The "GMES and Africa" process was launched by the Maputo Declaration, signed on 15 October 2006. The initiative aims to strengthen and further develop infrastructure for more coherent exploitation of Earth Observation data (space and in-situ), technologies and services in support of the environmental policies for sustainable development in Africa and ACP countries.

EBSOMED (Enhancing Business Support Organisations and Business Networks in the Southern Neighbourhood) is project co-financed by the European Union and coordinated by BUSINESSMED (Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises) as part of a consortium of six partners. More than thirty organisations from 26 countries are also affiliated to the project.