Windhoek, Namibia, Friday 24 October 2025 — The Secretariat of the Climate Change and Futures in Africa Conference Series 2025 is pleased to announce the upcoming conference to be held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 29 October to 1 November 2025. The conference will be convened under the theme “Risk in Time and Space,” highlighting the variability of disaster risks over time and space.
This year’s edition will place special emphasis on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) an approach that empowers local communities to engage actively in risk assessment, decision-making, and the development of adaptive strategies. By focusing on local knowledge and participation, CBPR offers powerful pathways for addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change and disaster risks.
The Windhoek 2025 Conference will bring together experts in climate change, disaster risk reduction, policymakers, practitioners, and community based participatory research from around the world to share insights, exchange knowledge, and explore innovative solutions. The programme will feature interactive panel discussions, workshops, and breakout sessions designed to encourage dialogue and practical solutions to the complex challenges posed by climate change and disaster risks across disciplines and regions.
Participants will engage with case studies and research findings from Southern Africa and other climate vulnerable regions, offering critical perspectives on the real-world impacts of climate change. More than 100 delegates are expected to attend, representing countries including Namibia, South Africa, Canada, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Algeria, Japan, Greece, and Germany.
The conference aims to strengthen networks and partnerships that transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries, promoting inclusive and forward-looking approaches to disaster risk management. Through collaborative efforts, the 2025 conference seeks to contribute to the development of resilient, adaptive communities capable of navigating the evolving landscape of global climate challenges.
Discussions will explore themes such as risk analysis fundamentals; risk assessment; disaster risk management; Risk perception, communication, and governance; risk mitigation in sectoral policies; monitoring and coping with real risk problems; and risk and ethics.
The event will be officially opened by The Right Honourable Dr Elijah Ngurare, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, alongside The Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Honourable Dino Ballotti.
Distinguished international experts will also deliver keynote presentations, including:
- Prof Ranjan Datta, Mount Royal University, Canada: Indigenous Knowledge in Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention through Development Policies in African Regions
- Dr Olivia Kunguma, University of the Free State, South Africa: Alert and Warning in the Climate Change Era: Reconsidering a Risk Communication Consensus
- Prof Ioannis Pitas, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece: AI and Big Data Analytics for Natural Hazards in Disaster Risk Management
The 3rd edition of the Climate Change and Futures in Africa Conference Series is jointly organised by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) of South Africa in collaboration with the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) of Namibia, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), Santam South Africa, Department of Cooperative Governance, University of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu University, Midlands State University, University of the Free State, Future Earth, and the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), as well as the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Zimbabwe.
For more information visit the conference webpage: https://climatefuturesafrica.hsrc.ac.za/
Click here to view the programme.
Media enquiries and accreditation
South Africa (HSRC)
Adziliwi Nematandani
Cell: +27 82 765 9191
Email: anematandani@hsrc.ac.za
Namibia (NCRST)
Ms Hilya Shikongo
Cell: +264 81 246 1257
Email: hshikongo@ncrst.na
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Notes to the editor
About Climate Change and Futures for Africa Conference Series
Climate change is fraught with contradictions and inconsistencies, particularly in the institutionalisation and dissemination of climate change knowledge, which the Global North predominantly controls. Meanwhile, the Global South bears the brunt of its impacts, with limited resources for mitigation and adaptation and negligible support from the developed nations. Although climate change is slowly beginning to affect and change societies in the Global North, its impacts are still predominantly felt in the global periphery.
The challenge lies in approaching it as a global problem that interconnects regions while acknowledging the substantial inequalities in its socioeconomic reality and overall social impact, which follow a well-established global geopolitical order.
Despite being much discussed within the social sciences, there is still a lack of systematic focus on the consequences of global (anthropogenic) climate change for the Global South, particularly for the region of southern Africa. These societies are especially vulnerable to ecological system transformations due to their more fragile infrastructure, higher poverty rates, and ecological conditions. They face disasters related to climate change more intensely and frequently than other regions.
The Windhoek, Namibia 2025 conference focuses on the theme “Risk in Time and Space,” highlighting the variability of disaster risks over time and space as one of the most challenging elements. All types of risks, whether socio-natural, technological, or climate-induced, are dependent on time and space, regardless of their origin.
The conference will bring together expert presentations by leading specialists in climate change, disaster risk reduction, and community-based participatory research (CBPR) will present cutting-edge trends and advancements in the field as well as:
- Renowned experts in climate change, disaster risk reduction, engaged research, and community-based participatory research (CBPR) will share insights on the latest trends and developments.
- Panel Discussions: Panels will feature diverse voices from academia, government, and community organizations to discuss specific challenges and opportunities in engaged research.
- Interactive Workshops: Participants will have opportunities to learn practical skills, tools, and methodologies for engaged research, GIS, policy brief writing, and access to the HSRC’s Data Repository through eResearch Knowledge Centre (eRKC).
- Case Study Showcases: Selected projects demonstrating significant climate change and disaster risk impact through engaged research will be presented.
- Networking Sessions: Facilitated networking sessions will allow participants to connect and explore potential collaborations
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.
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About the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST)
The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) is a public enterprise established under the Research, Science and Technology Act, 2004 (Act No. 23 of 2004) and governed by the Public Enterprises Governance Act, 2019 (Act No. 1 of 2019). Our mandate is to promote, coordinate, implement, and develop research, science, technology, and innovation (RSTI) as key drivers of Namibia’s socio-economic transformation.
NCRST is further responsible for determining national research priorities and developing the National Programme on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as funding research, science, and technology under the National Research, Science and Technology Fund (NRSTF). In addition to science, technology, and innovation programmes, NCRST also registers research institutes and provides a regulatory function for research and biosafety under the Biosafety Act of 2006. NCRST established and oversees thematic councils such as the Biosafety Council, the National Space Science Council, and the National Indigenous Knowledge Systems Council.
Website: https://www.ncrst.na/
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