About ASLI
The African Space Leadership Institute (ASLI) is Africa’s first space-focused think tank based between Pretoria, South Africa and Abuja, Nigeria. Inaugurated on 4 October 2022, ASLI seeks to bridge gaps in regional space policy- and decision-making through innovative policy analysis, expert advisory services, advocacy, and comprehensive educational programmes.
ASLI’s origins can be traced back to the African Union Space Working Group (AUSWG), which was created by the African Union Commission (AUC) in 2012 with the mandate, among other tasks, of developing governance instruments to support the formalisation of the African Outer Space Programme. The AUSWG’s first outputs were the African Space Policy and the African Space Strategy, both of which were adopted by African Heads of State and Government in 2016. These instruments led to the establishment of the African Space Agency (AfSA) in 2018, now headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. Yet the drafting process of the African Space Policy and Strategy also shone a spotlight on the dearth of regional expertise in contemporary space policy, strategy, law, governance, and leadership in Africa—despite Africa’s pioneering role in ancient astronomical advancements.
ASLI was launched in 2022—a decade after the establishment of the AUSWG—to plug these gaps and bring forth a new dispensation for space development in Africa. The think tank is committed to supporting the success of the African Outer Space Programme alongside national space initiatives by harnessing and harmonising multidisciplinary expertise and regional capabilities across engineering and non-engineering fields. ASLI’s wider conceptual underpinnings are elucidated in a Space Policy journal article here.
Vision
ASLI’s vision is to advance an African space ecosystem that meets the developmental needs and aspirations of citizens, while remaining globally responsible and relevant. This vision is aligned with Agenda 2063, which serves as the African Union’s strategic blueprint for Africa’s development.
Mission
ASLI’s mission is to develop Africa’s capabilities and capacity in space policy, strategy, law, governance and leadership at individual, organisational, national and continental levels.
Objectives & Values
To achieve our mission and respond to our vision, ASLI pursues three key objectives:
- Expand and deepen space knowledge and expertise across Africa
- Support strong strategic positioning of space programmes in Africa
- Strengthen Africa’s engagement in international institutions and forums
Our work is guided by the following set of values, which we aim to continually embody as a reflection of our vision for Africa’s space culture and ecosystem.
