Africa–EU Space Partnership programme

As part of the Global Gateway strategy, the Africa–EU Space Partnership Programme strengthens collaboration between the European Union (EU) and Africa in the field of space technologies, services, and applications.

Through focused thematic cooperation and high-level strategic dialogues, the programme engages with key stakeholders to stimulate investment in Africa’s space sector. It draws on advanced European space technologies, such as Copernicus for Earth observation, and Galileo and EGNOS for satellite navigation, to support development priorities across the continent.

By increasing the uptake of space-based data and fostering institutional and private sector capacity, the programme empowers African countries to address pressing societal challenges. These include monitoring environmental changes, strengthening resilience to natural disasters, and deploying advanced early warning systems.

Approach and objectives

Africa faces a range of pressing societal and environmental challenges that can be effectively addressed through space technologies, in particular those linked to the green transition and the digital transformation. However, the region continues to experience significant technological and digital shortages undermining its ability to process, store, and harness data for the development of space-based applications and services.

These challenges stem primarily from three areas to be strengthened:

• institutional collaboration and data-driven decision-making processes;
• access to space-based solutions; and
• skills and capital necessary to foster innovation.

To overcome these barriers, coordinated action is required across governments, academia, and industry. This includes strengthening governance frameworks, promoting green measures, supporting the collection and analysis of climate risk data, and reinforcing early warning systems. Such measures are essential to inform sound decision-making processes and protect vulnerable communities across the continent.

Actions

Space-based solutions can support decision-making and help progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Building on the longstanding cooperation between Africa and the EU in Earth Observation and Satellite Navigation, the programme seeks to elevate this collaboration to a more strategic, consolidated, and integrated level.

It ensures the continuity and scaling up of existing space-related initiatives, while complementing them with a stronger partnership at both institutional and policy levels, as well as greater engagement with the private sector. The programme adopts a comprehensive approach to space capacity building and the promotion of space investment across the continent.

The programme is structured around three key components:

• Component 1: EU–Africa Space Partnership: supporting institutional collaboration and decision-making processes.
• Component 2: Space and the Green Transition – Focus on Early Warning: developing space-based services, applications, and tools to strengthen Early Warning Systems for hazardous weather and climate-related events.
• Component 3: Space and the Private Sector: increasing the capacity and skills of the private sector, stimulating growth in the space industry, and expanding the data economy.

This programme is embedded within the relaunched EU–AU Space Dialogue, led by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), further anchoring it in a broader political and strategic framework.

Contact

For any questions or additional information about the Africa–EU Space Partnership Programme, please contact INTPA-A2@ec.europa.eu and/or INTPA-F5@ec.europa.eu.

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