25 Nov The African Space Agency’s Engagements – Excerpts

Africa’s space ecosystem is entering a pivotal era defined by consolidation, influence, and growing global relevance. Across the continent, agencies, private-sector innovators, research institutions, and policymakers are shaping a space economy that reflects Africa’s priorities: climate resilience, food security, connectivity, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development. In this landscape, AFSA stands out as a critical platform advancing coordination, knowledge exchange, and strategic alignment among key actors driving the sector forward.

At the Regional Workshop and Training on Oil Spill Monitoring and Response held from 11th to 13th November 2025 in Accra, Ghana, AfSA reaffirmed its commitment to applying Earth Observation for marine and coastal management, in line with its mandate under the GMES and Africa Programme. At the event, H.E. Dr Tidiane Ouattara, President of the Council of the African Space Agency, joined representatives from major continental institutions, including the Abidjan Convention and UNEP, as well as officials from Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, and others, where he emphasised that EO technologies are indispensable tools for preparedness, monitoring, mitigation, and coordinated response to marine pollution.

Similarly, representing the Agency at the AFRIGIS 2025, H.E. Dr Tidiane Ouattara delivered a compelling intervention outlining AfSA’s vision for a united, innovative, and self-sufficient African space ecosystem. He stressed that AfSA’s role extends beyond coordinating the continental space agenda and includes:

• Catalysing transformative partnerships,
• Supporting Member States to build institutional and technical capacity, and
• Ensuring space-derived services contribute meaningfully to the continent’s development priorities.

His address highlighted the need for collaboration, harmonisation, and sustainability, encouraging stakeholders to align their efforts to unlock Africa’s full geospatial potential.

During the event, H.E. Dr Ouattara met with five GMES & Africa Grantees from the University of Ghana–led consortium MarCNoWA, representing West and North Africa, and interacted with interns undergoing hands-on geospatial and EO training under the GMES & Africa Programme.
These exchanges highlighted the role of youth, applied research, and regional collaboration in scaling Africa’s operational EO capabilities.

AfSA reaffirmed its support for nurturing next-generation experts who will drive Africa’s digital and space transformation.

The leadership of the African Space Agency also held a bilateral meeting with ESRI, the global leader in GIS technologies, on 20th November 2025, with discussions focused on mapping opportunities across Africa and identifying tailored solutions to strengthen geospatial applications. The meeting reinforces AfSA’s strategy of partnering with global technology leaders while advancing Africa-driven priorities.

In addition, AfSA participated in the 11th Session of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management—Africa (UN-GGIM-A), held from 17th to 21st November 2025. H.E. Dr Ouattara underscored AfSA’s unwavering commitment to advancing Africa’s geospatial agenda.

He highlighted that geospatial information is a foundational enabler of the continent’s development efforts, from digital transformation and climate resilience to infrastructure planning and emergency response.

He commended UNECA for its leadership in advancing the UN Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF), strengthening geospatial governance across Africa, and coordinating AfricaGIS 2025. Dr Ouattara further reaffirmed AfSA’s readiness to deepen cooperation with UNECA, UN-GGIM, and Member States to build a data-driven ecosystem that drives evidence-based policymaking and strengthens Africa’s capacity to address emerging global challenges.

Finally, to close out the event, H.E. Dr Ouattara held significant discussions with the pioneers and founding experts of AFRIGIS. The conversations explored the initiative’s evolution, achievements, and strategic direction for future partnerships. This engagement provided a unique opportunity to reflect on Africa’s geospatial journey while identifying pathways to strengthen regional integration and accelerate capacity development.

AfSA’s recent engagements demonstrate a cohesive, action-oriented, and future-focused effort to position the continent as a global player in geospatial innovation, Earth Observation, and space technologies. Through strategic partnerships, continental coordination, and investment in human capital, AfSA continues to advance a vision of an Africa that not only uses space services but shapes the global space agenda and drives transformative development outcomes for its people.