The International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU-OAD) will support 13 global projects in 2025, selected to receive a total of EUR 69,500. Two ongoing multi-year projects have received EUR 21,000 for their second and third year of funding. This represents a 42.48% decrease from last year’s allocation of EUR 113,011 that funded 19 projects, including 11 from Africa. The decline was attributed to the OAD’s overall budget cuts from the IAU.
The funded projects include five from Africa, spread across South Africa, Kenya, Botswana and Uganda. The OAD projects aim to promote sustainable development through OAD’s three flagship areas:astrotourism for socioeconomic development, astronomy to improve mental health, and the application of astronomy knowledge and skills for sustainable development. Astro-tourism presents a niche opportunity in the African space industry to grow the astronomy landscape by leveraging Africa’s excellent dark skies while addressing socio-economic challenges in these areas.
In this regard, part of the African projects supported include two Astro-tourism projects, funded by the Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy Project (DARA) through the UK’s Science and Technologies Facilities Council. The two projects, namely ‘Anga Explorers for Development’ and ‘AstroGuides: Transforming Tours with Astrotourism’ are from Kenya and Botswana, respectively, representing a growing interest by the DARA project to support the eight SKA partner countries, not only in building their radio astronomy capabilities but also in their sustainable development.
Other African projects include South Africa’s ‘Rite of Passage: Connection Through Astronomy’, and Kenya’s ‘Astro-STEM Workshops’. The Kenyan project aims to build the capacity of astronomy and space science graduates through exposure to industry and research-based skills and experiences. Additionally, one of the ongoing multi-year projects funded by the OAD is Kenya’s project ‘EMEJA’, which aims to address the issue of high school dropout rates among girls in rural Kenya and Uganda via astronomy outreach, mentorship, & targeted STEM workshops. Over the last few years, with the OAD’s support, the project reached nearly 20,000 schoolgirls, their parents, and local communities.
2025 Recommended Projects
Due to the limited funding, the OAD recommended 33 projects approved by the independent review panel but could not be funded. The list includes 15 African projects from 10 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Eritrea, Tanzania, South Africa, Togo, Mozambique, Ghana and Cameroon. Since 2012, the IAU-OAD has awarded nearly EUR 1.4 million to over 200 projects, benefiting thousands of individuals across more than 100 countries. These grants are distributed through an annual call for proposals, open to applicants worldwide. In 2024, the OAD received 119 stage-one applications, of which 45 advanced to stage two, which include the approved plus recommended projects.
The IAU founded the OAD in collaboration with the South African National Research Foundation (NRF), with support from the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). Headquartered at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town, the OAD seeks to advance the use of astronomy, including its practitioners, skills, and infrastructure, as a catalyst for sustainable development.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2025/01/28/iau-oad-to-fund-13-astronomy-for-development-projects-in-2025/
