• Esri, Space42, and Microsoft launched Map Africa to map all 54 African countries.
• Space42 provides imagery, Esri offers mapping tools, Microsoft hosts data.
• Project supports development, services, and local tech startups.

Esri, a U.S.-based geographic information systems company, announced Tuesday, July 29, the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Space42 and Microsoft. The agreement launches the Map Africa Initiative, a continental high-resolution base mapping project covering all 54 African countries. This protocol establishes a strategic partnership designed to deliver updated, accessible, and scalable geospatial data benefiting over 1.4 billion people.

"Transforming satellite imagery into detailed, accurate base maps at continental scale requires advanced geospatial technology and professional production workflows," said Jack Dangermond, Esri President. "These same capabilities have supported similar national and regional mapping efforts around the world. With Map Africa, we are helping to establish a foundational resource that will drive infrastructure planning, economic growth, and sustainable development across the continent."

In this collaboration, Space42, a UAE-based company specializing in artificial intelligence and space technologies, will lead fundraising and project management. It will also supply the satellite imagery for the databases. Esri will contribute its expertise in GeoAI (Geospatial Artificial Intelligence), remote sensing, and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to produce the maps, working with regional African centers tasked with training local teams. Microsoft will provide its Azure Cloud infrastructure to host, process, and widely disseminate the data.

The project aims to create a mapping infrastructure capable of supporting decision-making across various fields. These include port infrastructure planning, renewable energy deployment, disaster management, urban development, and digital economy expansion.

Map Africa addresses a chronic shortage of georeferenced data and addressing systems across the continent. Vast areas, particularly rural zones and several African capitals, lack standardized addressing. This gap hinders the delivery of basic services like healthcare, deliveries, or emergency response. It also undermines the implementation of effective public policies and the formalization of economic activities.

The stakes for Map Africa are significant. By offering an open license model reserved for governments, the project encourages national ownership and stronger data control. This makes it a key strategic tool for supporting sustainable and inclusive development across the continent. Simultaneously, the initiative lays the groundwork for a local geospatial services ecosystem, fostering the emergence of African startups. These startups can then use this data to create innovative solutions tailored to local needs, particularly in health, agriculture, mobility, and education.

Samira Njoya