The PanAfGeo community is delighted to announce the official launch of the second phase of the PanAfGeo project, at an online meeting on 25th – 26th November 2021. PanAfGeo Phase 2 builds on the success of Phase 1, a training programme implementing the transfer of knowledge between European and African Geological Surveys and institutional strengthening of African national administrations in charge of geology and mining. The project will continue to serve as a reference of a continental scale partnership and development project in the field of geosciences. PanAfGeo-2 is implemented through a project consortium, coordinated by BRGM, the Geological Survey of France, including 11 European Geological Surveys and EuroGeoSurveys (EGS), together with the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS) and national Geological Surveys of Africa. The project supports the training of geoscientific staff from African Geological Surveys through a diverse range of innovative training methods on a variety of geoscientific and governance related topics. The opening meeting, held online on 25th – 26th November 2021, included approximately 70 representatives from across Europe and Africa, representing some 50 African and European countries. Attendees included some of the main contributors to the project work packages, representatives of Geological Surveys in Europe and Africa, UNESCO, the African Union Commission, the European Union, and other stakeholders. The panel reiterated the need for ongoing strong partnership between the EU and the African national geological surveys, and were united in their praise for the community that has been created and the advances that have been made during Phase 1 of the project. The many successes of the project so far were highlighted, as well as the urgency required in tackling many of the issues that still remain in the continent, in particular the participation of women and children in the...

On 24 and 25 October 2019, about 70 PanAfGeo partners from around 50 European and African countries gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the Phase 1 closing meeting. The Ministers responsible for minerals in Tanzania and Kenya were the guests of honour. Attendees included some of the project’s main contributors: OAGS Executive Committee members, stakeholders and representatives of Geological Surveys in Africa and Europe and the European Commission. An overview of all the PanAfGeo Project activities performed under each work package was presented and was followed by a feedback session. A complete review of the three years of training was presented by each WP leader. The complete list of the PanAfGeo work packages are available here: www.panafgeo.eurogeosurveys.org/about The PanAfGeo Project: an overview (2016-2019) Results and impacts: PanAfGeo increased the technical competence of 1,074 trainees from 49 African countries (all except Burundi, Libya, Mauritius, Seychelles and Somalia). No other EU programme so far has ever had such a cross-continental geographical coverage, overcoming language (trainings in three languages: English, French, Portuguese), cultural and political barriers. The European Commission’s intention of increasing attention for more effective cooperation with Africa has therefore been fully met by PanAfGeo Phase 1, through its geoscience training programmes for officers of African Geological Surveys. The programme has clearly strengthened the partnership between EU and African countries in several areas, bringing substantial benefits to the societies in Africa and, indirectly, in Europe, through the establishment of stable institutional relations based on mutual trust and respect. The consideration of many African Ministers being present at various PanAfGeo events proves the impact generated at the highest decision making and political levels. The future – PanAfGeo Phase 2: Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement and the framework of possible work packages for PanAfGeo-2 were...

EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) – Stephanie Bricker (BGS – Chair) welcomed everyone to the first UGEG meeting at the EGS Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium. Wider interests and experience of the UGEG are also presented in the biographies that had been prepared by the participants. The meeting had around 24 members representing approximately 16 European Surveys. Click here to...

EuroGeoSurveys President, Dr. Zdenek Venera, opened the EGS Directors Workshop on the need for European geoscientific data and knowledge in EU policy developments and the EGS strategy explaining how the National Geological Surveys, members of EuroGeoSurveys (EGS), are public sector institutions carrying out operations and research in the field of geosciences, with a long tradition in collecting data, preparing information and conducting research focused on their national subsurface. Besides their national mandates, EGS members play an important role in EU policy developments by providing the European institutions with geoscientific data and knowledge for the benefit of society. Click here to view/ download the...

EuroGeoSurveys – Earth Observation and Geohazards Expert Group and European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI) are glad to announce that on the 18th February 2019 the European Landslide density map has been published at the European Commission ERCC PORTAL, Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. Click here to download the...