Esri, Microsoft, and Space42 Launch Map Africa Initiative

A new collaboration between Esri, Space42, and Microsoft is set to deliver “the most comprehensive basemap of Africa to date.” The Map Africa Initiative, which is set to be a five-year initiative, aims to provide…

A new collaboration between Esri, Space42, and Microsoft is set to deliver “the most comprehensive basemap of Africa to date.” The Map Africa Initiative, which is set to be a five-year initiative, aims to provide high-resolution, scalable geospatial data across all 54 African countries, addressing long-standing challenges with fragmented and outdated official maps.

The partnership was formalized earlier this summer at the 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego. According to the organizations, the initiative will not only provide accurate and accessible mapping resources, but also strengthen local geospatial capacity across the continent.

“Transforming satellite imagery into detailed, accurate base maps at a continental scale requires advanced geospatial technology and professional production workflows,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri president. “With Map Africa, we are helping to establish a foundational resource that will drive infrastructure planning, economic growth, and sustainable development across the continent.”

Across Africa, many governments and businesses have been forced to make major decisions without reliable geographic information, contributing to infrastructure gaps, uneven investment, and institutional inefficiencies. By combining Esri’s GeoAI and remote sensing expertise, Space42’s satellite and project management capabilities, and Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure, the initiative seeks to fill these gaps with locally managed data resources.

“Partnership is core to the UAE’s DNA and is central to how Space42 operates,” said Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42. “Accurate, high-quality mapping and the intelligence solutions built on it are essential for growth, resilience, and inclusive innovation. With reliable data, communities and economies prosper.”

Organizers of the initiative expect the mapping effort to generate long-term value in multiple areas, including:

• Ports and logistics: Enhanced terrain and infrastructure mapping will improve route planning and reduce inefficiencies.

• Renewable energy: Site selection models will optimize solar and wind deployment.

• Security and disaster response: Governments will gain tools to monitor borders, manage resources, and coordinate emergency responses.

• Smart cities and digital economies: Accurate maps will support urban planning, public services, and technology deployment.

Looking further ahead, organizers expect the initiative to support a new commercial ecosystem, enabling African startups to build services and applications on top of the data. The information will ultimately be hosted in data centers managed by G42 and Microsoft across the continent.

With more than 1.4 billion people in Africa expected to benefit, Map Africa represents one of the largest coordinated mapping efforts on the continent, bringing together international expertise with local capacity-building to support sustainable development.