"The mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national."

At the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), the Global Environment Monitoring (GEM) unit has developed a recognized expertise in the use of low resolution satellite data for environmental monitoring at global scales, with in particular an experience of over 20 years dedicated to various aspects of African environment, such as fires and burned surface mapping and monitoring, forest mapping and land cover mapping and monitoring, surface water monitoring, etc…

The GEM unit (formerly GVM, Global Vegetation Monitoring unit) has, through the organization of major projects, such as GBA 2000, GLC 2000, TREES, etc,… developed a wide network of active partners not only in Europe, but also in other continents, in particular in Africa. GEM was involved in the VEGETATION programme since its inception. It has a cooperation agreement with EUMETSAT, and is involved, upon request from DG DEV and DG AIDCO various aspects of the EDF-funded MTA project (PUMA) and AIDCO.