Win a Chance to Present at the African Futures Conference

Deadline: Aug 26, 2025

other

unfunded

Africa

To Apply

Please visit the application link below to apply.

Opportunity Overview

The African Futures Conference is the continent's premier platform to explore and amplify African-led foresight. In 2025, policymakers, analysts, researchers, young changemakers, and foresight practitioners are invited to engage in two days of bold thinking, rigorous analysis, and practical collaboration.

📝 About the Opportunity

Opportunity Details

Date Published: August 15, 2025
Application Deadline: August 26, 2025
Category: Contest
Opportunity Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Eligible Locations: Africa

Theme

The theme, Insight, Imagination, Action, reflects the belief that sustainable African futures must be grounded in credible evidence, fueled by visionary creativity, and translated into meaningful impact.

Event Highlights

This year’s event will include:

Launch of the Africa 2043 Futures Report
Exciting speakers from across the continent
Curated sessions on Africa’s future
A hands-on rotating Futures Lab
Young changemakers competition

🎯 Conference Objectives

The conference aims to strengthen African foresight and long-term planning capacity by showcasing:

Practical examples
Innovative tools
Inclusive narratives bridging the gap between quantitative and qualitative methods

It will highlight how strategic insight can lead to real-world impact by showcasing tools, stories, and partnerships that translate ideas into action. Additionally, the event will elevate the voices of African changemakers and explore strategies to connect researchers and policymakers for greater influence on decision-making.

This year's conference will also mark the beginning of developing the African Futures Network (AFN) of trusted collaborators.

📢 Call for Contributions

Proposals are sought for talks, sessions, creative showcases, or tools that fit within one or more of the three conference pillars:

1. Insight: Grounding African futures in evidence and analysis

Explore emerging development trends using data and modeling
Share cutting-edge data and modeling that inform long-term African development
Reflect on the use and limitations of African data for foresight
Explore innovations in strategic planning and quantitative forecasting

2. Imagination: Envisioning futures through creative storytelling

Share projects or campaigns that inspire new narratives about Africa’s future
Showcase participatory scenario-building or public imagination exercises
Explore how storytelling drives change
Link imaginative foresight to real-world values and aspirations

3. Action: Embedding foresight in policy, governance, and practice

Share lessons from applying foresight in African governance or policy spaces
Highlight real-world foresight applications in national plans or reforms
Explore lessons from failed/stalled foresight initiatives
Offer practical tools or institutional pathways for long-term integration

🌟 Young Changemakers Competition

Young changemakers (below the age of 35) are invited to submit innovative and creative contributions. Share your vision of Africa’s future in 2050.

Format

Written story: 1,500 words (Word or PDF)
Video: 3-minute MP4

Prize

Top 3 winners will be invited to attend the conference in-person in Pretoria.

📅 Key Dates

Deadline for submissions: August 26, 2025
Notification of acceptance: September 10, 2025
Conference dates: October 21–22, 2025

🏆 Benefits

Top 3 winners will be invited to attend the conference in-person in Pretoria.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

This opportunity is open to:

Policymakers
Researchers
Data scientists
Civil society leaders
Young changemakers
Anyone building Africa’s future through foresight

📤 Application Process

Submit your application via the online form by Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Include the following:

Name, affiliation, and contact details
Preferred format: Lightning talk / Presentation / Hosted workshop / Changemakers submission
Which pillar(s) your contribution fits: Insight / Imagination / Action
Title and abstract (max 300 words)

📜 Submission Formats

Lightning talk: 7 minutes
Presentation: 15 minutes
Workshop: 45 minutes

🌐 Contact Information

For more details, visit the official event page.

Apply now via the application form.

Benefits

Top 3 winners invited to attend in-person in Pretoria

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