IMD Webinar SGAC-MVA July 27^th, 2023
Benefit Sharing of Lunar Resource Activities for Africa: analysing the regional and international contexts

Date/time : Thursday, July 27^th, 4pm CEST
Duration : 90 min –
Time zone : CEST

Description of the webinar 

The webinar is part of the International Moon Day events. 

A panel has been organized with representatives of the Moon Village Association (lead by Suyan Malhadas and Christophe Bosquillon, co-chairs of the MVA Benefit Sharing Project) and the SGAC Space Law and Policy Project Group “Commercialization of Space Resources in Africa” project (lead by Jéssyka Nunes and Nifemi Awe). There will be 4 speakers for 1 hour of presentations and another half hour for questions from the webinar participants. Presentations will cover the theme of « benefit sharing of lunar resource activities for Africa », analysing the regional and international contexts, with focus on expectations, needs and obstacles related to the participation of African countries in space resource activities on the Moon and associated value chains. 

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Hosts, panelists, and sequencing

Hosts:
Suyan Malhadas and Christophe Bosquillon, co-chairs of the MVA Benefit Sharing Project
Jéssyka Nunes and Nifemi Awe, co-lead of the SGAC Space Law and Policy Project Group “Commercialization of Space Resources in Africa”

Intro (5 min): Nifemi Awe, co-lead of the SGAC Space Law and Policy Project Group “Commercialization of Space Resources in Africa” project.

Speakers (15 min each):

• Speaker 1: SGAC – Kingsley Onu 
  • Space law and governance
  • Africa participation in international for a
• Speaker 2: MVA  – David Kasibante 
  • ISRU effect on developing nations
  • Balancing the needs of developed entiites vis-à-vis emerging space nations
• Speaker 3: MVA – Olusoji Nester John 
  • Space sci/tech education issues 
  • Artemis for who? What about the space activity status of Africa as a continent?
• Speaker 4: SGAC – Madeline “Maddie” Carlson 
  • Debriefing on Maddie’s own research on benefit sharing 
  • Specifics and concrete mechanisms

Q&A & Extro (25 min): Suyan Cristina Malhadas / Eunice Njau

In addition, Promise Okezie will produce a relevant paper that will be included in the webinar materials (before/during/after depending on delivery date). The topic is “How African countries interpretation of current space law non-appropriation principle affects their lunar activities policy”. It can be part of the Q&A conversation. The output of this webinar will also be integrated in the content of the MVA Benefit Sharing Project main report and annexes, including Promise Okezie’s paper.

Short bio of speakers / moderators / contributors  

Nifemi Awe is co-lead of the SGAC Space Law and Policy Project Group “Commercialization of Space Resources in Africa” project. She obtained her Master of Laws degree in Air & Space Law from McGill University. Her research at McGill explored the role of law in propelling African Countries to exploit space technologies for Africa’s socio-economic development. Currently, Nifemi works as a management consultant at PwC Canada where she supports organizations in integrating ESG considerations into their operations. Utilizing data and technology solutions, Nifemi supports clients in making a positive environmental and social impact while aligning with corporate governance standards. 

Dr Kingsley Osinachi Onu is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Adeleke University, Ede, where he has supervises and also engages in research works on Environmental Law, Energy Law, Clinical Legal Practice, and Space Law. He is currently the Deputy Director, Office of Research, Grants and Linkages (ORGL), Adeleke University. He is also the Coordinator of the Adeleke University Law Clinic. Through the Law Clinic he has led environmental, commercial, gender, space, human rights and criminal law awareness and pro bono services within Osun State, Nigeria. He is the focal person for his institution’s application for UN Climate Neutral NOW. He is also the managing editor of Adeleke University Law Journal.  He was a Natural Resources and Environment Programme (NAREP) Climate Research Fellow 2021/2022 with the Premium Times Institute for Investigative Journalism. Through this Fellowship, he was able to partner with a team of researchers from across West Africa to assess the feasibility of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) pledges of some selected West African Countries, themed: Beyond Rhetoric and Ambition: Assessing the feasibility of climate pledges by West African countries in the NDCs. He holds a PhD and a Master of Law Degree (LL.M) from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan. He also hold an LL.B (Hons) degree from the Ebonyi State University and B.L from Nigerian Law School. He is a Chartered Arbitrator,  Chartered Manager and a Professional Negotiator and Meditator. He is a certified COMPITA project manager. He is a rapacious researcher with particular interest in Environmental law, Energy Law and Space law. He has several published peer reviewed journal articles to his credit. He has travelled across different continents of the world to deliver quality conference papers on environmental, energy and space law.

Kasibante David Muyinza is a lawyer based in Uganda, a space policy analyst and enthusiast, lover of all things computer, and aspiring space-preneur. Kasibante leads a group of space enthusiasts and young professionals under his initiative, Space4Tomorrow, with the zeal for realising the space potential of the country and region. He has worked with the Ugandan government and other stake holders to realise the full potential of youth in space sciences, law and policy, through research and development in the space sector. He also represents Uganda at the United Nations Space Generation Advisory Council and the Moon Village Association and has researched and written widely on various aspects of space law and policy, including policy development  for Uganda  and Poland. He has also delivered public lectures on various aspects of space technology and law at symposia in Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa and the United States. In his free time, Kasibante looks up at the skies above and sees hope and no borders. And he hopes everyone gets to see that. 

Olusoji Nester John, recently appointed as Assistant Director (Legal), African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education-English (ARCSSTE-E), as well as acting as the ARCSSTE-E Chief Legal officer since 2009 in Lagos, Nigeria, is particularly focused on the issue of African space science and technology capacity building and education achievements, and such topics as relevant to Africa and the Moon. Olusoji is furthermore keen to identify and establish a concrete framework regarding the status of space and lunar activities for Africa as a continent.

Madeline “Maddie” Carlson currently works at the US Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) as Coordinator, Membership and Standards. As a part of the National Aerospace Standards program, she helps maintain part standards and specifications used in all corners of the aerospace industry. Prior to AIA, she served in Peace Corps Zambia as a part of the Linking Income, Food, and Environment program. She has a degree in International Affairs and Art History from George Washington University. In this project, she focuses on collaboration and partnerships for resource sharing

Eunice Njau works as a senior state counsel in the office of the Attorney General, Kenya. She also volunteers with Mombasa Youth Assembly, a youth led organization in Kenya that influences policies  through parliamentary youth-led proceedings. She was chosen for Chevening in 22/23 to pursue a Master of Laws with a focus on International Environmental law. One of the module was Air Space and Maritime Law.

Promise Okezie, as a University of Lagos researcher and Chief Research Officer at Pawfinder, has a background in space law, tech law, environmental law, international commercial law, investor state dispute / ADR , egulatory compliance, and other relevant aspects. Promise will produce for this webinar a paper which will cover the nature of interpretation given to the non appropriation principle and the benefit of all provisions in international space law. It will focus on how the interpretation given to those principles by African countries has affected space developments in Africa.