By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) and the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organisations.
The MoU was signed by the Acting Director-General of KSA, Col. Hillary Kipkosgey and the Director-General of NMK, Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia. In addition, both institutions were represented in the signing ceremony by their respective senior staff on Tuesday.
The goal of the MoU is to establish a collaborative framework for KSA and NMK to partner in promoting space education and awareness through joint programmes such as the establishment of a planetarium, collaborate in the mapping and digitisation of biodiversity and historical sites in Kenya, as well as ecosystem and environmental monitoring.
KSA’s mandate is to coordinate and regulate space-related activities and promote the utilisation of space-derived data to support decision making in the country. Furthermore, the National Museums of Kenya is a multi-disciplinary state corporation whose role is to collect, preserve, study, document and present Kenya’s past and present cultural and natural heritage to enhance knowledge sharing across Kenya. In addition, the NMK focuses on the sustainable utilisation of these resources to benefit Kenya and the world. NMK depends quite extensively on satellite imagery and related space technologies in their work and hence the need to establish linkages with KSA.
The key aim of the MoU is to facilitate data and information sharing in areas of common interest, optimise cost-effectiveness in the use of institutional resources by minimising duplication in research and public education and enhancing inter-institutional expertise engagement in projects/initiatives of common interests.
Additionally, a Project Management Team (PMT) will administer the MoU and determine the mechanism of reviewing and evaluating the implementation status of the MoU, identify and coordinate the activities of both institutions for joint project identification and monitor implementation of agreed project and activities.
Source: African news
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