Deadline: August 26, 2025
Apply now to take part in the African Futures Conference 2025. The African Futures Conference is the continent’s premier platform to explore and amplify African-led foresight. In 2025, they invite policymakers, analysts, researchers, young changemakers, and foresight practitioners to engage in two days of bold thinking, rigorous analysis and practical collaboration.
The theme Insight, Imagination, Action reflects their belief that sustainable African futures must be grounded in credible evidence, fueled by visionary creativity and translated into meaningful impact.
This year’s event will include:
- The 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
Call for contributions: share your ideas!
They are seeking proposals 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 modelling
- Share cutting-edge data and modelling 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 space
- 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
Additional: Young Changemakers Competition
They are offering young changemakers (below the age of 35) the opportunity to submit innovative and creative contributions. Submit and share your vision of Africa’s future in 2050.
- Format: 1 500-word written story (Word or PDF) or 3-minute video (MP4)
- Prize: Top 3 winners invited to attend in-person in Pretoria
Eligibility
- Policymakers, researchers, data scientists, civil society leaders, young changemakers, and anyone building Africa’s future through foresight.
Submission Format
- Lightning talk (7min)
- Presentation (15min)
- Workshop (45min)
Application
Submit via the online form by Tuesday, 26 August 2025 with:
- Name, affiliation and contact details
- Preferred format: Lightning talk / Presentation / Hosted workshop / Changemakers submission
- Which pillar(s) does/do your contribution fit: Insight/Imagination/Action
- Title and abstract (max 300 words)
For more information, visit African Futures Conference.
