AGENCE POUR LA SECURITE DE LA NAVIGATION AERIENNE EN AFRIQUE ET A MADAGASCAR

Their core work

ASECNA is the intergovernmental agency responsible for air navigation safety across 18 African and Indian Ocean countries, headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. In H2020, they contributed African airspace operational expertise to European-led projects focused on satellite-based search and rescue (SAR) and global aviation distress tracking. Their role centers on validating and deploying GNSS and MEOSAR technologies in the African aviation context, serving as a critical bridge between European space technology developers and real-world implementation across a vast, underserved airspace region.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ASECNA's H2020 participation spans 2015–2021, a relatively short window with only three projects. Their earliest involvement (MAGNIFIC, 2015) focused broadly on fostering European GNSS adoption in Africa. By 2016–2017, they shifted toward more specific satellite search-and-rescue technologies (MEOSAR, MEOLUT, Return Link Systems in GRICAS) and global aviation distress tracking (GADSS in GRIMASSE). The trend shows a narrowing from general GNSS promotion toward concrete safety and rescue system deployment.

ASECNA is moving from broad GNSS awareness toward operational deployment of satellite-based search-and-rescue and distress tracking systems across African airspace.

How they like to work

ASECNA participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as an end-user and operational authority rather than a research driver. With 15 unique partners across 8 countries in just 3 projects, they join moderately large consortia. They bring irreplaceable value as the organization that controls African airspace operations, making them a must-have partner for any project needing real-world African aviation validation.

ASECNA has worked with 15 distinct partners across 8 countries in their 3 H2020 projects, indicating they join broad, multi-national consortia typical of EU space and aviation programs. Their network bridges European space technology providers with African operational deployment.

What sets them apart

ASECNA is one of very few African intergovernmental bodies participating in H2020, and the only one managing air navigation across 18 countries simultaneously. For any European consortium needing to validate space-based aviation safety technologies in African airspace, ASECNA is effectively the only credible operational partner. Their participation signals real deployment potential beyond European borders.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GRICAS
  Largest funded project (EUR 160,170) — directly targets Galileo MEOSAR Return Link System improvement for civil aviation safety, with specific SAR beacon and ELT technologies.
• GRIMASSE
  Longest-running project (2017–2021) addressing worldwide adoption of GADSS-based rescue solutions — signals ASECNA's role in global safety system rollout beyond Africa.