Day 1 (26th August 2026)

Welcome                             (08:00 – 8:10am)

Opening remarks           (08:10 – 8:25am)

Setting the Stage          (08:25 – 9:10am)

• 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 Munsami (Former Chair, AU Space Working Group)

Keynote Address: H.E. Ms. Thandikile Mbvundula (Vice President, African Space Council, African Space Agency)          (9:10 – 9:30am)

Interactive session          (9:30 – 10:00am)

Health Break                        (10:00 – 10:15am)

Session 1: Astronomy and Space Science          (10:15 – 11:15am)

• From Africa to the Lunar Surface: Lessons Learnt and Impacts through Radio Astronomy – Carla Sharpe (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory)
• Building Global Knowledge Infrastructure for Astronomy for Development: The Astronomy-for-Development Research Institute – Joyful E. Mdhluli (IAU Office of Astronomy for Development)
• African Efforts in Enabling Space Weather Risk Mitigation – Nondumiso Khumalo (Space Weather Center, South African National Space Agency)

Moderator: Desmond Wysenyuy

Session 2: Earth Observation          (11:15am – 12:15pm)

• 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 – Emily Wallis (European Space Policy Institute, Vienna, Austria)
• SpatialTide: A Spatial Dashboard for Marine Monitoring and Riverine Flood Vulnerability – Olasunkanmi Razaq 

 Moderator: Esther Maina

Lunch break          (12:15 – 1:30pm)

Session 3: Satellite Communication and PNT          (1:30 – 2:30pm)

• 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 Diouf (Satnav Africa JPO, Dakar, Senegal)

Moderator: Alma Okpalefe

Session 4: Industry and Space Economy          (2:30 – 3:30pm)

• Astronomy and Space Innovations: Supporting Business and Entrepreneurship in Africa – Ramasamy Venugopal (IAU Office of Astronomy for Development)

• Space Infrastructure as an Enabler of AfCFTA Implementation and SMME Trade Participation – Sesha Nyanga (Policy Fellow, African Space Leadership Institute)
• Mapping Africa’s Space Ecosystem: Open Intelligence Platform for Policy, Research and Investment – Kwaku Sumah (Spacehubs Africa)

Moderator: Timothy Ashong

Health Break          (3:30 – 3:45pm)

Session 5: Space and Society          (3:45 – 5:10pm)

• From Continental Vision to Action: Assessing Kenya’s Implementation of the African Space Policy and Strategy (2016-2026) – Esther Maina (Kenyan Space Agency)
• Beyond Infrastructure: Solving Africa’s Space Distribution Challenge – Alma Okpalefe (World Space Week Association)
• Youth Perspectives: Taking Stock of the African Space Policy and Strategy – Thando Mathe (United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, UNIDIR)
• The Role of Indigenous Perspectives in Shaoing African Space Policy  – David Kasibante (Space Generation Advisory Council)

Moderator: Nondumiso Khumalo

Closing remarks          (5:10 – 5:20pm)

Close Day 1

Day 2 (27th August 2026)

Opening remarks/Recap          (08:00 – 08:15am)

Session 6: Infrastructure development          (8:15 – 9:15am)

• A Game Plan for African Space Access – Jean Pitot (Aerospace Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
• Securing Africa’s Space Ambitions through Cryogenic Launch Infrastructure – Natasha Moleele
• Cybersecurity Standards and Systems for Spaceflight Safety: Enabling Tools for Africa’s Space Industry – Rose Croshier (U.S. Office of Space Commerce)

Moderator: Saphirah Kubakurungi

Session 7: Education and Capacity Building          (9:15 – 10:15am)

• 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)
• The CRASTE-LF: Building Regional Capacity in Space Science and Technology in Africa – Anas Emran (African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in French Language, CRASTE-LF)

• Advancing Astronomy for Sustainable Development in Africa: Morocco’s Role and Collaborative Pathways – Youssef Moulane (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco)

Moderator: Nelly-Helen Ebruka

Health Break          (10:15 – 11:00am)

Session 8: International cooperation and partnerships          (11:00am – 12:00pm)

• Why Diplomacy-driven Space Policy Matters for Emerging Space Nations – Elif Yüksel
• Alternative Diplomacy Pathways for Africa’s Space Governance: Strengthening Africa’s Role in a Changing Multilateral Order – Alberto Rueda Carazo (European Space Policy Institute, ESPI)
• Strategic Priorities for the African Space Policy and Strategy: A Structural Power Analysis – Bekithemba Ntoni

Moderator: Sesha Nyanga

Session 9: Space Security          (12:00 – 1:00pm)

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

Moderator: Youssef Moulane

Lunch break          (1:00 – 2:00pm)

Session 10: Space Policy and Law          (2:00 – 3:00pm) 

• Historical Milestones in the Development of Africa’s Space Programme: Lessons for the Next Decade – Nelly-Helen Ebruka (University of Manchester, UK)
• Space Data Governance in Africa: Legal Frameworks for Data Sharing, Privacy and Sovereignty – Oluwanimilo Ola-Olorun (Thomas Adewunmi University, Nigeria)
• Conceptualising Equitable Access/Sharing of Space Resources within the Context of Space Policies and Regulations – Khafayat Yetunde Olatinwo (Kwara State University, Nigeria)

Moderator: Samuel Oyewole

Session 11: Lunar and Planetary Missions          (3:00 – 4:00pm) 

• Africa2Moon Mission – Carla Sharpe (South African Radio Astronomical Observatory)
• Supporting Lunar and Outer Space Missions from Africa – Eugene Avenant (South African National Space Agency)

Moderator: Felistus Macharia

Health Break          (4:00 – 4:15pm)

Featured Session          (4:15 – 4:45pm)

• Designing Future-Ready Space Policy – Dr. Claire Nelson (The Futures Forum)

Interactive Session          (4:45 – 5:15pm)

Closing remarks                 (5:15 – 5:30pm)