Who We Are
African Women in Space is a not-for-profit foundation advancing women's leadership across Africa's space and geospatial sector.
Built for the pipeline into leadership
AWIS is a Kenya-registered not-for-profit foundation (Companies Act 2015) advancing women's leadership in Africa's space and geospatial sector.
We work across the full value chain — from upstream satellite manufacturing, launch and ground infrastructure to downstream Earth observation, geospatial analytics and data services — to make sure the women entering this industry don't just stay in it, but lead it.
An Africa where women lead, innovate and shape the future of the global space and geospatial sector.
To inspire, prepare and accelerate African women into leadership, entrepreneurship and decision-making across the space and geospatial ecosystem through education, capacity development, partnerships, innovation and advocacy.
Build a sustainable pipeline of African women participating in and leading the space and geospatial sector — from education through professional advancement, entrepreneurship and continental leadership.
The gap between talent and leadership
Africa's space economy is one of the fastest-growing in the world, and women are among the most qualified anywhere to lead it — yet a widening gap separates that talent pipeline from leadership, funding and decision-making. The pattern holds across the value chain — from upstream manufacturing, launch and ground infrastructure to downstream Earth observation, geospatial analytics and data services: women enter in strong numbers, then disappear from decision-making, funding and technical leadership roles. AWIS closes the pipeline-into-leadership gap, not the pipeline-into-the-sector gap.
Our core values
A continental ecosystem, not a single office
AWIS operates through a Foundation, National Chapters and University Chapters — each with a distinct role in building the pipeline into leadership.
AWIS Foundation
Fellowships, the entrepreneurship accelerator, the AWIS Awards, research and policy, and continental leadership and partnerships.
National Chapters
Implement AWIS programmes locally: school outreach, university chapters, career talks, national networking, and country-specific mentorship and partnerships.
University Chapters
Sit under national chapters and are run by a Chapter President, VP/Program Lead, Secretary and Outreach Team Lead.
Women in Space Kenya (WiSK)
School outreach, university chapters, career talks, national networking, Kenya-specific mentorship and partnerships.