France and the African Union Commission to cooperate on Space, Education, Science and Technology.

The Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST) at the African Union Commission, Professor Sarah Anayang Agbor, has held bilateral talks with the French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Mrs Frédérique Vidal, on enhancing cooperation on space, education, science and technology between France and the African Union Commission.

Mrs. Vidal was accompanied by Mr. Jean-Yves Le Gall, the President of the French Space Agency (CNES) since April 2013. The discussions recalled the concrete efforts that both the African Union Commission and France made in 2018 to promote strategic dialogue and cooperation. The areas identified for cooperation and collaboration include enhancing the African Scientific, Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC); as well as operationalization of the Space Science Institute of the Pan African University.

The discussion further touched on the Space Climate Observatory (SCO) initiative, which is aimed at making climate data available and accessible to users globally. This initiative is led by CNES in partnership with more than forty space agencies throughout the world. The African Union Commission, through its department of HRST, contributed to the technical preparatory meetings on the Observatory.

It was recommended during the meeting that the AUC signs a joint declaration on the Space Climate Observatory (SCO), on the sidelines of the G7 meeting to be held in France from 25 to 26 August 2019. The declaration will allow African institutions easy and free access to SCO data.

The meeting also recommended France contributes to the human capital development and institutional capacity building of African space through the CNES.

More information:

• African Union Commission, HRST Department
• France Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
• The French Space Agency (FR, EN)
• The Space Climate Observatory (FR, EN)