South Africa–Based International Astronomy Office Driving Sustainable Development
The Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD), a partnership between the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) under South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), has announced that 10 African projects have been selected for funding to advance sustainable development through astronomy. These projects form part of a broader group of 18 initiatives supported by the IAU and the Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) programme. DARA is funded through the United Kingdom’s International Science Partnerships Fund via the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Click here to explore the full list of funded projects, including details of the 10 selected African initiatives.
Located at the South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO) in Cape Town, the OAD was established to advance the use of astronomy, including its practitioners, skills, and infrastructure, as a tool for development. Since 2012, the office has distributed EUR 1.5 million from the IAU and its partners to more than 250 projects, impacting thousands of lives across over 100 countries.
The latest round of the grants programme, which concluded in December 2025, selected 18 new projects aimed at promoting sustainable development through astronomy-based activities. Beyond Africa, the newly funded initiatives will also target countries in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. These projects aim to harness astronomy in diverse ways, from promoting critical thinking, creativity, and civic engagement among young people in punitive confinement in Argentina, to addressing mental well-being in refugee camps in Uganda. Other initiatives seek to strengthen local tourism ecosystems in rural Greece and Tanzania; break down barriers to science for Black girls in Canada, the deaf community in Mexico, and children with intellectual disabilities in Egypt; and improve educational and social indicators in Venezuela, among others.
“The Office of Astronomy for Development reflects South Africa’s ability to host and lead globally relevant science partnerships that translate research excellence into societal benefit,” says Dr Mlungisi Cele, the Director-General of the DSTI.
Dr Angus Paterson, NRF acting Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the development, “We are thrilled about the projects receiving funding. The three South African initiatives will focus on bridging the gap between high school and university science; promoting astro-tourism for development through storytelling, science, and socio-economic growth; and inspiring township and rural learners by making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) practical, creative, and connected to real-world challenges. All these are youth-focused, important topics. The projects across Africa are equally exciting. The initiative demonstrates how global collaboration plays a critical role in advancing society.”
Building on OAD’s Flagship Initiatives
Many of the new projects will focus on the OAD’s three flagship areas: astrotourism for socioeconomic development, astronomy to improve mental health, and the application of astronomy knowledge and skills for sustainable development. The OAD’s Astrotourism flagship, aligned with international policy such as the South African National Astrotourism Strategy, aims to address the deep socioeconomic challenges in less developed regions by leveraging their unfettered access to dark skies. For instance, the Stars for the Future project will develop a community planetarium in Antímano, a vulnerable neighbourhood west of Caracas, Venezuela. Thanks to the OAD’s contribution, the community will benefit, and, as project lead Dr Maximiliano Bandres from the Andrés Bello Catholic University says, “those stars will shine.”
Astronomy is increasingly being used as a catalyst to address the global mental health crisis. Dr Trust Otto, lecturer at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda and lead of the IAU-funded Stars Offering HOpe (SOHO) project, explained: “SOHO will improve refugee youth well-being by combining astronomy, storytelling, and creative learning into trauma-sensitive, peer-led activities. IAU funding will cover the core tools and training needed to run the programme safely and scale it across settlements.”
Multiple projects will advance the goals of Flagship 3, Astronomy Knowledge and Skills for Development, including the East African Astronomical Society Workshop (EAASW), which aims to transform astronomy into a driver of regional development. The workshop will equip young scientists with high-value technical skills in data science and “astro-preneurship,” bridging the gap between academic research and the labour market. Dr Naftali K. Kimani of Kenyatta University, the project lead, said: “IAU funding acts as the essential seed capital that unlocks regional support and covers critical workshop logistics, empowering East African researchers to transform their dark skies into a bridge for sustainable economic growth.”
Projects will also target barriers and inequities in STEM. Dr Thelma Akyea, project lead for Black Girls in Physics & Astronomy in Canada, said, “The project uses astronomy as a tool to build confidence, positive identity, and strong leadership among black girls who are historically underrepresented in the field. Support from the IAU and OAD makes it possible to offer hands-on sky exploration, meaningful mentorship, and culturally affirming learning through community-rooted pathways into physics and astronomy.”To know more about the impact of such projects, join the online Astronomy-for-Development session on February 20.