Dar es Salaam. The Pan-African Support to Geological Sciences and Technology programme (PanAfGeo+), a flagship initiative funded by the European Union (EU), is set to be officially launched in Dar es Salaam on June 24, 2025, marking the beginning of a new strategic phase aimed at strengthening Africa’s geological capabilities and fostering Africa–Europe collaboration in mineral resource governance.
The launch comes after eight years of successful implementation of the PanAfGeo programme, which began in 2016 as a joint venture between the African Union (AU) and the European Union, with financial support from the European Commission.
PanAfGeo has provided practical, on-the-ground geological training to over 1,700 geoscientists from all 54 African countries, through 72 workshops hosted in 22 African nations during its first two phases.
The third phase, now branded PanAfGeo+, will run until 2029, expanding training modules and strengthening institutional partnerships across both continents.
The event is jointly organized by the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS), EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) which represents geological institutions from European countries and France’s Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM).
It is expected to bring together about 100 participants from national geological surveys, regional bodies, governments, and international institutions.
“This initiative represents a renewed spirit of scientific diplomacy,” said EU Ambassador to Tanzania Christine Grau.
“We are proud to launch PanAfGeo+ in Tanzania this year. It symbolizes Team Europe’s commitment to advancing science, sustainability, and meaningful partnerships.”he added
Echoing her remarks, Tirza van Daalen, President of EuroGeoSurveys, added:“PanAfGeo+ is not just a scientific project it is a tool for transformation. We are turning knowledge into development and partnerships into tangible success.”
Rokhaya Samba Diene, President of OAGS, said the initiative underlines a shared vision to empower Africa:
“This collaboration reflects our collective mission to enable Africa to lead with knowledge, resilience, and sustainability.”he added
The launch event will feature high-level technical discussions focusing on cross-continental collaboration, capacity-building in the geological sciences, and the role of geology in sustainable development.
A general assembly and presentation of national collaborative projects will also be held, with Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia set to showcase new initiatives developed under the PanAfGeo+ framework.
This next phase is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, reinforcing its relevance to Africa’s green transition, sustainable resource management, and scientific empowerment.
PanAfGeo+ is implemented under the Team Europe approach, involving geoscientific institutions from 11 EU member states, including France, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, and Slovenia, among others.
The programme is widely regarded as a milestone in science-led development, helping bridge knowledge gaps and build a more self-reliant, technically capable Africa in the geoscience field.
