Africa's Space Industry Value Chain and the Sustainable Development Goals

The African space industry hold several complex interconnected social, economic, and environmental challenges. These issues occur at both national and continental levels, aligning to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs provide a roadmap for this, allowing African nations to harness space for economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social welfare. By supporting the space industry, each citizen can directly contribute to the continent’s ability to manage resources, reduce inequality, and build resilient communities. When space activities are guided by SDGs, they ensure that advancements benefit all, not just a privileged few, and foster inclusive growth aligned with Africa’s collective values of unity, sustainability, and communal well-being. This paper presents an overview of the problems and issues currently challenging the African space industry.A strong legal and regulatory framework serves as the foundation for tackling the complex issues tied to funding, governance, environmental responsibility, and the socioeconomic potential of space technology - all while safeguarding national and continental interests. he paper also lists an estimation of the current legal and policy challenges for African countries who have opted into pursuing space industry activities. It presents a case for applying the seven Principles of International Law relating to sustainable development to the African space industry and recommendation for establishing a ‘SDG-Space Value Chain’ framework that can help ensure that the national space activity policies are in line with international obligations for industry activities that are safe, sustainable, and compliant. Author: Natasha van RooyenAs part of an assessment paper: Sustainability Development Goals and the Law.Under the program: Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice.September 2024 University of Cambridge Lucy Cavendish College Hughes Hall