At the EU Space Conference in Brussels, the European Commission announced the “Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme.” This initiative, backed by a €100 million investment, forms a critical part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy to deepen space cooperation between the EU and Africa.
The programme will focus on three key priorities:
First, it will advance the green transition by developing space-based services that enhance early warning systems for hazardous weather and climate-related events. This will improve disaster preparedness and response on the African content which is disproportionally affected by climate change.
Second, it will strengthen institutional collaboration between the EU and African nations to enhance decision-making and improve policy frameworks in the space sector.
Finally, the programme will strengthen the private sector by enhancing the capabilities of the space industry, driving innovation, and fostering a dynamic space-based data economy to promote sustainable growth across the continent.
It will actively engage European private companies in areas such as service provision, capacity building, and innovation. This collaboration will not only support Africa’s space capabilities but also create opportunities for the European space industry by expanding markets, fostering innovation, and enhancing the global competitiveness of EU companies.
Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said: “The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme represents an important part for our cooperation with Africa, as we work together to harness the power of space technology to address global challenges. This initiative will strengthen Africa’s resilience to the consequences of climate change, but also drive digitalisation and also enable us to build lasting partnerships, share knowledge, and innovate together. Space is the new frontier of progress, and through this programme, we are ensuring that Africa can also enjoy its benefits.”
Background
The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme is a flagship component of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, which aims to mobilise investments in key sectors to promote sustainable development and build equitable global partnerships. By investing in Africa’s space sector, the programme directly contributes to the strategy’s goals of fostering resilience, promoting digitalisation, and advancing climate action through cutting-edge technology and innovation.
The programme leverages European space technologies to support Africa’s sustainable development in sectors like agriculture, climate monitoring, and disaster risk reduction. It relies on Copernicus for Earth observation and Galileo and EGNOS for navigation while also supporting Africa’s space ambitions through the African Space Policy and Strategy. Initiatives like GMES & Africa enable access to and utilisation of crucial satellite data to develop applications in the fields of Land Water, and Natural Resources, and Marine and Coastal Areas.
The programme builds on over two decades of EU-Africa collaboration in the space sector, during which the EU has already invested €200 million. By increasing the uptake of space-based data and fostering institutional and private sector capacity, the programme will empower African countries to:
- Monitor environmental changes more effectively.
- Reduce risks from natural disasters through advanced early warning systems.
- Support sustainable economic growth, including through safer air traffic management enabled by the development of Africa’s Satellite Navigation (SatNav) system.
Future Steps
The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme aligns with the African Union’s Space Policy and Strategy and reflects the joint priorities outlined in the “African Union – European Union Innovation Agenda.” These include using space technology to drive the green transition and support innovation.
Key milestones in the EU-Africa space partnership include the establishment of the African Space Agency (AfSA) in 2023 and the election of the African Space Council in 2024. The first phase of the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme will begin in early 2025, focusing on building institutional and technical capabilities while fostering innovation for long-term resilience and development.
The programme is implemented in collaboration with key organisations such as the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the African Union Commission (AUC), the Agency for the Safety of Aviation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), and the African Space Agency (AfSA). Through this programme, the EU and Africa reaffirm their commitment to working together, with space technologies as a vital tool for addressing shared challenges, driving economic growth, and building a sustainable and inclusive future.