On 14 May 2026, KijaniSpace organised the onboarding session for the first round of the Space-IoT Talent Programme in Kisumu, Kenya. The session introduced selected participants to the programme objectives, learning structure, tools, expectations and the upcoming hackathon.
The Talent Programme aims to build practical skills among young researchers, developers and engineers in the use of Copernicus Earth Observation data, IoT technologies and digital tools for climate-smart agriculture and aquaculture. Participants will learn how to use Space-IoT Box resources to develop minimum viable products, algorithms and applications addressing real-world challenges in crop farming, fish farming and related sustainability areas.
The programme runs from 21 May to 6 August 2026 and combines online learning, assignments and a three-day hackathon at LakeHub in Kisumu in July 2026. Online sessions will be held on Thursdays and cover three main learning areas: GIS and Earth Observation, Internet of Things, and application development/use cases.
During the onboarding, participants were also introduced to the programme’s working platforms, including WaziLab, Google Classroom, WhatsApp and email communication. The session clarified the requirements for successful completion, including active participation in training sessions, completion of assignments, feedback provision, hackathon participation and presentation of a team solution.
The onboarding marked an important first step in preparing local talent to co-create practical Space-IoT solutions for climate-smart agriculture in the Lake Victoria region and beyond.
