Africa-EU Space Partnership: A New Era of Cooperation and Innovation for Joint Development
At the EU Space Conference in Brussels on 28-29 January, Africa and Europe celebrated the signing of the "Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme." Backed by a €100 million investment, this initiative is a key pillar of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy to strengthen space cooperation with Africa. The President of the African Space Agency Council, S.E Tidiane Ouattara, was among the distinguished guests at the event.
From left to right, Mrs Ekaterini Kavvada, Director for Secure and Connected Space at European Commission DG DEFIS, Mrs Florence Rabier, ECMWF Director General, Mrs Marjeta JAGER, Deputy Director General at European Commission DG INTPA, M Tidiane Ouattara, President of the Council of the Africa Space Agency, M Joseph Aschbacher ESA Director General, Mrs Simonetta CHELI, Director of ESA Earth Observation Programmes and M Phil Evans, EUMETSAT Director General.
The new Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme builds on 20 years of European investment in this sector (€200 million), notably through the PUMA, TIGER, AMESD, MESA, and GMES programmes, as well as support for African meteorological services.
The primary objective of these programmes has been to strengthen the capacities of African institutions, providing them with the material resources and training necessary to better address environmental and societal challenges and effectively manage their natural resources.
These initiatives have been implemented at both continental and regional levels: while their headquarters were hosted by the African Union (AU), their deployment involved a wide range of stakeholders, including public and private institutions, NGOs, universities, and experts. They have significantly contributed to raising awareness among stakeholders about the potential of Earth observation and space technologies for Africa’s sustainable development.
This new partnership once again demonstrates the commitment of both continents to working together towards a prosperous and sustainable Africa and Europe. However, it introduces key innovations:
It is based on a redefinition of the concept of partnership between Africa and Europe, as outlined at the 6th EU-AU Summit in February 2022, including the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package (see below, more info). At this summit, leaders from both continents adopted a joint vision for a renewed partnership (Two Unions, a Joint Vision).
After twenty years of collaboration in the domain of applied Earth Observation, it was necessary to go further, act stronger, and establish a renewed dynamic. With this signature, Africa and Europe have reaffirmed their mutual commitment.
For the first time, space has become a central element of the Africa-Europe partnership. The programme brings together the newly established African Space Agency (AfSA) and major European institutions with global stature, such as ESA, EUMETSAT, and ECMWF.
This partnership also focuses on a joint effort to support the development of an African space economy, with significant funding aimed at strengthening and structuring a dynamic private space sector around global challenges and shared opportunities.
The initiative seeks to mobilise the expertise of the European private sector to consolidate African capacities within a co-development framework, foster the emergence of ecosystems and value chains, and establish space as a driver of sustainable growth for both continents.
Source and links
From left to right, Mrs Ekaterini Kavvada, Director for Secure and Connected Space at European Commission DG DEFIS, Mrs Florence Rabier, ECMWF Director General, Mrs Marjeta JAGER, Deputy Director General at European Commission DG INTPA, M Tidiane Ouattara, President of the Council of the Africa Space Agency, M Joseph Aschbacher ESA Director General, Mrs Simonetta CHELI, Director of ESA Earth Observation Programmes and M Phil Evans, EUMETSAT Director General.
The new Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme builds on 20 years of European investment in this sector (€200 million), notably through the PUMA, TIGER, AMESD, MESA, and GMES programmes, as well as support for African meteorological services.
The primary objective of these programmes has been to strengthen the capacities of African institutions, providing them with the material resources and training necessary to better address environmental and societal challenges and effectively manage their natural resources.
These initiatives have been implemented at both continental and regional levels: while their headquarters were hosted by the African Union (AU), their deployment involved a wide range of stakeholders, including public and private institutions, NGOs, universities, and experts. They have significantly contributed to raising awareness among stakeholders about the potential of Earth observation and space technologies for Africa’s sustainable development.
This new partnership once again demonstrates the commitment of both continents to working together towards a prosperous and sustainable Africa and Europe. However, it introduces key innovations:
It is based on a redefinition of the concept of partnership between Africa and Europe, as outlined at the 6th EU-AU Summit in February 2022, including the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package (see below, more info). At this summit, leaders from both continents adopted a joint vision for a renewed partnership (Two Unions, a Joint Vision).
After twenty years of collaboration in the domain of applied Earth Observation, it was necessary to go further, act stronger, and establish a renewed dynamic. With this signature, Africa and Europe have reaffirmed their mutual commitment.
For the first time, space has become a central element of the Africa-Europe partnership. The programme brings together the newly established African Space Agency (AfSA) and major European institutions with global stature, such as ESA, EUMETSAT, and ECMWF.
This partnership also focuses on a joint effort to support the development of an African space economy, with significant funding aimed at strengthening and structuring a dynamic private space sector around global challenges and shared opportunities.
The initiative seeks to mobilise the expertise of the European private sector to consolidate African capacities within a co-development framework, foster the emergence of ecosystems and value chains, and establish space as a driver of sustainable growth for both continents.
Source and links
- Global Gateway: EU reinforces partnership with Africa through “Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme”, https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/news-and-events/news/global-gateway-eu-reinforces-partnership-africa-through-africa-eu-space-partnership-programme-2025-01-29_en
- Africa-EU Partnership, https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/africa-eu-partnership_en
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