PLENARY: Catalyzing Change: Innovation and Financing for Africa’s Sustainability Agenda

Context

Africa faces unique sustainability challenges, including climate change, food insecurity, and energy transitions. To address these, the continent is increasingly leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as powerful tools for advancing sustainable development. Initiatives such as the STI for SDGs Roadmaps have been tailored to specific countries, focusing on climate resilience, renewable energy, and food systems transformation.

The sustainability science approach emphasizes interdisciplinary research, stronger science-policy interfaces, and collaboration across diverse stakeholders. These efforts align with global agendas like the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa’s Agenda 2063, aiming to foster inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development.

This plenary will place a deep focus on innovation and financing—exploring how Africa can harness cutting-edge technologies, diverse knowledge systems, and new investment models to scale sustainability science. It will highlight opportunities for African institutions, governments, and private sector actors to co-create pathways that not only address pressing challenges but also unlock long-term prosperity.

Key Questions

• How can Africa leverage the diverse knowledge systems alongside modern innovations to advance sustainability science?
• What investment models—public, private, blended finance, or philanthropy—are most effective in scaling sustainability initiatives across diverse African contexts?
• What untapped opportunities exist for African innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs to drive sustainability breakthroughs?
• How can collaboration among African institutions and across disciplines generate impactful sustainability solutions?
• How can African sustainability science initiatives align with and influence global frameworks such as the SDGs and Agenda 2063?

Plenary Format

• Keynote Address (10–15 minutes): Frames sustainability science as both a research and investment frontier, showcasing Africa’s potential to lead globally.
• Panel Discussion: Exploring diverse perspectives from policymakers, scientists, and institutional leaders.