Pretoria will host something that has never existed before: a continental gathering dedicated entirely to science diplomacy. The inaugural Africa Science Diplomacy Conference is scheduled for November 30 through December 1, 2026, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, scientists, researchers, industry leaders and international partners to examine how science can strengthen cooperation across Africa and address shared global challenges.
The conference is co-hosted by the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation through the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa initiative, known as SDCfA. Its placement on the calendar is deliberate. By running immediately before Science Forum South Africa 2026, which opens December 2 and runs through December 4, the two events create an extended week of engagement on science, technology and innovation in the South African capital.
Additional reference context is available at https://panafricanvisions.com/2026/08/south-africa-to-host-inaugural-africa-science-diplomacy-conference/.
That back-to-back scheduling matters for participants. Rather than a single day of conversations, attendees gain nearly a week to build connections with leading voices from across Africa and internationally, moving between two distinct but complementary platforms.
The conference team has opened a call for contributions across multiple formats. Organizers welcome proposals for sessions, panel discussions, workshops and other interactive formats that showcase innovative ideas, research findings, policy perspectives, practical experiences and collaborative approaches. The invitation is deliberately broad, extending to individuals and organizations from government, academia, research institutions, civil society, industry and international organizations. The goal is to let diverse voices shape the agenda from the outset, rather than arriving at a program already fixed.
Seven strategic themes guide the call for proposals. These cover the relationship between science diplomacy and international cooperation; how multilateralism can be strengthened through science; the role of science diplomacy in supporting STISA 2034, Africa’s continental science, technology and innovation strategy; global partnerships with Africa; innovation driven by science diplomacy; agenda setting and emerging priorities in the field; and future strategies for science diplomacy in Africa and globally. The range reflects an intention to address both established frameworks and the questions that have not yet found settled answers.
By hosting this inaugural gathering under the SDCfA banner, South Africa positions itself as a convening space for continental dialogue on how scientific engagement can advance diplomatic objectives and tackle transnational challenges. Whether that convening role translates into lasting institutional momentum, or remains a promising first edition, is the question the November gathering will begin to answer.