In a significant milestone for Africa’s space sector, Dr Tidiane Ouattara has been sworn in as the President of the African Space Council. His inauguration marks a crucial step towards advancing the operationalisation of the African Space Agency, which was inaugurated in January 2023.
As President, Dr Ouattara will lead the African Space Council members in advancing Africa’s space program under the auspices of the African Space Agency. His responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Policymaking: Shaping continental space policies that align with Africa’s strategic objectives.
Resource Allocation: Overseeing the allocation of resources to ensure optimal use and impact.
Regulation Oversight: Managing regulations to create a conducive environment for the African space industry.
Stakeholder Management: Engaging with governments, international partners, and industry stakeholders to foster beneficial partnerships.
Coordinating Activities: Guiding the activities of the African Space Agency to ensure coherence and efficiency
Facilitating Collaboration: Leading the Council to foster regional, continental, and international partnerships to promote mutual benefits and peaceful endeavours in space for all Africans
Facilitating alignment with Africa 2063: Leading the Council’s efforts to align with the strategic objectives outlined in Africa 2063, the continent’s ambitious blueprint for sustainable development.
Click here to learn more about the appointed members of the African Space Council.
About Dr Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Council
Before becoming President of the African Space Council, Dr. Tidiane Ouattara was the Head of the Science, Technology, and Space Division at the Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation of the African Union Commission. In this role, he coordinated development and implementation of the African Outer Space Programme and the African Space Policy and Strategy. He also played a key role in establishing the African Space Agency.
With an extensive history in international relations, business development, policy development, and project negotiation and management, he previously led the inception and coordination of the GMES and Africa project, a joint endeavour between the African and European Unions.
Dr Ouattara’s passion and zeal for developing the African space industry is evident in his quote and belief that “Africa is the El Dorado for global space business”, which has driven his impact and influence on national, regional, and international space projects in Africa.
Highlights of Dr Ouattara’s Influence on the African Space Ecosystem
Under his leadership, the African Space Policy and Strategy focused on four space domains: Earth Observation, Satellite Communication, Navigation and Positioning, and Astronomy and Space Sciences.
He bargained the GMES and Africa project as the AUC point of contact to approve the project.
He is coordinating the GMES and Africa project from 2016 to 2024.
He was the negotiator-in-chief for the European Union’s EUR 100 million investment into African space programmes starting in 2025.
He has supported African space industry-focused events such as the African Group on Earth Observations Symposium, the NewSpace Africa Conference, and others through his office.
He was recently appointed Head of the Science, Technology and Space Division at the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at the African Union.
He plays a crucial role as the primary organiser of pan-Africanism in the African space ecosystem, fostering collaboration among all African countries through various initiatives and programmes.
Moreover, Dr Ouattara serves on the Board of the Digital Earth Africa governing initiative, which focuses on enhancing the quality of life across the continent by creating regional data cubes for easier navigation and developing prediction models to support sustainable development insights across Africa.
Source link : https://spaceinafrica.com/2024/07/26/dr-tidiane-ouattara-sworn-in-as-president-of-the-african-space-council/
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Publish date : 2024-07-26 19:40:09
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