At the occasion of a technical support mission of the AMESD Head Office (Addis Ababa) to the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) in Nairobi from 6^th to 10^th April 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding between the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) and the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), has been prepared and signed between the two Institutions on 9^th April 2009.

This agreement establishes a close collaboration and sharing of funds in the framework of the AMESD thematic action development and more particularly for the development of the AMESD products based on satellite data received from the EUMETCast through the PUMA stations and the new AMESD thematic receiving stations to be provided to 46 ACP African countries.

ICPAC remains the leader in the AMESD implementation for the IGAD countries and will develop and distribute the product on "Natural Habitat Conservation Assessment" while RCMRD will be responsible for the development of the "Land Degradation Assessment" product.

From left to right: Dr. Marc Leroy, AMESD Technical and Developmental Management Officer (TDMO); Ir. Etienne KAISIN, AMESD Team Leader (TL); Prof. Laban OGALLO, ICPAC Director; Dr. Hussein O. FARAH, Director General RCMRD; Mr. Almami DAMPHA, Rural Economy and Agriculture Department, African Union Commission.