Initiatives for Embedding Space Applications in African Societies

Abstract

Based on the preceding analysis in this book, this chapter provides a series of suggested initiatives to stimulate the embedding of space applications within African societies further. These have been arranged into the African Space Application Infusion Framework, and include themes of policy availability, academic expertise and awareness sharing, using regional economic communities for academic collaboration, university space start-up incubators, African coordination at space fora, and the example of a free, user-friendly farming application. These initiatives respond to observed challenges; for example, a lack of sufficient, meaningful collaboration was observed between academic institutions in Africa. In response to this, the initiative is proposed to use Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as a source of commonality for structured cooperation with common, focused goals, particularly given the lack of effectiveness of larger academic networks, to be supplemented with more effective localised versions. While far from exhaustive, these initiatives suggest ways in which the embedding of space applications in African societies can be enhanced in line with an appreciation of the needs existing on the ground, and prompt further urgent efforts to put space to work serving the needs of Africans.