The Third African Leadership Conference Launches Two Regional Space Partnerships
VIENNA, 7 December (UN Information Service) - The third African Leadership Conference on Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Development opened today, on 7 December 2009, in Algiers with a signing ceremony of two regional space partnerships. Hosted by the Algerian Space Agency and co-sponsored by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) the Conference will promote the use of space tools towards achieving Africa's sustainable development.
To support African efforts in disaster management by means of space-based technologies, the Algerian Space Agency and UNOOSA signed a cooperation agreement to establish a regional support office for the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), a programme implemented by UNOOSA. Space tools have been vital in mitigating the loss of lives and property in times of disaster. In that context, the head of UNOOSA's delegation, Niklas Hedman, told conference participants that "today a large number of global and regional mechanisms and initiatives exist to support Member States in implementing the use of space tools and solutions." With regard to UN-SPIDER's work in forming a network of regional support offices in Africa, he noted that "UN-SPIDER already has a productive working relationship with the Algerian Space Agency", the most recent example of which was the provision of expert services by the Agency for a UN-SPIDER technical advisory mission to Burkina Faso.
Another regional space partnership was sealed today among the Governments of Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, who signed an agreement on African Resources Management satellite constellation, a regional initiative that aims to develop a network of satellites to make space technology more accessible to end-users in areas such as food security, environmental monitoring, land use, water management and public health. The Algerian Minister for Post and Information Technologies and Communication, Hamid Bessalah, described the all-African satellite constellation as "a great cooperation" between the four countries, which "will facilitate space data for African countries".
The third African Leadership Conference on Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Development will continue its deliberations on increasing space benefits for Africa's sustainable development until Wednesday, 9 December 2009.
For further information, please contact:
Jamshid Gaziyev
Associate Programme Officer, UNOOSA
Telephone: (+43-699) 1459-7251
Email: jamshid.gaziyev [at] unoosa.org
Internet: www.unoosa.org
