Kempton Park, Friday, 20 February 2026 — The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) is thrilled to announce the return of the Africa Unity for Renaissance Conference (AURC) on 24 February 2026, after a six-year break. This year’s conference will focus on “Harnessing Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development in Africa.”
Taking place at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Johannesburg, the conference aims to explore the potential of digital technology and AI to drive sustainable development, economic growth, and peace and security in Africa.
According to the conference’s convener, HSRC’s Prof Check Achu, the choice of theme for the conference is both imperative and timely. The theme is topical because the transformational technological advancements, as experienced in Africa over the past decade, have been astonishing and overwhelming.
“With Africa standing at a pivotal juncture, the convergence of digital technology and AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate development and bypass traditional linear stages of economic growth.
“We are excited to relaunch the AURC with a renewed focus on repositioning the conference as a premier platform for celebrating Africa and shaping the continent’s development agenda,” said Prof Achu.
The opening plenary will include keynote addresses by a distinguished panel of speakers, including Prof Hilary Inyang, Professor of System Thinking at the Global Institute for Sustainable Development,
Advanced Analyses and Design (GISDAAD), Concord, NC, USA, Mr. Daan Du Toit, Deputy Director General at DSTI; and Prof Sarah Mosoetsa, CEO of the HSRC.
The conference will also feature carefully selected presenters and panel discussions around six sub-themes, including:
- Digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and Agenda 2063
- Infrastructure gaps and connectivity challenges
- Institutions, Governance, and Policy Landscape
- Digital transformation, artificial intelligence for peace and security
- Digital technology and artificial intelligence for Sustainable Development Goals
- Digital technology, artificial intelligence, and the future of work
The last AURC was held in 2019. During the past six years of its pause, the HSRC has reflected and has decided to re-strategise on the purpose and rationale of the continuous holding of the conference.
Taking into account the new HSRC research agenda 2025–2030, the new approach aims to reposition the AURC as the main port of reference for celebrating Africa in South Africa and looking at new pathways for science diplomacy and crafting a new developmental agenda for Africa.
The new AURC would equally aim to set the African agenda for other South African government departments. Primary to the repositioning of the AURC will be a fresh look at the concept of African renaissance as espoused by President Thabo Mbeki.
The revamped AURC will take the debate to the people by initiating conversations, the outcomes of which can feed the policy framework of decision makers.
The conference aims to provide a platform for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to engage with policies from an African Union perspective, contributing to policy evaluation, recommendations, and learning.
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For media enquiries, please contact Adziliwi Nematandani: Cell: +27 82 765 9191 Email: anematandani@hsrc.ac.za
Notes to the editor
About the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.
Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.
The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. Its research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.