SMALL SATELLITES FOR SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA; POLICY PERSPECTIVES

Policy inconsistency coupled with gross policy implementation challenges constitute a brick wall to Africa’s progress in achieving sustainable and development through adoption of Small Satellites programme. This hydra-headed monster explains the inability of Africa to innovate and utilize her best skills in competing for much desired niche in the ever changing global cutting-edge science and technology space. Africa is highly blessed with vibrant youthful population and mineral resources that require innovation and cutting-edge technological tools and processes to expand value-chain deliverables in human skills and material resources. Africa as a developing continent has a significant socio-economic growth potential compared to developed regions of the world. The growth potential can be sustained through policy formulation and institutional reforms that will support the adoption of small satellite programmes, that will provide an ideal platform for the development of a knowledge based-economy. However, reforms in institutions and policy formulation must be contextualized, the research paper seeks to address the policy inconsistency and factors that affects the implementation of existing policies. The study will proffer solutions to the policy inconsistency and also come up with recommendations by which existing policies can be implemented to promote human capital development and the managing of Africa’s natural resources in a sustainable manner through the adoption of small satellite programmes. The research will address the policy inconsistency through critical analysis to see whether the current policy direction, planning, prioritization, budgeting, implementation and monitoring processes are consistent with national development outcomes.