Space applications in Sub-Saharan Africa have impact on Sustainable Development Goals
Channel: Elia Montanari
Date: 2021-10-28

Suzanna and Elia studied two European Space Agency' projects in Sub-Saharan Africa that turned global challenges into business opportunities with positive impacts on Sustainable Development Goals. Sway4Edu offered an operational and human approach to improve learning, boost teacher and student IT skills, and support e-learning and internet access in rural schools via satellite ICT. SatFinAfrica enabled secure financial services like money transfers in remote areas through a satellite platform. This paper quantitatively measured the projects' impacts on SDG indicators using Difference in Difference methodology. Statistically significant effects were observed. Sway4Edu positively impacted the proportion of schools with internet access for pedagogical purposes. SatFinAfrica positively impacted the volume of remittances as a proportion of GDP. In summary, these ESA projects successfully created business opportunities while advancing sustainable development in Africa, as evidenced by their measurable positive impacts on key SDG indicators related to education, internet access, financial inclusion, and remittances.