The Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente in the Netherlands has recently embarked on increasing partnerships with African institutions. This is part of the ITC culture of developing capacity of developing economies in the area of geo-information applications for planning and decision making. Increasing natural resources management challenges such as climate change and related disasters have rendered African economies vulnerable and at risk of poverty and food security.

ITC is now exploring collaboration with the region, targeting private and public institutions to enhance capacity in assessments and management of various resources.

On the 12th April 2003, ESSIPS International ltd, a Ugandan-based environmental company was privileged to host a delegation from ITC. The aim of the visit was to explore partnerships on promoting capacity in the application of geo-information science for planning and decision making. Discussions focused on leveraging together for resources to promote capacity development. Some of the opportunities will include Dutch funding that is rolling out following a new policy that is largely oriented to Eastern Africa.

Uganda is on the short list of priority countries being focused on. ITC is now interested in Entrepreneurship in teaching, building partners with other sectors but the main concern of ITC is in value addition with the partnership that will be developed. ITC is also interested in private and investment partners in East African areas which still gives Uganda a big opportunity for partnership with ITC.

During the discussion with ITC some suggestions were made and these included; case studies to incorporate entrepreneurship, using less expensive ways of capacity building. This discussion and exchange of innovative ideas sets a stage for ITC to building a long term working partnership with ESSIPS International and related institutions in Uganda as well as the Eastern Africa region.