13 September 2010. This study on the cooperation between Europe and Africa in satellite applications provides a comprehensive mapping of the actors involved and activities utilizing satellite applications for the sustainable development in Africa. It also comprises recommendation regarding the way forward.

The study on “European-African Partnership in Satellite Applications for Sustainable Development. A Comprehensive Mapping of European-African Actors and Activities”, prepared by ESPI Resident Fellow Christina Giannopapa, was conducted under the auspices of the Belgian EU Council Presidency. Sustainable development in Africa requires access to data, information and knowledge. The use of satellites can be of tremendous benefit in that respect. The transversal nature of space touches various policies (e.g. environment, agriculture, health, security, education and disaster management) and can facilitate growth and sustainable development. Space activities in Africa are utilised in numerous collaborations at various levels between different types of actors from African countries, European and international partners. So far, there has been very little overview on these settings and activities. Therefore, the present study has been conducted to tackle three main questions: 1) “who is who”; 2) “who is doing what”; and 3) “who is cooperating with whom”. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the main African actors and their activities in the continent. It also gathers information regarding activities run by the main European actors and the United Nations programmes and specialised organisations.

ESPI Resident Fellow Christina Giannopapa and Lionel Poncelet, Attaché to the Belgian High Representation for Space Policy

This study was conducted by ESPI Resident Fellow Christina Giannopapa in consultation with European and African stakeholders (with an Africa-European roundtable in February 2010; related webnews here and with a stakeholders workshop in June 2010, related webnews here) and under the auspices of the Belgian EU Council Presidency. The presented material reflects mainly a European perspective. This study is meant to serve as a catalogue providing general information and contact points about main actors and activities in Africa where satellite applications are or could potentially be used. Furthermore, the study comprises recommendations to policy makers regarding the utilization of existing structures and mechanisms in Europe and in Africa. The recommendations are drawn up by addressing social (i.a. enhance the involvement of the community in ensuring continuation and sustainability after pilot projects are completed), legal (i.a. harmonise licensing procedures), economic (i.a. align funding mechanisms), political (i.a. coordinate space policy and other policy areas) and technological (i.a. increase projects on capacity building) factors and are addressed to the whole set of European and Africa governmental actors and agencies.

 

 

Download:
- ESPI Report 26: “European-African Partnership in Satellite Applications for Sustainable Development. A Comprehensive Mapping of European-African Actors and Activities”

Related Webnews:
-  10 February 2010: ESPI holds European-African Roundtable
-  24 June 2010: ESPI holds European stakeholders workshop on European-African partnership
-  9 July 2010: ESPI invited to contribute substantially to the UN-SPIDER workshop in Africa

 

 

 

photo credit: ESPI