eastern and Southern Africa, with support from the European Union and implementation led by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD). 

Last year, as the project reached its term, a comprehensive terminal evaluation was conducted to provide insights from implementation and recommendations for the future, as OFESA’s successor—the just-launched Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE)—takes the helm with an even more ambitious mandate.

The story so far

OFESA was conceived in response to a need for improved data sharing, capacity building, and governance in forest management across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. With EUR 2,000,000 in funding from the European Union, the project focused on establishing a sustainable governance framework for forest observatories and enhancing human capacity in environmental data management. RCMRD served as the implementing partner and host institution, overseeing activities ranging from stakeholder mapping to the development of a comprehensive forest data portal.

The evaluation found that the project aligned well with the identified priorities and needs of the target groups and stakeholders. Initial mapping and needs analysis revealed significant gaps in data collection, sharing, and analysis. To address these gaps, the project trained 207 national-level forest officials in various skills, including data analysis and management. A significant 71% of trainees found the training highly relevant, with 73% applying the knowledge within their organizations. For example, the Uganda National Forest Agency successfully piloted the Uganda Forest Monitoring system after initial training in Kenya.

Yet despite these successes, challenges persisted, including limited data sharing protocols and the absence of data-sharing policies in some countries. The project made strides in fostering a culture of data sharing, but further efforts are needed to overcome remaining obstacles. 

OFESA effectively collaborated with various initiatives and programmes, such as the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) initiatives, enhancing the project’s implementation strategy. These partnerships facilitated capacity building, technical interoperability, and regional status reporting. However, the evaluators found that the project could have engaged more with regional economic communities like the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Strengthening these collaborations could enhance information sharing and environmental governance in the region.

OFESA also made significant progress in enhancing the design and application of geospatial information for decision-making by developing and expanding its geoportal, which has become a vital tool for stakeholders. It hosts over 20 data layers, encompassing a wide range of geospatial datasets related to forest management, biodiversity, climate change and land use; with high-resolution satellite imagery, forest cover maps, and climate projections, it provides valuable insights for environmental planning and management. 

One of OFESA’s most notable achievements, the evaluation found, is the increased capacity of 14 institutions in the region to leverage geospatial information for climate change-related planning and decision-making. These institutions now have access to advanced geospatial tools and data, allowing them to conduct more precise analyses and develop informed strategies: for example, the integration of satellite data with ground-truthing efforts has enabled more accurate monitoring of deforestation rates and habitat changes. The geoportal’s user-friendly interface and interactive features facilitate the visualization and analysis of complex data sets, making it easier for users to identify trends and make data-driven decisions. The platform also supports collaborative efforts by allowing users to share and access data across different regions and sectors. 

Yet despite these advancements, the evaluation concluded that there is still room for improvement. The project’s success in enhancing geospatial information usage highlights the need for more formal collaborations and data-sharing agreements with various stakeholders. Such agreements would help ensure the continued growth and utility of the geoportal, fostering a more integrated approach to environmental governance and resource management. Further efforts are also needed to strengthen these collaborations and expand the geoportal’s capabilities, which will ultimately support more effective environmental monitoring and decision-making processes across the region.

Moreover, while the project identified key forest actors in the target countries, challenges in stakeholder engagement—exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—limited its ability to engage other influential organizations, the evaluation found. Future efforts should adopt a more inclusive approach to stakeholder engagement, incorporating diverse entities beyond government agencies.

While a formal governance framework for data sharing has not yet been established, the project made progress by enlisting legal expertise to identify relevant guidelines and regulations. Discussions with forest agency leaders highlighted the need for improved data-sharing models within countries before focusing on regional data sharing, and that it will be crucial to emphasize the benefits of data sharing and developing a system that fosters enhanced networking going forward.

OFESA 2.0: Transition to the Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE)

The transition from OFESA to the RCoE represents a pivotal shift in advancing environmental management and geospatial data utilization across the region. OFESA’s foundational work in enhancing forest management and data-sharing practices in five countries laid the groundwork for a more comprehensive and integrated approach to environmental governance. The successful implementation of its initiatives demonstrated the need for a centralized hub of expertise that could build upon these achievements and address the evolving challenges in the region.

Launched in Nairobi, Kenya in March 2024 and now targeting all 24 countries of the region, the RCoE emerges as the natural evolution of OFESA’s mission, designed to consolidate and amplify the project’s successes. It aims to become the focal point for regional collaboration, innovation, and capacity building in environmental management. 

This transition reflects a strategic move towards creating a sustainable, long-term framework for addressing critical environmental issues through advanced geospatial information systems and data-driven decision-making. By leveraging the insights and recommendations from the OFESA project, the RCoE is poised to play a pivotal role in addressing the region’s environmental challenges, fostering a culture of data sharing, and promoting sustainable forest management practices.