In 2019, the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) invited Heads of Agencies from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Sudan to launch a pan-African satellite project dubbed the African Development Satellite Initiative (AfDev-Sat). The project was initiated in the light of the integration of African countries in the field of space – with Egypt hosting the African Space Agency having won the bid in February 2019. The goal of AfDev-SAT is to cooperate mutually to advocate the level of knowledge and capabilities in the space industry and how African countries may have non-dependency for building their own space systems.

As part of the implementation of the project, Egypt is currently hosting representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Egypt on a Satellite Training program between 25 July and 5 August 2021 in Cairo. During the training, participants will take courses in space project management, space sub-system design, CAD tools and design software orientation, satellite testing, among others. Facilitated by EgSA engineers, participants will engage in self-design sessions with technical guide, while also working in groups.

The opening ceremony of the training course was attended by a number of Egyptian and African officials and diplomats, academics, representatives from the African Union and other African organizations, and personnel from other African space agencies.

See pictures from the event below

“It is apparent that we have to speak together and work together to take Africa to where we want it to be. It is our responsibility to develop this science and technology. The Egyptian Space Agency has taken the lead and we are excited,” said Halilu Ahmed Shaba, director-general of Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). Dr Halilu also hoped that this training program will lead to future collaborations between participating African countries in the field.

Furthermore, Samuel Donkor, president of All Nations University (ANU) in Ghana, expressed his appreciation of what Egypt is doing for the development of space activities in Africa.

Egypt is the country with the largest investment in satellite programs in Africa, and one of the few countries that have been able to demonstrate the capacity to develop small satellites within its territory. EgSA is currently developing 35 educational cubesats in collaboration with Universities and research institutions across the country. The EGP 4 million project is being implemented in partnership with NASA with the aim of training more space scientists and engineers in the country.