The 13th Esri Eastern Africa User Conference, held from May 15th to 17th, 2024, marked a significant return after a seven-year hiatus. Co-hosted with Esri Rwanda Ltd, the event blended learning, networking, and excitement, highlighted by the unforgettable ArcSafari. This year’s conference gathered GIS professionals, enthusiasts, and experts from across the region for three days filled with insightful presentations, hands-on workshops, and inspiring user stories.

A Leader in Geospatial Innovation

Esri Eastern Africa has been a driving force in the geospatial industry since its inception in 2007. Partnering with world-leading geotechnologies such as Esri, CHCNAV, Trimble, Harris Corporation, and Airbus, Esri Eastern Africa has transformed how businesses, governments, and communities harness the power of spatial data. Serving Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia, the organization aims to make its customers successful through the application of innovative GIS and mapping technologies.

Conference Highlights and Objectives

The Esri Eastern Africa User Conference is a pivotal event in the GIS professional calendar, designed to bring together a vibrant community of GIS users, enthusiasts, and experts. The conference mainly focuses on highlighting advancements in GIS and fostering a deeper understanding of its relationship with socio-economic growth. This year’s theme, “GIS – Mapping the Future,” emphasized the transformative power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in shaping a sustainable and innovative future.

The conference aimed to promote knowledge sharing, facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices, showcase innovations, enhance skills and competencies, foster networking and collaboration, inspire innovation and creativity, support sustainable development, and highlight the impact of GIS technology.

Diverse Participation and Engaging Sessions

The 13th EAUC2024 attracted over 150 attendees from various countries and organizations, including Ewaso Lions (Kenya), Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (Uganda), Save the Elephants (Kenya), City of Kigali (Rwanda), and many others. This diverse participation enriched the discussions and provided a broad perspective on GIS applications across different sectors.

The conference kicked off on May 15th with an engaging opening plenary session featuring a welcome address by Esri Eastern Africa’s CEO, Samuel Kimani, followed by a keynote from Mohamed Issa, Regional Manager Middle East and Northeast Africa, and a technical plenary led by Joseph Obonyo, Chief Technology Officer at Esri EA, and Nicole Ueberschär from Esri Rwanda. The day also included the Exhibition & Map Gallery Opening, offering attendees a chance to explore cutting-edge GIS applications and solutions.

Participants had the opportunity to choose from a variety of break-out sessions across three venues—Johari, Fahari, and Pier. Topics ranged from migrating to ArcGIS Pro and digitally transforming utilities, to user stories in agriculture, conservation, and government applications of GIS. Notable presentations included “Save the Elephants – Tracking Animals for Conservation” by Purity Milgo and “ArcGIS in Elections Management (IEBC)” by Mathew Thiga.

Hands-On Workshops and Technical Sessions

The second day of the conference featured presentations from Esri EA’s sponsors and partners, highlighting the latest advancements in GIS technology. Workshops included integrating ArcGIS Enterprise for enhanced mining operations, leveraging GIS for biodiversity conservation, and using ArcGIS in planning Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway.

The conference concluded on May 17th with a closing plenary and the much-anticipated ArcSafari field excursion. The ArcSafari provided attendees a unique opportunity to experience GIS in action within the rich natural landscapes of Shimba Hills National Reserve.

A Resounding Success

Overall, the 13th Esri Eastern Africa User Conference was a resounding success, offering attendees a platform to learn, share, and connect while showcasing the transformative power of GIS technology in the region. The event underscored the significant impact of GIS in promoting sustainable development, improving lives, and driving innovation across various sectors.