EU strengthens Africa partnership through €100 million Africa-EU Space Partnership programme

At the recently concluded EU Space Conference in Brussels, the European Commission unveiled the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme, an ambitious initiative backed by a €100 million investment. As part of the EU's Global Gateway Strategy, the programme aims to enhance space cooperation between Europe and Africa, reinforcing their long-standing partnership in the space sector.

The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme will focus on three key priorities. First, it will support Africa’s green transition by leveraging space-based services to strengthen early warning systems for climate-related disasters. Given Africa's vulnerability to climate change, enhanced satellite-driven forecasting and response mechanisms will improve disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts.

Secondly, the programme will strengthen institutional collaboration between European and African space agencies and policymakers. By fostering knowledge exchange and aligning regulatory frameworks, both continents will benefit from more effective decision-making in the space sector, ensuring Africa’s growing space ambitions align with global standards.

Lastly, the initiative will support Africa’s private sector, enhancing the capacity of local space industries and stimulating innovation. A key component will be encouraging European private sector involvement, particularly in service provision, capacity building, and technology transfer. By fostering a robust space-based data economy, the programme will drive sustainable growth and digital transformation across Africa while expanding markets and opportunities for European space companies.

Speaking on the initiative, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela highlighted its importance in fostering deeper cooperation between Africa and Europe. “The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme represents a critical milestone in our collaboration 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 climate change, advance digitalisation, and 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,” he stated.

The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme builds on more than two decades of collaboration between the EU and Africa in the space sector. The EU has already invested €200 million in various space initiatives across the continent, contributing to advancements in climate monitoring, disaster risk reduction, and precision agriculture.

The programme is closely aligned with Africa’s Space Policy and Strategy, reinforcing the African Union’s long-term vision for leveraging space technology for sustainable development. It also integrates with existing European space technologies, including Copernicus for Earth observation and Galileo and EGNOS for satellite navigation. Through projects such as GMES & Africa, African institutions have gained access to critical satellite data for applications in land and water management, marine and coastal monitoring, and other environmental fields.

By scaling up investments and fostering greater institutional and commercial participation, the new programme will empower African nations to monitor environmental changes with high-precision satellite data, enhance disaster resilience through advanced early warning systems and support economic growth through improved satellite navigation and safer air traffic management.

The first phase of the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme is set to begin in early 2025, with a focus on building institutional and technical capacities while fostering innovation for long-term sustainability. This aligns with the African Union–European Union Innovation Agenda, which prioritizes space technology as a driver of digitalisation and climate resilience.

The programme’s implementation will be carried out in collaboration with key organisations, including 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).

With the establishment of the African Space Agency (AfSA) in 2023 and the election of the African Space Council in 2024, Africa has demonstrated its commitment to expanding its presence in the global space sector. The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme will further accelerate this progress, ensuring that Africa harnesses space technologies for socio-economic development while strengthening its position as a key player in the global space industry.

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye