Poster Call    The Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) invites academic staff, researchers, students, community partners, policymakers, and other stakeholders from AAP and Tanzania Partnership Program (TPP) consortium institutions to submit abstracts for poster presentations at the AAP Annual Meeting 2026. The meeting will be hosted by the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) in Tanzania on September 17–18, 2026.  The poster showcase will provide an opportunity to share research, innovations, partnerships, and community-engaged initiatives that contribute to Africa’s development and align with the meeting theme. Posters will be displayed throughout the meeting, while a dedicated Poster Showcase will take place during the Welcome Reception on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at the UDSM Auditorium.  AAP particularly encourages submissions that showcase collaborative, interdisciplinary, and impact-oriented initiatives that strengthen higher education and transform lives across Africa.  Annual Meeting Theme  Reimagining Higher Education for Africa’s Future: Leadership, Innovation, and Global Partnerships  Priority Research Areas  Agri-food Systems  Water, Energy, and the Environment  Culture and Society  Youth Empowerment  Education  Nutrition and Health  Science, Technology, and Innovation  Gender and inclusion and sustainability are encouraged as cross-cutting dimensions across all submissions.  Eligibility  Abstract submissions are welcome from:  Academic staff and researchers  Undergraduate and graduate students  Community-based organizations  Civil society organizations  Government agencies  Development partners  Private-sector organizations  Other stakeholders affiliated with AAP, TPP, or partner institutions   Collaborative submissions involving multiple institutions, countries, disciplines, or sectors are strongly encouraged.  Submission Guidelines  Authors should submit an abstract (maximum 300 words) containing:  Title of the poster  Author(s) and institutional affiliation(s)  Corresponding authors contact details (email and WhatsApp number)  Background and objectives  Methods, approach, or project description  Key findings, results, or expected outcomes  Relevance to the Annual Meeting theme and priority areas  Language: English  Submission Format: Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) or PDF  Review Criteria  Abstracts will be assessed based on:  Relevance to the Annual Meeting theme Alignment with AAP and TPP priority areas Clarity of objectives, methods, and findings Innovation and potential impact Evidence of collaboration, partnership, or community engagement (where applicable) Poster Presentation Format  Accepted posters will be displayed at the UDSM Auditorium during the two-day meeting. A dedicated Poster Showcase will be held during the Welcome Reception on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m.  A poster template, dimensions, formatting requirements, and AAP branding guidelines will be shared with accepted presenters. Presenters will be expected to:  Prepare and print a poster summarizing their research, project, innovation, or initiative (printing costs will be borne by presenters unless otherwise communicated)  Display their poster for the duration of the meeting  Engage with participants during the Poster Showcase session  Provide a brief oral explanation of their work if requested  At least one author of each accepted poster must register for and attend the Annual Meeting.    Important Dates  Call for abstracts opens: July 1, 2026  Submission deadline: July 27, 2026  Notification of acceptance: July 31, 2026  Poster template and guidelines shared: Aug 3rd, 2026  Annual Meeting: September 17–18, 2026  Benefits of Presenting a Poster  Poster presenters will have the opportunity to:  Share research, innovation, and best practices with an international audience  Receive feedback from experts, peers, and practitioners  Expand professional and research networks  Explore new collaborative opportunities across Africa and globally  Contribute to knowledge generation and impact-driven partnerships  Submission Process  All poster abstracts should be submitted electronically through the Annual Meeting submission portal.    Submission Link: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_79Qa94x9rKw4ksK For inquiries, please contact: Racheal Ddungu Director, AAP Africa Office Email: racheal.ddungu@mak.ac.ug  Additional Information  Please note that the call does not include travel, accommodation, or poster printing support. Any support arrangements, if available, will be communicated separately by the organizers.  By participating in the poster showcase, presenters consent to the photography and dissemination of their poster content for reporting, communication, and promotional purposes, unless otherwise indicated.    Read more

📢 Hosted by the Government of Kenya, the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development is a global gathering shaping the future of ESD through 2030 and beyond.   Organizations across the ESD community are invited to submit proposals by August 31, 2026, to co-organize thematic sessions and contribute to global dialogue on sustainability, equity, climate action and education.   Read more and apply Read more

About the Journal Siyabonana: The Journal of Africana Studies is an open access online peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes original research and creative intellectual work on key issues within the discipline of Africana Studies and across the global African world. Pan-African in scope, the journal publishes research articles, essays, commentaries, institutional reports, book reviews, oral histories/interviews, and other creative work that utilizes African-centered theories, methodologies, and approaches to not only examine critical issues, but to present solutions within all areas of Africana Studies, including the humanities, arts, and sciences. It simultaneously provides intellectual space for discourse about community social justice activist work and liberation struggles on the continent and within African world communities.   The Special Issue Through These Eyes: Views of the African Continent                                                                                                      All photography takes place somewhere, but only some photography makes that place the focal point. “Through These Eyes: Views of the Continent” is a special photojournalism edition of Siyabonana that elicits images and reflective essays regarding photos of the continent of Africa. This special edition of the journal calls for scholarship that uses photography as a medium in conjunction with short personal reflections to document, transform, and expand our imaginings and visualization of the African continent.  By investigating photography’s relation to place, this issue explores photography as a medium and tool for placemaking that shapes our understanding of the physical, social, and cultural landscapes of the continent. We seek to loosen categories such as “photojournalism,” or “snapshot,” in favor of broader considerations about the multiple ways photographs function. The goal of the conversation is to expand histories; explore new methodologies; identify repositories; and build scholarly community. This special edition welcomes proposals from all disciplines with photographs of and reflections on the African world that engage with, but are not limited to, the following themes:  Historical representations of place; Time and temporality in place-based photography; Negotiations of myth, fiction, and reality in place-based photography; Tensions between site-specific, regional, national, and global representations of place; Photographic responses and remediations of places from other media, including film, literature, and video games; Interdisciplinary practices and theories in the study of place-based photography; Ethical considerations and responsibilities of photographing place; Memory, nostalgia, imagery, and place; Place, imagery, and spirituality; Gendered spaces and place; and (Dis)connections between imagery and space.    Special Issue Editor  Dr. Keisha A. Brown is Associate Professor of History at Tennessee State University in the Department of History, Political Science, Geography, and Africana Studies, and serves on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Africana Studies. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame; earned her doctorate from the University of Southern California; in 2018–2019, she served as postdoctoral fellow at the James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference at Emory University; and was a National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Public Intellectual fellow. Dr. Brown is an Asian Studies scholar with a regional focus on East Asia, and specializing in modern Chinese history. Her research centers on Sino-Black relations, and examines networks of difference in China used to understand the “Black foreign other.” In 2020, she co-founded the Black China Caucus, a non-profit organization dedicated to amplifying Black voices in the China space.   Submission Guidelines* For this special issue, the editor is asking for authors to submit a 250- 300 word abstract for initial consideration before submitting a longer work. The abstract should include the tentative title, author(s), affiliation(s), detailed summary of the proposed submission, associated photograph(s), and representative sources. All visuals and photos must be taken by the author or creative; the journal is unable to publish photos that have been published elsewhere or that have a previous copyright. AI generated photographs will not be accepted.  Abstracts are due no later than August 31, 2026, and decisions on acceptance will occur no later than October 15, 2026. The selection criteria will involve relevance to the theme, clarity of the paper, intellectual significance, and originality.  After the editor accepts the abstracts, authors must submit completed work by January 31, 2027. The guidelines for submission include a title page with the submission title; the type of submission (research article, interview, etc.); the author's name(s); affiliation(s); and contact email.  Manuscripts must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document, double spaced, written in Times New Roman, size 12 font, and comply with the most recent edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, APA Publication Manual, or MLA Handbook in terms of format and citation. The final paper submission should not exceed 25 pages via MS word, including notes and citations.    Submission Timeline Abstracts Due: August 31, 2026 Notifications to Authors: October 15, 2026 Completed Articles Due for Initial Review: January 31, 2027 Final Submission Date: May 31, 2027 Special Issue Publication Date: Fall 2027    Abstract Submission: All abstracts and final submissions should be submitted to the special issue editor, Dr. Keisha Brown: keishab241@gmail.com. For inquiries directly to the journal, please contact us at https://www.journalofafricanastudies.com/contact. Contact Email keishab241@gmail.com URL https://www.journalofafricanastudies.com/call-for-papers Read more or reply Repost Read more

How to Be a Global Humanist begins with the tension built into its title. The humanities, as an academic field, emerged through Western histories of learning and the institutions that made those histories legible as scholarship. Yet the practices gathered under that name exceed that narrow genealogy. Across the world, people have made meaning from language and image. They have preserved the past, taught inherited forms of wisdom, and argued over what human life is for. Such work does not need the construct of “the humanities” to authorize it. The better question is what the category reveals about the traditions it encounters, and what it renders difficult to see. This volume thus asks how humanistic inquiry can be approached globally without allowing the familiar language of the humanities to flatten the intellectual worlds it seeks to understand. This volume seeks proposals from scholars working in disciplines traditionally understood as humanistic. It aims to probe the promise and difficulty of calling the humanities global. Essays may address any aspect of the question, from the theoretical—what does the category of the humanities make possible? what does it distort? how have different intellectual traditions understood humanistic inquiry?—to the practical—where is humanistic work done, and under what conditions? how do language, access, and institutional form shape what becomes visible as humanistic inquiry? how can humanists build more globally inclusive forms of teaching, publication, translation, and scholarly exchange? Essays may take a historical or contemporary perspective; comparativist approaches are especially welcome when they put pressure on the category of the humanities itself. Essays should be approximately 4,500 words. Please send proposals of 200–300 words, along with a brief bio, to the volume editors at editors Hayley Cotter (hcotter@umass.edu) and Tracey Miller-Tomlinson (tomlin@nmsu.edu) by September 30, 2026. Contributors will be notified of decisions by October 31, 2026. Accepted contributions will be due by March 31, 2027. Contact Information Hayley Cotter Contact Email hcotter@umass.edu Read more or reply Repost Read more

Subject Fields African History / Studies, Architecture and Architectural History, Colonial and Post-Colonial History / Studies, Cultural History / Studies, Urban Design and Planning We invite colleagues from around the world to submit paper abstracts for participation in a workshop exploring development housing from a fresh, interdisciplinary perspective: Workshop – Homes for the Future? Housing and International Development Date: Friday 16 October 2026 Location: Utrecht University, The Netherlands In 2015 the UN laid out seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, including the goal to ‘make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’.[1] Eleven years on, these goals seem increasingly unattainable. Drastic cuts by Western governments to international relief funding, a global housing crisis, and the systematic destruction of housing in war zones have put both development aid and housing back on the agenda.[2] What, if anything, can we learn from the past? Development housing – from ‘model villages’ to disaster relief housing – has a long and multifaceted history.[3] UN Housing Missions, such as the 1954 Gold Coast (Ghana) mission, are key moments in this history, but it is also worth taking a broader temporal and geographical view of ‘development’, or ‘humanitarian’ housing.[4] Housing projects in the Global South were not just part of the postwar agenda of the United Nations (UN-HTCP) and the World Bank, but also of other agents in earlier decades such as colonial officers, missionaries, and indigenous elites. Moreover, housing was, and is, more than simply an economic measure or an experiment in architecture and city planning. It was a socio-cultural phenomenon that had far-reaching motivations and influences. Housing projects affected lives and livelihoods, ways of living and homemaking, touching on fundamental questions of belonging and societal marginalization.  In this workshop, we aim to take a fresh, interdisciplinary look at development housing, linking histories of the built environment with legacies of global ‘development’ as well as studies of (the) home and migration.  What should we consider to be ‘development housing’? How far can we stretch the temporal parameters for this concept to still be useful? Are there other concepts that might be better suited? Looking at this issue from the perspective of the Global South, what impact did some of these development initiatives have on local politics, social structures and everyday life? To what extent was ‘development’ housing an import from the West, or a concept shaped by local actors themselves?  And finally, to what extent can dwellings constructed as part of these development initiatives be considered ‘homes’? How were they made into ‘homes’ and by whom? And what sorts of legacies have they left behind?  We thus have three main aims with this workshop: To map the global scope of development housing schemes and become better aware of geographical breadth. We see this as a first step toward a broader genealogy of development and/or humanitarian housing. To better understand their legacies, not just in Western architectural history, but also in local environments. We thus aim to gauge the extent to which such projects were impactful, transformative, and/or meaningful to those involved in their realization and habitation. To rethink the resulting physical structures through the experiences of their inhabitants, thus linking the realms of politics and architecture with social and cultural histories of everyday life. We welcome contributions that resonate with these aims. These may include, but are not limited to: Small-scale and/or privately funded initiatives Temporary housing as well as more permanent housing projects Moral and normative implications of development housing projects and their reception South/South collaboration and socialist solidarity projects Questions of use, preservation, and the entangled cultural heritage of these buildings Please submit an abstract of ca. 300 words and a short CV by 15 August 2026 to Lourens Crielaard (l.s.crielaard@uu.nl). We welcome contributions from early career researchers. For questions please contact: Lourens Crielaard (l.s.crielaard@uu.nl) or Britta Schilling (b.schilling@uu.nl) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sustainable Development, Goal 11, https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11 [2] See, e.g., the UN World Cities Report 2026: The Global Housing Crisis: Pathways to Action,  https://unhabitat.org/world-cities-report-2026  [3] Kate Stohr, ‘100 Years of Humanitarian Design’, in Design Like You Give a Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises, ed. by Architecture for Humanity (New York: Metropolis Books, 2006), 32-55; Richard Harris and Godwin Arku, ‘Housing and economic development: the evolution of an idea since 1945’, Habitat International 30 (2006): 1007-1017, p2. [4] E.g., Mark Crinson, Modern Architecture and the End of Empire (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2003), 130; Mónica Pacheco, ‘Rehearsing experts and ‘inperts’: crossing transnational housing narratives in West Africa’, Planning Perspectives, 37,5 (2022): 921-948; A Scott Henderson, Housing and the Democratic Ideal: The Life and Thought of Charles Abrams (New York/Chichester: Columbia UP, 2000), 173-192; Tom Avermaete and Charlotte Robinson, ‘Betaalbaar wonen als ontwikkelingshulp/Affordable housing as development aid’, DASH 12/13 (2016): 20-35; see also ABE Journal. Architecture beyond Europe, nos. 21 and 22 (Summer and Winter 2023). Contact Information Lourens Crielaard Contact Email l.s.crielaard@uu.nl Attachments cfpworkshophomes-future.pdf Read more

Scholars are invited to submit abstracts for a collaborative research project exploring the historical dimensions of anti-tourism across different regions and periods. Selected participants will take part in online workshops in Fall 2026, followed by an in-person conference in Berlin in Spring 2027. Selected papers may be considered for an edited volume. Key Dates Abstract submission deadline: August 3, 2026 Online workshop: Late September 2026 Conference: Spring 2027, Berlin, Germany Submission Requirements Abstract (500–750 words, PDF) Current CV Submit to Dr. Kristin Semmens – ksemmens@uvic.ca Dr. Emily Bereskin – emily.bereskin@metropolitanstudies.de More informationhttps://www.tu.berlin/en/kuk/news-details/call-for-papers-histories-of-anti-tourism Read more

Check open Phd Opportunities through this link: https://www.globalsouthopportunities.com/2026/06/27/college-3/?utm_source=RUFORUM+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=437ccb654e-RUFORUM+Weekly+-+Vol.3+No.25_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcfbb8a0b-437ccb654e-346981101&ct=t()&goal=0_1fcfbb8a0b-437ccb654e-346981101&mc_cid=437ccb654e&mc_eid=2397799980#google_vignette Deadline to be reviewed on a fortnightly basis until all positions are filled Read more

The FCDO invites expressions of interest by 10 July 2026 for a grant to support climate-resilient water services in Mozambique. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Published 25 June 2026   Funds: Open Countries: Mozambique Sector: Climate change, Environment, Humanitarian emergencies/disasters and Water and sanitation Eligible organisations: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UK-based non-profit organisations and Organisations based in Low to Middle Income Countries (LMIC) Value of funding: More than £1,000,000 Contents What the fund will achieve Requirements for organisations wishing to apply How to apply Contact The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) invites expressions of interest (EoIs) for an accountable grant under the Resilience and Response Programme’s Climate-Resilient Water component in Mozambique. This funding opportunity is intended to contribute to more resilient, inclusive and sustainable rural water services in Mozambique, with an emphasis on strengthening the enabling conditions required for long-term service delivery in climate-vulnerable and underserved areas. The deadline for submitting EoIs is 4pm UK time on 10 July 2026. What the fund will achieve Poor and vulnerable rural communities in selected climate-vulnerable and underserved rural areas have improved and more reliable access to climate-resilient and sustainable rural water services. This is supported by stronger local and national systems for long-term delivery. Government and sector institutions have strengthened capacity to plan, finance, manage and progressively take over the delivery of resilient and inclusive rural WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) services. Requirements for organisations wishing to apply be a not-for-profit organisation have the ability to enter into an accountable grant arrangement with FCDO have the presence and authority to operate in Mozambique demonstrate experience relevant to WASH service delivery, rural water supply, climate-resilient infrastructure and/or systems strengthening demonstrate the capacity to work effectively with Mozambican government, local institutions, communities and delivery partners How to apply Expression of interest form: Climate-Resilient Water in Mozambique Organisations should email a completed EoI form by 4pm UK time on 10 July 2026 to mauro.magaia@fcdo.gov.uk with the subject line: ‘Expression of interest – R&R Climate Resilient Water in Mozambique – FCDO’. Submissions should be in English, in Word or PDF format. We will not consider EoIs submitted after this time. The FCDO may seek clarification from organisations where necessary. Only organisations that are shortlisted following the EoI stage will be invited to submit a full proposal. An invitation to submit a full proposal does not guarantee award. Contact Mauro.Magaia@fcdo.gov.uk Published 25 June 2026 Contents   Explore the topic International aid and development Read more

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), with support from the Mastercard Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, is launching this Early-Career Research Fellowship program. The initiative will fund up to forty-two (42) early-career researchers to conduct globally competitive research at the host and affiliated institutions of ARUA’s thirteen (13) Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and the twenty-two (22) Africa-Europe Clusters of Excellence (CoREs).  Each fellowship will have a duration of six months, to be undertaken between March 2026 and February 2027. There will be only two commencement dates for the awards: March 2026 and September 2026. Candidates may select their preferred fellowship period as option 1, which runs from March to August 2026. The deadline for application for option 1 is 22nd January 2026. The fellowship period for option 2 is September 2026 to February 2027. The deadline for application for option 2 is 15th July 2026. At least 70% of the fellowships are reserved for female candidates, and applicants must be no older than 35 years at the time of application. Link: https://arua.org/early-career-research-fellowships/?utm_source=RUFORUM+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=437ccb654e-RUFORUM+Weekly+-+Vol.3+No.25_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcfbb8a0b-437ccb654e-346981101&ct=t()&goal=0_1fcfbb8a0b-437ccb654e-346981101&mc_cid=437ccb654e&mc_eid=2397799980  Read more

The Call for Applications for the GROW Fellowship: Gender Responsive Research for Optimized Women-led Breeding Systems is now open. Targeting women breeders in Africa, the GROW Fellowship seeks to contribute to more gender-responsive crop improvement systems by strengthening the leadership pipeline of women professionals working in plant breeding and related fields.  The immersive non-residential Fellowship seeks to accelerate the leadership, visibility, and career advancement of women breeders by strengthening their capacity to lead gender-responsive breeding research, influence scientific and policy agendas, and become recognized leaders driving crop and livestock improvement efforts on the continent.  The Fellowship targets African women breeders who are actively engaged in crop improvement research and development. Participants will be drawn from universities, national agricultural research systems (NARES), the private sector, and other institutions involved in crop breeding.  Who Should Apply?  The Program seeks applications from women professionals who:  Are citizens of any African country;  Hold at least a Master’s degree in plant or livestock breeding and actively engaged and practicing in this field;  Have at least 5 years of experience in crop or livestock improvement research;  Are affiliated with universities, national agricultural research institutions, private companies or other organizations involved in crop improvement;  Are available and committed to participating fully in all Fellowship activities offered over a two-year period;  Are not currently participating in other AWARD Fellowships.  Fellowship Activities  Successful applicants will participate in a series of face-to-face and virtual activities, including:  Leadership and negotiation skills training;  Structured mentoring program;  Knowledge forums and networking opportunities;  Peer learning sessions in a growing network of women professionals in crop improvement and agricultural research.  How to submit your application   Applications must be submitted strictly via this online portal. Apply Here  Applications must be submitted no later than July 24, 2026, at 23:59 East Africa Time (GMT+3).  Applications will NOT be accepted after this deadline.  Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the application guidelines for detailed information on eligibility requirements and the application process.  Download the Application Guidelines Download the Program Brochure  Download the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  The GROW Fellowship is part of the Gender Responsive and Women Led Research and Development Program funded by the Gates Foundation and implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) in partnership with the Gender-Responsive Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation (GREAT), Makerere University, and Cornell University.  Read more

Africa stands at a critical juncture, with unprecedented opportunities driven by its youthful population and the growing demand for sustainable agricultural transformation. The African Union’s Decade for Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills (2025-2034) and the CAADP Kampala Declaration (2026-2035) provide strategic frameworks to harness education, science, and innovation for inclusive development and the realization of Agenda 2063. Building on commitments made during the 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), African universities have pledged to intensify efforts to transform higher education systems and enhance their contribution to development. This includes advancing transformative, digitally enabled education; transitioning toward 4th-generation universities that integrate teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement; leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data science; and strengthening agriculture as a cornerstone for economic growth and resilience. The 22nd RUFORUM AGM will serve as a strategic platform to assess progress, share innovations, and identify actionable pathways for translating research and educational advancements into tangible development outcomes across Africa. RUFORUM, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zambia and member universities, is pleased to announce the call for abstracts for the 22nd RUFORUM AGM. This convening serves as a strategic platform for African universities to assess efforts to produce relevant human capital and science-based solutions to underpin the continent’s development. Dates: 30th November – 4th December 2026. Venue: Livingstone, Zambia. Host Institutions: University of Zambia (UNZA), Copperbelt University (CBU), Mulungushi University (MU), and Kapasa Makasa University. Thematic Areas for Submission Abstracts are invited under the following sub-themes and critical topics: Theme 1: Enhance Africa’s Human capital to drive the continent’s development. Background Africa’s development trajectory is strongly tied to the quality, relevance, and adaptability of its human capital. With over 60% of the population under 25, the continent has a unique demographic advantage that can drive economic transformation if effectively harnessed through education and skills development. However, persistent gaps remain between higher education outputs and labour market demands, particularly in agriculture and related sectors (African Union, 2025). The Decade for Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills in Africa (2025–2034) underscores the need for inclusive, digitally enabled education systems aligned with emerging global trends such as artificial intelligence, data science, and green economies. Universities must therefore transition from traditional knowledge transmission models to more dynamic approaches that foster critical thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Embedding experiential learning, interdisciplinary approaches, and digital competencies into curricula is essential for producing graduates capable of addressing complex development challenges. Strengthening human capital also requires promoting gender equity, youth inclusion, and lifelong learning systems that support continuous upskilling and reskilling (World Bank, 2023). Sub-themes Employment and work transitions. Skilling for the world of work. Strengthening teaching and learning (learner-centered, problem-based, and competence-based learning). Innovations in curriculum review and industry-university apprenticeships.  Theme 2: Building a Resilient and Productive Economy Background Agriculture remains central to Africa’s economic transformation, contributing significantly to employment, food security, and livelihoods. However, the sector faces increasing challenges, including climate change, land degradation, low productivity, and limited value addition. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration (2026–2035) calls for a transition toward resilient, inclusive, and market-oriented agricultural systems capable of sustaining growth and withstanding environmental shocks (African Union, 2026). Achieving this transformation requires strengthening agricultural value chains, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and improving access to markets, finance, and technology. Universities and research institutions play a critical role in generating innovations that enhance productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and support sustainable resource management. Additionally, policy coherence and evidence-based decision-making are essential for creating enabling environments for agribusiness development and rural transformation (FAO, 2022). Sub-themes Resilient agrifood systems and climate-smart solutions. Digital transitions, artificial intelligence, and robotics in agriculture. Policy information and evidence-based investments. Wealth creation for young women, men, and agrarian communities. Theme 3: Harnessing African universities and partner opportunities for mission delivery Background Universities are increasingly recognized as key actors within innovation ecosystems, contributing not only through teaching and research but also through partnerships that drive societal impact. The concept of 4th-generation universities emphasizes the integration of education, research, innovation, and community engagement, alongside strong collaboration with government, industry, and civil society (Etzkowitz & Zhou, 2018). In Africa, such partnerships are essential for overcoming resource constraints and scaling impactful solutions. Strategic collaborations enhance knowledge exchange, facilitate technology transfer, and mobilize resources for research and innovation. Engagement with the private sector supports the commercialization of research outputs, while collaboration with policymakers ensures that scientific evidence informs development strategies. Furthermore, South–South and global partnerships offer valuable opportunities for shared learning and capacity strengthening (OECD, 2021). Sub-themes Translating science into businesses and jobs (business incubation and venture capital). Centers of excellence, leadership, and operational standards. Strategic partnerships for infrastructure development. Resourcing for mission delivery. Theme 4: Capacity Sharing to Train the Next Generation Background The sustainability of Africa’s development depends on its capacity to train and retain a new generation of scientists, innovators, and leaders. Capacity development must extend beyond individual training to include institutional strengthening, regional collaboration, and knowledge-sharing networks. Platforms such as RUFORUM have demonstrated the effectiveness of collaborative training models, including joint degree programmes, staff exchanges, and regional research networks, in building critical mass and enhancing quality (RUFORUM, 2023). Mentorship, mobility programmes, and inclusive training approaches are essential for nurturing talent and fostering innovation among young researchers. Addressing gender disparities and promoting equitable access to opportunities for women and marginalized groups remain critical priorities. At the same time, digital technologies offer new opportunities to scale capacity development through open learning platforms and virtual collaboration (UNESCO, 2024). Sub-themes Digital networks and open science platforms. Joint research and academic mobility programmes. Thematic consortia and regional centers of excellence. Submission Guidelines Format: The scientific sessions will be conducted in a blended manner (face to face and online), and will include both oral and poster presentations. Target audience: Researchers, innovators, students, academia, and private sector leaders. Recognition: Outstanding achievers, including young scientists and agri-preneurs, will be recognized during the event. Abstract Format: The abstract format should be submitted as a Word document. Scientific sessions will be conducted in a blended manner (face-to-face and online) and will include both oral and poster presentations. Abstract text: The abstract should have a maximum of 300 words excluding title, author names, and affiliations) and should include key issues: with objectives, methods, results, and implications of findings. Do not include tables and graphs, and bullet points in the abstract. Target Audience: Researchers, innovators, students, academia, and private sector leaders. Submission Link: Abstracts must be strictly submitted via this link: 2026 Abstracts submission Submission deadline: Please submit your abstract no later than 15th July 2026. (Submissions sent via email will not be accepted. Provide a clear and concise abstract of no more than 300 words (including spaces), excluding the title, authors’ details, and keywords. Please do not include figures or tables. Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit a full paper. Once accepted for the conference, these will be published in either the RUFORUM Working Document Series (https://repository.ruforum.org/), the African Journal of Rural Development (https://afjrdev.org/index.php/jos), or other peer-reviewed journals. All papers will be subjected to peer review and plagiarism checks before publication. You may submit more than one abstract. However, individuals selected for oral presentations will be permitted to give only one. Any additional accepted abstracts from the same presenter will be allocated as posters. Posters must be printed in A0 paper size (Height: 118.9 cm and Width: 84.1 cm). Only vertically oriented (portrait) posters will be accepted. Important Dates: Abstract Submission Deadline: 15th July 2026 Notification of Acceptance: 15th August 2026 Full Paper Deadline for accepted abstracts: 15th September 2026 Enquiries should be submitted to ruforumpapers@ruforum.org with a copy to b.yamungu@ruforum.org;  m.majaliwa@ruforum.org and chewe.nkonde@unza.ac.zm  Read more

RUFORUM is pleased to announce the Postgraduate Webinar Series, a structured online learning and orientation platform designed to strengthen postgraduate training and support across the RUFORUM Network. The series responds to the need for practical, timely, and widely applicable support for postgraduate students as they navigate research, supervision, professional development, and preparation for future contributions to their universities and communities. Specifically, the initiative targets the Master’s and PhD students by strengthening their capacities in safeguarding, research support, digital skills, and agribusiness development. Each session will be delivered online for two hours and facilitated by subject-matter experts. Universities, supervisors, and programme teams are encouraged to share this announcement widely with eligible postgraduate students and support their participation where possible. Learn more about the webinar schedule and register through this link:https://news.ruforum.org/ruforum-postgraduate-support-webinar-series-june-september-2026/?utm_source=RUFORUM+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=437ccb654e-RUFORUM+Weekly+-+Vol.3+No.25_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcfbb8a0b-437ccb654e-346981101&ct=t()&goal=0_1fcfbb8a0b-437ccb654e-346981101&mc_cid=437ccb654e&mc_eid=2397799980 Read more