Investment in space science and technology should enable Africa to make a quantum leap in its development

In an article published on the website of the Star newspaper (Kenya), Meshack Kinyua and Nancy Marengu present their views on how investment in space science and technology can contribute to Africa's development

The article co-authored by Meshack Kinyua and Nancy Marangu on the website of The Star newspaper (Kenya) highlights the importance of investment in space science and technology for Africa's development. Kinyua, drawing on his experience as a training expert for the GMES Programme and Africa, stresses that access to reliable and secure space data is crucial for decision-making. To achieve this, it is essential to have an indigenous space programme and local capabilities. This point is illustrated by the results of the joint EU-AU GMES and Africa Programme, which has been set up to ensure that African beneficiaries take ownership of the programme's objectives in a win-win approach.

Investment in Space Science and Technology

Meshack Kinyua speaks from experience, having spent the last seven years as a training expert for GMES and Africa, the African Union's flagship programme for using space technologies to better manage the continent's natural resources. In addition, he is the founding chairman of Omarichet Space and CTO-Irradianz.

Indigenous Space Capacities

Access to reliable and secure space data for decision-making requires an indigenous space programme and local capabilities, ensuring that African beneficiaries take ownership of the objectives of the programme in a win-win approach. This indigenisation has been an important factor in the success of GMES and should set a precedent for future programmes.

Development of Regional Space Capacities 

The development of regional space capacities has long been hindered by the high capital intensity of the space sector and the lack of formal governance structures. However, the New Space revolution, initiated by the Americans about fifteen years ago, is now providing Africa with unprecedented access to previously inaccessible space technologies and capabilities.

Alignment with the AU Agenda 2063

The use of space is integrated into the African Union's Agenda 2063, "The Africa We Want." The AU has developed a strategic framework to encourage the adoption of space technologies to advance the continent's socio-economic, political, and environmental agendas. Its proposal is to create a well-coordinated African effort for space activities in Africa, ensuring that derived services meet the continent's socio-economic and environmental needs while remaining globally competitive. This framework includes a space strategy, an African space agency, and an African space council, with a strong focus on education and inclusion, particularly for young people and women.

Accessible Information for African Citizens

Kinyua and Marangu also emphasise the need for synthesised and easily understandable information for African citizens. Contrary to developed countries where citizens live in opulence, many Africans live in modest economic conditions, with limited access to computers and electricity. However, access to mobile phones is increasing rapidly, and their consumption of space-based technologies is on the rise. Information must be tailored to their capacity to assimilate it, considering quality, complexity, availability, and frequency. This "citizen science approach" will make the population sensitive and receptive to space services. However, it requires the establishment of African service providers capable of transforming complex information into simple illustrations and messages that will be channelled to them in their language, and eventually help their decision making process. 

Source

July 9, 2024 - KINYUA, MARANGU: Investments in Space science and technology set to leapfrog Africa’s development
https://www.the-star.co.ke/opinion/star-blogs/2024-07-09-kinyua-marangu-investments-in-space-science-and-technology-set-to-leapfrog-africas-development/