10 -12 March 2026,  South Africa

Theme: Driving Sustainable Development: Innovation Through Technological Transformation

Celebrating Two Decades of African Research Excellence and Youth Empowerment

Download Call for Abstracts HERE

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.

The 20th AYGS Conference will be held in March 2026 in South Africa, known for its rich cultural diversity and growing dynamic economy. 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 recognises 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 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.

Conference Sub-Themes

Submissions should address one or more of the following areas of focus:

1. Innovation and Climate Action
   • Youth-driven solutions for climate resilience, renewable energy, green transitions, and adaptation strategies
2. Inclusive Economic Growth and Employment
   • Innovation ecosystems, digital entrepreneurship, industrial policy, informal sector dynamics, and future of work
3. Youth Empowerment and Education for Development
   • Education reform, youth leadership, digital learning, skills development, and access to opportunity
4. Health and Wellbeing for All
   • Health equity, digital health, pandemics, universal healthcare, nutrition, and mental health
5. Good Governance and Institutional Development
   • Public sector innovation, anti-corruption, decentralisation, civic technology, and democratic accountability
6. Trade, Tariffs, and the New World Order
   • AfCFTA, global trade governance, regional integration, economic diplomacy, and industrial development

These sub-themes align with Africa’s development blueprints and the HSRC’s strategic research priorities.

Who Should Submit?

The 2026 AYGS Conference invites abstract submissions from:

• Master’s and doctoral students currently enrolled at African institutions
• Recent PhD graduates (within the last three years)
• Young professionals with strong research backgrounds in development, social science, economics, climate, governance, or related fields

We particularly encourage participation from Francophone, Lusophone, and North African regions to ensure a diverse and inclusive dialogue.

Submission Guidelines
Interested participants should submit an abstract that reflects strong theoretical grounding, empirical insight, and relevance to the conference theme.

Abstract Format:

• Maximum Length: 300 words
• Keywords: 5
• Author Information: Full name, institutional affiliation, country, and contact email

All submissions should be sent to: [Insert submission email/portal]

Important Dates:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: [07 November 2025]
• Notification of Acceptance: [17 November 2025]
• Full Paper Submission (max 8,000 words): [16 January 2026]
• Conference Dates: 10 – 12 March 2026

Pre-Conference Masterclasses

Shortlisted candidates will participate in a curated series of online masterclasses led by African experts, focused on research methodology, policy impact, and the sub-theme areas. Attendance of at least 80% of the masterclasses is mandatory and is designed to refine research papers and enhance presentation skills.

Participation Requirements:

• Accepted participants must submit a full paper before the conference.
• Participants must commit to attending the in-person conference in South Africa.
• All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review by the Scientific Committee.
• The HSRC will sponsor the travel, accommodation, and subsistence of conference attendees whose papers are submitted and accepted (there will be no cash awards).

Be Part of Africa’s Knowledge Future

The 20th AYGS is not just a time to reflect; it is a call to action. As Africa’s young thinkers, you hold the key to shaping development that is innovative, sustainable, and led by Africa.

We invite you to contribute your voice, your research, and your vision to this landmark event.

For queries and further information, contact: Dr Nomcebo Ubisi by Email at Nubisi@hsrc.ac.za, Tel: at +27 12 302 2285

#AYGS2026 #AfricaRising #InnovationForDevelopment