In 2012, the African Union (AU) established the African Union Space Working Group (AUSWG) to among other things, develop the African Space Policy and Strategy, as part of efforts towards the formalisation of the African outer space programme. These documents were completed and adopted by African Heads of States and Governments in January 2016. The documents provide a framework for Africa’s space priorities, programmes and partnerships. The African Space Agency (AfSA), with headquarters in Egypt, was then established in 2018, to implement the African outer space programme.
About the course
The African Space Policy and Strategy (ASP) course is a 5-week programme that thoroughly examines the African outer space programme within the context of the global space enterprise. The course contains lectures and discussions on the conceptualisation, drafting process and adoption of the African Space Policy and Strategy. These are examined within the context of the present and emerging international space governance system. Through the course, participants gain knowledge and insights into space policy, law and governance.
On 2nd November 2023, ASLI welcomed 23 students and young professionals to the 1st African Space Policy and Strategy (ASP) Course. Participants are from 9 African countries (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe) and 1 European country (Italy) for the maiden edition of the course.
The lectures included:
- The Outer Space Environment (Prof. James Chibueze)
- Satellites and Orbits (Dr. Taiwo Tejumola)
- The Present and Future of African Integration (Prof. Keith Gottschalk)
- Agenda Setting and Decision Making in the AU (Lami Omale)
- Outer Space Treaties and Principles (Dr. Anastasia Gbem)
- Principles of Drafting Space Policy and Strategy (Dr. Adigun Ade Abiodun)
- Drafting of the African Space Policy and Strategy (Dr. Val Munsami)
- AU space programmes (Etim Offiong)
- Governance of Space Activities in Africa (Dr. Val Munsami)
After five weeks of intensive lectures, assignments and quizzes, the course ended on 1st December 2023.
We invite you to join us on 14th December 2023, for the virtual graduation ceremony.
To participate in the graduation ceremony, register here: http://bit.ly/ASPgraduation
About the Guest Speaker
With two decades of experience in government, in both NASA missions and policy, Ezinne Uzo-Okoro leads the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s space and aeronautics portfolio. Her policy work includes Earth Observations, Orbital Debris, Microgravity research in Low Earth Orbit, Space Weather, In-space Servicing Assembly and Manufacturing, Aeronautics, and space science. Her NASA 17-year engineering career spanned contributions to Earth Observations, planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics, human exploration, and space communications missions. She earned an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and three masters degrees in Aerospace Systems, Space Robotics, and Public Policy from John Hopkins University, MIT, and Harvard University respectively. She also earned a doctorate degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT. She has received several NASA awards and the 2023 Commercial Space Federation Commercial Space Policy award. Her story is profiled in President George W. Bush’s book, Out of Many, One.
To participate in the graduation ceremony, register here: http://bit.ly/ASPgraduation