At the EU Space Conference in Brussels, the European Commission introduced the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme, a new initiative aimed at strengthening space cooperation between Europe and Africa. Backed by a €100m investment, the programme is a crucial element of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, designed to enhance collaboration and technological exchange in the space sector.
The initiative focuses on three key priorities. Firstly, it seeks to advance the green transition by developing space-based services that enhance early warning systems for hazardous weather and climate-related events. This effort will significantly improve disaster preparedness and response in Africa, a continent disproportionately affected by climate change. Secondly, the programme aims to strengthen institutional collaboration between the EU and African nations, helping to refine decision-making processes and enhance policy frameworks within the space sector. Finally, the initiative will work to bolster the private sector by fostering innovation, expanding the capabilities of the space industry, and creating a space-based data economy to support sustainable growth across Africa.
The programme will actively engage European private companies in service provision, capacity building, and technological innovation. This collaboration is expected to not only support Africa’s space ambitions but also provide new opportunities for European space enterprises by opening markets, driving innovation, and increasing the global competitiveness of EU companies.
Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said: “The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme represents an important part for our cooperation with Africa, as we work together to harness the power of space technology to address global challenges. This initiative will strengthen Africa’s resilience to the consequences of climate change, but also drive digitalisation and also enable us to build lasting partnerships, share knowledge, and innovate together. Space is the new frontier of progress, and through this programme, we are ensuring that Africa can also enjoy its benefits.”
As a flagship element of the Global Gateway Strategy, the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme aligns with the EU’s objectives of fostering resilience, supporting digital transformation and advancing climate action through cutting-edge technology and innovation. The programme will leverage European space technologies, such as Copernicus for Earth observation and Galileo and EGNOS for navigation, to aid Africa’s sustainable development in key sectors like agriculture, climate monitoring and disaster risk reduction. It will also support Africa’s space ambitions through the African Space Policy and Strategy, and initiatives such as GMES & Africa, which facilitates access to critical satellite data for monitoring land, water, natural resources and marine and coastal environments.
Building on more than two decades of EU-Africa cooperation in the space sector, the EU has already invested €200m to advance Africa’s space initiatives. The new programme will further strengthen institutional and private sector capacity, enabling African nations to improve environmental monitoring, enhance disaster risk management through advanced early warning systems and support sustainable economic growth, including safer air traffic management through Africa’s Satellite Navigation (SatNav) system.
The initiative aligns with the African Union’s Space Policy and Strategy and reflects joint priorities set out in the African Union – European Union Innovation Agenda, including leveraging space technology to drive the green transition and encourage innovation. Recent milestones in EU-Africa space collaboration include the establishment of the African Space Agency (AfSA) in 2023 and the election of the African Space Council in 2024. The first phase of the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme will begin in early 2025, focusing on institutional and technical capacity building while fostering long-term innovation and development.
The programme is being implemented in collaboration with key organisations such as the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the African Union Commission (AUC), the Agency for the Safety of Aviation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) and the African Space Agency (AfSA). Through this partnership, the EU and Africa reaffirm their commitment to leveraging space technology to address shared challenges, promote economic growth, and create a sustainable and inclusive future.
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