A short description of the side event

Thematic focus

As we are approaching the midpoint in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Only 15 percent of the indicators are progressing as expected, about half are moderately or severely off track, and a third are even falling behind. In terms of reversing the current derailment of SDGs, the UN emphasizes that science is at the core of the solution, and 70% of the 169 indicators can be accelerated by using digital technologies such as big data and AI.
This side event will focus on accelerating the realization of SDGs in African countries by using big earth data such as satellites, in-situ observations, and models for monitoring and evaluation of indicators. Data infrastructure, application cases, successful practices will be presented and discussed, new and emerging issues in African countries will be identified, with different concerns on SDG2, SDG13, and SDG17.
This side event will feature 4 invited speakers, who will first present their keynote address, followed by an open discussion session among the invited speakers and the audience on how to build up the capacity for data acquisition, analysis and application, to bridge digital technology divides.

Agenda

Date & Time: May 10th, 2024, 8:30-9:45pm, UTC+8 Beijing Time
Platform: Zoom
Co-moderator: TBC

  • 8:30-8:40pm

    Opening Remarks (10 mins)
    · H.E. Mr. Mohammed Belhocine,   Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation， African Union
    · Mr. Huadong Guo, Director General, CBAS
    · Mr. Rong Nianhe, Program Manager, Bureau of International Cooperation, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
    · Mr. Luo Hui,

  • 8:40-9:05pm

    Keynote presentations (25 mins)
    · Mr. Chen Fang, Deputy Director General, CBAS
    · Mr. Liu Liangyun, Professor, CBAS
    · XXX, PAGGW (TBC)
    · XXX, African Union (TBC)

  • 9:05-9:40pm

    Panel Discussion (35 mins)
    · Mr. Chen Fang, Deputy Director General, CBAS
    · Mr. Liu Liangyun, Professor, CBAS
    · XXX, PAGGW (TBC)
    · XXX, African Union (TBC)
    · Mr. Kamal Labbassi, Professor, Chouaib Doukkali University
    · Mr. Elias Nyandwi, Senior Lecturer/Researcher, College of Sciences and Technology,  University of Rwanda
    · Amos

  • 9:40-9:45pm

    Wrap-up (5 mins)

Organizer

Co-Organizer

 

Potential contribution to the UN 2024 STI Forum

The event falls well within the STI 2024 theme, “Science, technology and innovation for reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions.” It highlights the potential and challenges of big earth data in accelerating SDGs in African countries. The event will be structured to focus on the following guiding questions;

  • What are main challenges, bottlenecks and future development of using digital technology to advance SDGs in African countries nowadays?
  • What are the proven good practices using sciences, technologies and innovations that accelerate progress towards SDG 2, 13, 17 in African countries?
  • What other urgent needed products and models can Big Earth Data form to boost these SDGs?
  • How to advance the capacity building in African countries regarding data collection, data sharing and application?