SA-GEO, or the South African Group on Earth Observations, operates under the broader framework of the South African Earth Observation Strategy (SAEOS). It is a national coordination mechanism designed to integrate Earth Observation (EO) activities across government departments, research institutions, and civil society. Led by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and supported by the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), SA-GEO facilitates the collection, sharing, and application of EO data to support national priorities such as environmental monitoring, disaster risk reduction, agriculture, and urban planning.

Prerequisites:

• Institutional & political interest and support for utilising EO technologies for services 

• Understand national policies and identify national policies that utilise EO data

• Identify and build relationships with relevant ministries, local companies, and other stakeholders to gather comprehensive data on existing EO usage in the nation

• Inter-ministerial working group

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 10k–20k

• Includes: literature review, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validation

Note: A complete study would range from USD 50k-250k and include multiple activities such as determining the relevance of the domain, identification of existing data sources, developing use cases, and a capability maturity assessment) 

Timeframe:

• Overall: 6–12 mo

• Phase: scoping (1–2 mo), consultation (2–4 mo), drafting (2–4 mo), validation (1–2 mo)

Pros:

• Resource Effectiveness - Allows to leverage current resources more effectively, reducing waste and maximizing utility

• Cost Effectiveness - Improves allocation of financial resources, maximizing impact while minimizing waste

Considerations:

• Timeline - Time-consuming as diverse interests of multiple stakeholders need to be considered.