Africa-EU Space Programme Launched on the Sidelines of the 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference
On the sidelines of the 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference held at the Egyptian Space City in Cairo, the Africa-EU Space Programme was launched, signalling a renewed commitment by the European Union (EU) to promote sustainable development and build equitable global partnerships between both continents. The programme launch featured key appearances from H.E. Javier Nino Perez (EU Ambassador to the African Union), H.E. Moses Vilakati (AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) and H.E. Dr Tidiane Ouattara (President of the African Space Council), who gave keynote addresses. They underscored the critical role of such partnerships in enhancing mutual benefit and driving space innovation and progress.
Additionally, a panel discussion titled “The Africa-EU Space Programme: A Deep Dive into a Renewed Partnership” shared insights on the collaborative nature of the new space-based partnership. Panellists drawn from the programme’s implementing partners underscored their commitment to collaborating to support its success. Areas of cooperation include training and capacity-building initiatives, enhancing private sector participation and EU-AU matchmaking for institutions and space marketplaces. Then, the programme was officially launched.
The programme’s launch follows the recent signing ceremony of the EU’s EUR 100 million initiative to strengthen space cooperation between Europe and Africa, a flagship component of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
The key implementing partners for the first phase of the programme include the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Space Agency (AfSA) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Additional partners include the Agency for the Safety of Aviation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The programme’s first phase is valued at EUR 45 million and will focus on institutional and technical capacity building while fostering innovation for long-term resilience and development.
The programme draws on European space technologies to support sustainable development in key areas such as agriculture, climate monitoring, and disaster risk reduction. It uses the Copernicus satellites for Earth observation and relies on Galileo and EGNOS satellites for navigation. It also backs Africa’s space efforts through the African Space Policy and Strategy, which are in line with the joint goals of the African Union–European Union Innovation Agenda.
Components of the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme
The programme will have three main components: advancing the green transition, strengthening institutional collaboration, and boosting private sector growth and innovation. Possible activities include promoting institutional and industrial Africa–Europe Space partnerships through possible EU-AU joint space business support schemes, capacity building, and contribution to operationalisation of the recently inaugurated African Space Agency.
The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme is a landmark initiative that underscores Africa and the EU’s shared commitment to using space technologies to promote economic growth, climate action, and digital transformation. By building on past collaborations and introducing new investment streams, this programme will help solidify Africa’s role in the global space economy while fostering innovation and resilience across the continent.