MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT TO STRENGTHEN DEVELOPMENT
THROUGH ASTRONOMY IN AFRICA
Cape Town, 26 May 2021 — The African Astronomical Society (AfAS) and the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) have signed a five-year partnership Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that sees the two collaborating towards bringing together complementary resources, networks and expertise to advance development through astronomy throughout the African Continent.
“We are pleased to formalise an existing strong relationship with AfAS,” said OAD Director, Kevin Govender, who added that: “Over the past decade the African continent has demonstrated beyond doubt its significant position in the global astronomy landscape. The rapid growth of this field of research combined with the energy and enthusiasm of the continent’s youth, as well as significant astronomy infrastructure projects on the continent, all make it timely that this agreement is signed between AfAS and the OAD.”
The agreement envisages areas of collaboration that include:
- The implementation of special calls for proposals such as the 2020 COVID-19 call for projects that use astronomy to mitigate negative effects of the pandemic.
- Coordination of communication networks in Africa.
- Coordination of fundraising related to the African continent.
- The organisation, implementation and legacy aspects related to the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly in 2024, which will be the first ever held on the African continent.
- Other general areas of mutual interest in support of developing astronomy
across the continent.
“It was just natural that both organisations join hands and work in synergy for the benefit of all the stakeholders so as to ripe societal and economic benefits by them bringing together their respective resources, networks, and expertise,” said AfAS President, Professor Jamal Mimouni, who jointly signed the agreement with Govender.
AfAS will provide the necessary human resources and communications channels to develop, implement and promote joint initiatives with the OAD. As appropriate, AfAS will invite representation from the OAD on its various committees and sub-committees.
AfAS will also actively collaborate with the OAD and the National Organising Committee of the General Assembly 2024; to promote it and encourage active participation by African astronomers and students.
The OAD will provide the necessary human resources and communications, logistics and publicity channels to develop, implement and promote joint initiatives with AfAS. The OAD will also endeavour to synergize its fundraising activities, through the IAU Fundraiser, and include, as appropriate, AfAS representation in its fundraising initiatives.
AfAS and the OAD are both funded and supported by the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), and have always enjoyed a close working relationship. This MOA formalises the partnership between the two, aimed primarily at strengthening development through Astronomy in Africa.
NOTES TO EDITOR
AfAS: AfAS is a Pan-African astronomy professional society that works to create a globally competitive and collaborative astronomy community in Africa. It was established in 2010 and relaunched in 2019. Its mission is to be the voice of astronomy in Africa and to contribute to addressing Africa’s challenges through astronomy promotion and advancement.
The OAD: The OAD was established in 2011 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), in partnership with the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). The OAD is a key component of the IAU’s strategy to use astronomy for sustainable global development. The mission of the OAD is to help further the use of astronomy, including its practitioners, skills and infrastructures, as a tool for development in every country by mobilizing the human and financial resources necessary in order to realize the field’s scientific, technological and cultural benefits to society.
Issued on behalf of AfAS and OAD by AfAS. For interview requests contact the Head Secretariat of AfAS, Dr Charles Takalana, on 081 481 7416 or email Charles.takalana@afasociety.org
You can also contact the Director of OAD, Kevin Govender on 082 487 8466 or email Kg@astro4dev.org
Websites:
OAD: www.astro4dev.orgAfAS: www.africanastronomicalsociety.org
