The Netherlands Space Office (NSO) and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) organised a regional conference on "Geospatial data and information services in the field of climate-smart Agriculture (CSA): enhancing geo-data and digital business and entrepreneurship opportunities for women and youth in the Sahel region” which took place on 17-18 April, 2019 in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso. 

The conference was organised in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ECOWAS and UEMOA and CILSS, with the support of the Minister of Agriculture and Hydro-agricultural Development of Burkina Faso.

Over 150 participants from Sahel’s public and private institutions, agriculture, fisheries, water management, food security, ICT and geospatial sectors took part in the conference. The event aimed to facilitate knowledge sharing, interaction and targeted networking to produce tangible results. Participants explored how innovation in ICT and geospatial data services can be used to address the key development challenges facing countries in the Sahel region, particularly in the smart Agriculture sector, and increase business opportunities and entrepreneurship particularly for young people and women.

A Round Table discussion also took place, exploring how digital services can contribute to the transformation of Agriculture in the Sahel.