Strengthening Soil Information for Africa: RCMRD’s Role in the Soils4Africa Project Wrap-Up and Future Outlook

The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) recently participated in the closure meetings of the Soils4Africa Project, held from 19th to 22nd May 2025 at the Hilton Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Addis Ababa workshop commenced with the official launch and handover of the Soil Information System on 19th May. This high-level event brought together policymakers, researchers, soil scientists, and data users from across Africa. In the days that followed, implementing partners engaged in internal closure workshops, where they discussed lessons learned, technical achievements, and the overall impact of the project. These sessions also provided space to recognize and celebrate the collective accomplishments of the five-year initiative.

Key discussions focused on the sustainability of the SIS, particularly identifying African institutions capable of hosting and maintaining the system in the post-project phase. There was consensus on the need for continuous data updates, methodological standardization, and open data licensing to support broad access and use. Stakeholders also examined how SIS outputs can be integrated into continental frameworks such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the African Soil Health Action Plan.

Capacity building emerged as a critical theme, with emphasis placed on strengthening national soil monitoring institutions to ensure long-term impact. Participants also discussed the proposed Phase II of the project, which seeks to operationalize and scale the achievements of the initial phase. While a new consortium of 234 partner organizations has been formed to lead the next phase—under the African Union and FARA—RCMRD is not yet part of this group. The Centre has been encouraged to pursue engagement and visibility in future soil-related initiatives.

Several important outcomes emerged from the closure event. The Soil Information System was successfully launched and handed over; project findings, best practices, and impacts were documented and shared; and stakeholders agreed on a roadmap to sustain the system beyond the life of the project. There was also a renewed commitment among partners to promote the use of harmonized soil information in sustainable land management and policy development. The Soils4Africa Project, funded by the European Union, was implemented over a five-year period (2020–2025) with the overarching goal of establishing a continental Soil Information System (SIS) to support evidence-based soil management across Africa. By enabling standardized data collection and harmonization, the project aimed to contribute meaningfully to sustainable agriculture and land restoration efforts across the continent.

While RCMRD did not lead a specific work package in the consortium, it provided vital technical input to the spatial mapping component of the project. This included developing agroecological zone (AEZ) maps, supplying regional land cover datasets, supporting spatial data processing, and contributing to the delineation of AEZs in several pilot countries. The project consortium included major institutions such as ISRIC – World Soil Information, Wageningen University, FARA, IITA, ARC, KARLO, and others, working together to establish a continental reference soil database and practical monitoring tools that will inform land use decisions and agricultural policies across Africa.

As RCMRD continues to pursue its mission of strengthening the capacity of its Member States through geospatial information and allied technologies, participation in projects like Soils4Africa underscores its commitment to sustainable land use, environmental stewardship, and data-driven development. The Centre looks forward to deeper engagement in regional soil health initiatives and anticipates potential involvement in Phase II of the Soils4Africa Project.