African Conferences, March 8th - 14th
Event happening all over Africa between the 8th to 14th of March 2026
Africa Young Graduates and Scholars (AYGS) Conference
10th - 12th March 2026 - Siyabuswa, South Africa
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) proudly announces a call for the 2026 Africa Young Graduates and Scholars (AYGS) Conference. The 2026 conference marks an important milestone, its 20th anniversary. For two decades, the AYGS platform has played a pioneering role in shaping Africa’s emerging intellectuals. This annual gathering of master’s students, doctoral candidates, recent PhD graduates, policymakers, and practitioners provides a dynamic space for young African voices to present research addressing Africa’s most pressing development priorities.
Known for its rich cultural diversity and growing dynamic economies, the 20th AYGS conference will be held on 10–12 March 2026 at the University of Mpumalanga (UMP). This milestone conference will be hosted by the HSRC, in partnership with the National Research Foundation (NRF) Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre, the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), and other key academic and policy stakeholders.
The 2026 theme: Driving Sustainable Development: Innovation Through Technological Transformation
Africa stands on the cusp of a profound transformation, one defined by its demographic dividend, youthful energy, and digital ambition. However, despite promising advancements, the continent continues to grapple with multidimensional challenges: growing climate vulnerability, persistent inequalities, youth unemployment, fragmented governance systems, and shifting global power dynamics.
In this context, the 2026 AYGS Conference invites early-career African researchers to reimagine Africa’s future through the lens of technological innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development. The theme emphasises the importance of harnessing scientific evidence, technological capabilities, and youth-led innovations to design African solutions to African problems. It calls for bold thinking, practical insights, and collaborative research that will influence policy, transform systems, and deliver meaningful impact.
This historic AYGS conference seeks to inspire scholars to interrogate Africa’s position in the global knowledge economy and to explore how innovation can serve as a bridge between aspiration and action. In line with Agenda 2063, the conference recognizes Africa’s youth not only as beneficiaries but as architects of development, equipped to shape inclusive and resilient futures.
AYGS matters
Over the years, AYGS has transformed to become more than a conference and is now a community of knowledge builders, change agents, and critical thinkers committed to Africa’s transformation who seek:
- Thought leadership from emerging scholars is shaping the continent’s development discourse
- Peer learning and mentoring between young researchers and senior academics
- Policy influence through dialogue with government and civil society
- Research capacity strengthening via pre-conference training and post-conference engagement
As we commemorate 20 years of AYGS, the 2026 edition will reflect on past progress while charting new frontiers for youth-led scholarship in development.
Inclusive FinTech Forum (IFF)
10th - 12th March 2026 - Kigali, Rwanda
The Inclusive FinTech Forum (IFF) is the global platform that convenes 3,000 leaders, investors & fintechs to participate in impactful dialogues & meetings that will advance policies & regulations, and create meaningful long-term connections & partnerships to advance financial inclusion through fintech for good.
OUR PURPOSE
The Forum brings leaders, investors & fintechs together to participate in impactful dialogues & meetings that will advance policies & regulations as well as create meaningful long-term connections & partnerships to advance financial inclusion through fintech for good.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS FORUM ARE TO:
- Develop stronger alignment among African policymakers, regulators, investors, and tech community.
- Catalyse capital and impact for financial innovation. Highlight success stories and lessons from emerging markets driving global innovation.
- Reflect Rwanda and Singapore’s fast-growing role as FinTech innovation hubs and emerging frontiers for Africa and Asia’s fintech ecosystem development.
SAVCA Private Equity & VC Conference
10th - 11th March 2026 - Cape Town, South Africa
About the Conference
SAVCA is again proud to present its annual Private Equity in Southern Africa Industry Conference, which we have presented since 2008. This conference is a highlight on the industry calendar and a valuable offering by SAVCA to the private equity ecosystem.
Purpose of the Conference
The primary purpose of the conference is to:
- provide a platform for building and solidifying relationships with industry players such as investors, fund managers, regulators, advisors and the media;
- create a compelling business case and showcase the value private equity can offer the Southern African region from an economic and social development perspective; and
- through engaging sessions and compelling content, contribute to the capacity building of industry players.
Target Audience
The target audience of the SAVCA conference includes:
- Representatives from private equity and venture capital fund managers active in South Africa, Southern Africa and other parts of Africa.
- Investors into private equity and venture capital funds.
- Regulators and policy makers.
- Senior-level representatives from service providers to the private equity and venture capital industry (including bankers, lawyers, advisors, consultants).
- Senior-level business representatives seeking funding.
Moment Conference
13th - 15th March 2026 - Lagos, Nigeria
Moment is where the most ambitious creators and brands come together to connect, learn, get inspired, and access opportunities to level up.
6 CONTENT TRACKS
- Content, Media & Storytelling
This track focuses on storytelling formats, distribution strategies, and monetization with content creators, filmmakers, podcasters, and influencers redefining digital media across Africa.
- Creativity, Design & Expression
Explore how designers, musicians, photographers, and visual artists merge aesthetics with technology to inspire the world and turn cultural expression into commerce.
- Knowledge, Learning & Entrepreneurship
This track focuses on coaches, instructors, and thought leaders building scalable education businesses and democratizing knowledge through online communities, courses, and personal brands.
- Gaming, Tech & Innovation
Discover gaming, AI, fintech, and SaaS platforms powering Africa's creator economy—the infrastructure and innovations that enable creators to earn and scale globally.
- Business & Growth
This track focuses on building sustainable businesses, raising funding, and scaling across borders with entrepreneurs, investors, and strategists unlocking Africa's creator economy potential.
- Collaboration, Policy & Governance
Join governments, platforms, and institutions addressing data governance, platform accountability, creative rights, and policies shaping the next decade of Africa's digital economy.
