WaterMap N-Africa Workshop Held in Tunisia to Strengthen Capacity for Water Resource Monitoring in North Africa

The Technical Training Workshop on Monitoring and Assessment of Water Resources and Agricultural Water Use in North Africa was successfully held in Tunis, Tunisia, on October 27–28, 2025. The event was jointly organized by the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS) and the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), with support from the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) research project "WaterMap N-Africa."

The workshop brought together more than 30 participants from research institutions and government agencies in Tunisia and Libya, specializing in remote sensing, agriculture, and water resources. It aimed to enhance regional capacity in monitoring and managing agricultural water resources in arid and semi-arid regions.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Nabil Hamada, Director of Administration and Finance at OSS; Dr. Aïssa Hlaimi, Director General of Water Resources at Tunisia's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources; and Prof. JIA Li from AIRCAS delivered welcome remarks. They emphasized that, amid increasing global water scarcity, strengthening the monitoring and efficient use of agricultural water resources is essential for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable development in North Africa.

Experts from the AIRCAS EOWater Team—including Prof. JIA Li, Prof. Massimo Menenti, Associate Prof. ZHENG Chaolei, and Dr. JIANG Min—provided systematic training on key technologies such as remote sensing–based evapotranspiration monitoring, estimation of cropland water demand and productivity, and assessment of water use efficiency. Participants were introduced to the ETMonitor remote sensing evapotranspiration model and the WaterMap N-Africa Platform, a monitoring and analysis system developed by AIRCAS for water resources and agricultural water use assessment across North Africa. Through hands-on exercises, participants gained practical skills in interpreting multi-scale remote sensing data and using digital tools for precision water management. 

During the workshop, OSS Executive Secretary Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra met with the AIRCAS research team to discuss future collaboration in water resource monitoring, high-resolution remote sensing applications, and regional capacity building. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in scientific research, technology sharing, and institutional development, working together to promote the use of remote sensing and digital technologies for sustainable water management in North Africa and the Sahel.

The WaterMap N-Africa Platform is a core achievement of the ANSO joint research project "Monitoring and Assessment of Water Resources and Agricultural Water Use in North Africa". Based on satellite observation and cloud computing, it provides an integrated tool for water resource monitoring and decision support. Led by Prof. JIA Li, the project involves the joint participation of multiple scientific institutions across North Africa, contributing to regional sustainability and resilience in agricultural water management.

A group photo of the training participants. (Image by AIR)

On-site guidance and interaction during the training session. (Image by AIR)

A meeting between the OSS Executive Secretary and AIRCAS team. (Image by AIR)

Interface of the WaterMap N-Africa system for monitoring agricultural water resources and water use in North Africa. (Image by AIR)