The overall objective of the Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) programme was to support African decision-makers and planners in designing and implementing national, regional and continental policies and development plans towards sustainable development, thereby advancing the socioeconomic progress and well-being of African populations towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
More specifically, the objective of MESA was to help African governments with:

• designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating their regional and continental policies towards sustainable development;
• improving the socio-economic conditions and well-being of African populations;
• meeting their obligations towards international environmental treaties;
• participating in the international effort of global environment surveillance.

The MESA programme was implemented under the coordination of the African Union Commission (AUC), which has been delegated by the RECs (CEMAC, ECOWAS, IGAD, IOC and SADC) and by the ACP Secretariat to act on their behalf as Delegated Regional Authorising Officer (DRAO). The capacity of the RECs and the African Union to monitor regional and continental environmental change was in need of strengthening. One mandate of MESA was the consolidation and improvement of regional capacity through training.
The overall purpose of this training contract was to implement the “Strategy for Capacity Development and Training in MESA” by ensuring that MESA stakeholders were sufficiently trained so as to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of the MESA programme. This included increase the information management, decision-making and planning capacity of African continental, regional and national institutions mandated for environment, climate, food security and related responsibilities by enhancing access to and exploitation of relevant Earth Observation applications in Africa.
Training activities covered a wide range of technical, managerial and educational, as well as administrative topics. Trainings targeted a variety of stakeholders, including the technical and administrative staff of national focal points and RICs.