07/07/2026
The Future Earth Africa Hub, supported by the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre (administered by the ISER at Rhodes University and Future Africa at University of Pretoria) organized and hosted the 4th Sustainability Research and Innovation Africa 2026 Regional Conference, following another successful 2025 SRI Africa conference in Nairobi.
The SRI Africa 2026 Regional Conference was held in Cape Town from 22–26 June, and marked a major milestone in advancing African-led sustainability solutions. Building on the evolution of past events—from the virtual inception in 2021 to regional expansions in Nairobi and Durban—the 2026 gathering emphasized themes such as green, blue, and land economies, sustainability technologies and AI, climate justice, and knowledge systems. The congress combined science, innovation, skill-building, and networking, with strong engagement from early-career researchers through poster competitions and tech demos. In total, the congress hosted 951 delegates (381 onsite, 570 online), 117 speakers, and 60 sessions, representing 52 countries.
Pre-engagement webinars and side events set the stage, tackling issues like science-policy interfaces, AI for environmental action, ecological balance, and youth agency in climate science. The side events (21–23 June) drew 692 delegates (237 onsite, 455 online) from 50+ countries, across 7 events. Participation was diverse: academia (59%), civil society/NGOs/international (27%), public sector (11%), and private sector (4%). The gender balance was nearly perfect, with 49.8% women (155) and 50.2% men (156).
The conference also convened the Future Earth Africa Hub Assembly, focusing on achievements from Phase 1 and strategic directions for Phase 2.
Key takeaways stressed institutionalizing regional observatories, building Africa’s value chains, and ensuring inclusive innovation ecosystems. Discussions highlighted Africa’s need to strengthen science diplomacy, integrate indigenous knowledge, reform funding systems, and empower youth and women in sustainability leadership.