3rd African International Conference (AIC 2027)

The African International Conference provides a platform for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, government, and innovators to converge and delve into the critical issues shaping the African continent.

The theme of this event is ‘From Vision to Action: Building Institutional Excellence and Global Leadership in Africa'. 

Table of Content

• Summary
• Requirements
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineNovember 30, 2026
• Study LevelTraining
• SponsorUniversity of Bradford
• City to studyBradford
• School to studyUniversity of Bradford
• Course to study

Requirements

University of Bradford invite scholarly contributions that align with the conference theme, African Renaissance: Reclaiming Narratives and Advancing a Shared Future, under the sub-themes:

1. Governance, Institutional Capacity, and Policy Execution

• Strengthening administrative capacity, state regulatory frameworks, and the rule of law across member states.
• Deepening democratic consolidation, conflict resolution, peacebuilding architectures, and public accountability.
• Transitioning from macro-level policy formulation to transparent, measurable execution within public institutions.

 

2. Economic Integration, AfCFTA Implementation, and Sustainable Finance

• Operationalising the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to accelerate regional value addition, industrial capacity, and supply chain resilience.
• Mobilising domestic capital, green financing, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and diaspora investments.
• Developing robust capital markets to support long-term infrastructure and economic sovereignty.

 

3. Digital Sovereignty, Frontier Technologies, and Ethical AI

• Navigating the structural shift from basic digital adoption to regional technology leadership and data sovereignty.
• Establishing regulatory and ethical artificial intelligence (AI) frameworks tailored to African developmental contexts.
• Expanding digital infrastructure for cybersecurity, e-governance, inclusive education, and digital service delivery.

 

4. Climate Resilience, Just Energy Transition, and Natural Resource Governance

• Managing critical mineral supply chains, sustainable mining practices, and green industrialisation.
• Deploying renewable energy technologies, expanding climate-smart agriculture, and enhancing urban conservation models.
• Negotiating equitable international climate finance mechanisms to fund resilience and adaptation initiatives.

 

5. Health Systems, Food Security, and Human Capital

• Operationalising universal healthcare coverage (UHC), disease surveillance, and pandemic preparedness frameworks.
• Building local pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and regional bio-security infrastructure.
• Strengthening food sovereignty, sustainable agricultural systems, and targeted youth capability models to harness the demographic dividend.

 

6. Education for Development: Systems Transformation and Knowledge Production

• Reforming educational curricula to align with emerging developmental realities, technological demands, and global competitiveness.
• Bridging indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) with contemporary scientific research and empirical enquiry.
• Fostering collaborative academic production, research infrastructure, and technical skill development.

 

7. Cultural Diplomacy, Creative Economics, and Sports as Economic Engines

• Commercialising the creative arts, cultural heritage, media, and athletic sectors to drive revenue generation and employment.
• Deploying soft power and cultural diplomacy to strengthen Pan-African solidarity and international negotiation leverage.
• Utilizing sports and creative platforms as catalysts for community integration and social cohesion.

 

8. Evidence-Based Development: Data Science, Monitoring, and Evaluation

• Strengthening statistical infrastructure, empirical data collection, and analytics across state and regional bodies.
• Implementing rigorous monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks to benchmark developmental metrics.
• Enforcing data-driven policymaking to ensure transparency, performance tracking, and public sector accountability.

Application Documents

Conference Methodology and Call to Particpate

The 3rd African International Conference is structured as an operational, outcome-driven forum. The programme will integrate empirical research presentations, high-level policy labs, investment dialogues, and executive case-study reviews designed to yield concrete partnerships and actionable policy roadmaps.

Oral presentations (In-person)

• Presenters will deliver a structured presentation, followed by a dedicated Q&A session with attendees. This format is designed for the comprehensive exploration of research findings.

Poster presentations (In-person)

• Presenters will showcase their research using a printed, A1-sized poster. Poster sessions are designed for dynamic exchanges, involving a 5-minute research overview followed by a 5-minute Q&A period with small groups of rotating attendees. This format encourages speed-style networking.

Abstract submission guidelines

Interested participants are invited to submit an abstract that adheres strictly to the following requirements:

• Individual Abstracts: 250–300 words outlining the research problem, methodology, findings, and policy implications, along with 3–5 keywords and institutional affiliations.
• Panel Proposals: A 500-word overview of the panel topic accompanied by individual abstracts for 3 to 4 contributors.
• Submission Portal: All documents must be formatted in Microsoft Word (.docx) and submitted through the official AIC 2027 conference portal.

Submission content

The abstract must be a maximum of 250 words and address the following five elements within the body text:

1. Background: A brief context setting out the societal or scholarly challenge being addressed.
2. Research Question/Objectives: A clear statement defining the primary aim or research questions of the study.
3. Research Narrative: A summary of the methodology, work completed and projected next steps.
4. Thematic Connection and Impact: Explicitly articulate the connection of the research to the conference theme and/or its potential impact on African society.
5. Accessibility for Non-Specialists: Demonstrate the translation and suitability of the research for a wide, non-specialist audience.

Required information

Please ensure the following details accompany your abstract submission:

• Full Name(s) of Author(s),
• Institutional Affiliation,
• Abstract Title,
• Keywords (Maximum 5).

Early bird registration is £150 till 14 February 2027. The main registration fee is £200.00.

Application Deadline

November 30, 2026

How To Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to University of Bradford on forms.cloud.microsoft to apply

For more information, kindly visit University of Bradford webpage.