The increase in space activities is driven by the many benefits that could be derived, such as enhanced livelihood, natural resource management, socio-economic development, environmental management, and security. Also, nations leverage space to advance their domestic, external and global interests. However, cooperative international and/or intergovernmental relations are necessary for achieving these benefits and interests. Such cooperative activities also expand the frontiers of space science, technology and innovations. This brings to the fore, the importance of understanding concepts and principles around space diplomacy, which this webinar aims to discuss. The webinar will further explore the knowledge and skills needed for effective space diplomacy. A few initiatives aimed at promoting and nurturing space diplomacy will also be reflected upon.

About the facilitator

Etim Offiong is Co-founder of ASLI. He oversees the operations of the Institute and coordinates the training programmes organised by the Institute. He is also the host of ‘Policy Talks,’ a conversation series with African and global space leaders, where they discuss local and international space-related issues and how they impact on Africa. Etim participated in the drafting of the African Space Policy and Strategy which was adopted by African Heads of States in 2016, and led to the establishment of the African Space Agency (AfSA) in 2018. He holds a BSc in Electronic and Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Masters in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Related Applications from Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy; Masters in International Science and Technology Policy (with a concentration on International Space Policy) from the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University (GWU), Washington DC, USA; and a Certificate in Space Studies from the International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France. He was a Policy Leader Fellow at the School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute (EUI), Florence, Italy. He also particpated in the AAAS-TWAS Science Diplomacy Course in 2017 and the AAAS-TWAS Train-the-Trainers Workshop on Science Diplomacy in 2019, both at the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy.

To participate in the webinar, register here.