Agenda

Draft Agenda

Day 1 (26th August 2026)

Welcome/Opening remarks

Brief on ASLI

Setting the Stage

  • Conceptualisation of the African Outer Space Programme – Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo (Former Director; Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation; African Union Commission)
  • Reflection on the drafting of the African Space Policy and Strategy – Dr. Valanathan Munssami (Former Chair, AU Space Working Gorup)

Keynote Address: H.E. Ms Thandikile Patience Mbvundula (Vice President, African Space Council)

 

Health Break

 

Session 1: Astronomy and Space Science

  • From Africa to the Lunar Surface: Lessons Learnt and Impacts through Radio Astronomy – Carla Sharpe (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory)
  • Advancing Astronomy for Sustainable Development in Africa: Morocco’s Role and Collaborative Pathways – Youssef Moulane (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco)
  • African Efforts in Enabling Space Weather Risk Mitigation – Nondumiso Khumalo (Space Weather Center, South African National Space Agency)

Session 2: Earth Observation

  • The ARMC Constellation: The Difficulty of Working Together – Sias Mostert (SCS Space Group, South Africa)
  • Space for Climate Resilience: Aligning Space Solutions with National Priorities – Marco Aliberti (European Space Policy Institute, Vienna, Austria)
  • Spatialtide: A Spatial Dashboard for Marine Monitoring and Riverine Flood Vulnerability – Olasunkanmi Razaq 
  • Space Data Governance in Africa: Legal Frameworks for Data Sharing, Privacy and Sovereignty – Oluwanimilo Ola-Olorun (Thomas Adewunmi University, Nigeria)

  

Lunch break

 

Session 3: Satellite Communication and Navigation

  • Ten Years of the African Space Policy: Progress, Gaps and Priorities for Satellite Communication in Africa – Timothy Ashong (Regional African Satellite Communications Organization, RASCOM)
  • Satellite Navigation in Africa: State of Play – Semou Diuof and Moustapha Boukary Malam (Satnav Africa JPO, Dakar, Senegal)

 

Health Break

 

Session 4: Industry and Space Economy

  • Mapping Africa’s Space Ecosystem: Open Intelligence Platform for Policy, Research and Investment – Kwaku Sumah (Spacehubs Africa)
  • Space Infrastructure as an Enabler of AfCFTA Implementation and SMME Trade Participation – Sesha Nyanga (Policy Fellow, African Space Leadership Institute)
  • Strategic Priorities for the African Space Policy and Strategy: A Structural Power Analysis – Bekithemba Ntoni

 

Closing remarks

 

 Close Day 1

 

Day 2 (27th August 2026)

Opening remarks/Recap

Session 5: Education and Capacity Building

  • Why Education Alone Does not Close the Skills Gaps: Lessons from Kenya’s Space Skills Audit – Vuyolwethu Mahlalela (Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability, RIIS)
  • Beyond Infrastructure: Solving Africa’s Distribution Challenge – Alma Okpalefe (World Space Week Association)
  • Youth Perspectives: Taking Stock of the African Space Policy and Strategy – Thando Mathe

 

Health Break

 

Session 6: Space Policy, Law and Governance 

  • Historical Milestones in the Development of Africa’s Space Programme: Lessons for the Next Decade – Nellyhelen Ebruka (University of Manchester, UK)
  • From Continental Vision to Action: Assessing Kenya’s Implementation of the African Space Policy and Strategy (2016-2026) – Esther Maina (Kenyan Space Agency)
  • Conceptualising Equitable Access/Sharing of Space Resources within the Context of Space Policies and Regulations – Khafayat Yetunde Olatinwo (Kwara State University, Nigeria)

 

Lunch Break

 

Session 7: Space Security

  • Regionalism for Outer Space Security: A Pathway for Africa – Thando Mathe
  • Africa’s Space Outlook: Threats, Vulnerabilities and Policy Priorities for the Next Decade – Wanyana Rachel (Space Law and Security Advisory, Germany)
  • Space Support for Defence and Security – Samuel Oyewole (University of Pretoria, South Africa)

 

Keynote Address: Dr. Claire Nelson (Chief Futurist Officer, The Futures Forum)

 

Interactive Session

 

Closing remarks