The Survey on PNT Infrastructure and Technologies in Africa, commissioned by the African Union Commission (AUC), was conducted to assess the continent’s capabilities and gaps in PNT services. This initiative is part of the broader objectives of the Satellite Navigation Africa Support Programme IV, implemented through the SATNAV Africa Joint Programme Office (JPO). The programme’s key goal is to support the operationalisation of the African Space Agency by strengthening Africa’s GNSS and PNT ecosystem through targeted assessments, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning.

Prerequisites:

• Institutional & political interest and support for utilising PNT technologies for services 

• Understand national 

policies and identify national policies that utilise PNT data

• Identify and build relationships with relevant ministries, local companies, and other stakeholders to gather comprehensive data on existing PNT usage in the nation

• Inter-ministerial working group

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 10k–20k

• Includes: literature review, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validation

Note: A complete study would range from USD 50k-250k and include multiple activities such as determining the relevance of the domain, identification of existing data sources, developing use cases, and a capability maturity assessment) 

Timeframe:

• Overall: 6–12 mo

• Phase: scoping (1–2 mo), consultation (2–4 mo), drafting (2–4 mo), validation (1–2 mo)

Pros:

• Resource Efficiency - Allows to leverage current resources more effectively, reducing waste and maximizing utility.

• Cost Effectiveness - Avoids duplication of efforts and investments, reducing unnecessary expenditures and maximizing the value of urgent assets.

Considerations:

• Stakeholder Alignment - Aligning multiple stakeholders with diverse interests can be complex and time-consuming, potentially slowing down progress.