The conference programme will feature a diverse range of sessions tailored to stimulate commitment and action, and foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholder including government officials, funding partners, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Sessions will include:
- Plenary Sessions featuring:
- Keynote addresses that provide critical, but inspiring speeches from leading experts in the evidence-to-policy field that either set the tone for the conference, or chart the next steps
- Official addresses from top government officials that inform on government progress against commitments on evidence-to-policy and update on new commitments
- Panel discussions through which leading experts from government, academia, funding agencies, private sector, and civil society, discuss critical issues to provide guidance for accelerating progress
- Parallel Sessions: These will focus on discussing scientific research, innovation, and data in key development sectors (including: wealth creation, infrastructure development (focusing on energy and digital infrastructure), food production, education transformation, and health system improvement).
- Poster Sessions: These sessions will provide a platform for stakeholders to share scientific research, innovations, and data science initiatives implemented or being implemented drive development in Africa in any of the five priority sectors for the conference: wealth creation, infrastructure development, food production, education transformation, and health system improvement.
- Interactive Workshops: Participants will engage in workshops aimed at developing actionable strategies for implementing evidence-informed policies and practices across various sectors.
- Networking Opportunities: The programme will facilitate networking sessions designed to foster connections among participants, encouraging collaborations that extend beyond the conference.
- Side Meetings: The conference will also accommodate organised side sessions where stakeholders can delve into specific topics of interest related to the overarching themes of the conference. These meetings will take place during designated morning and evening slots throughout the event.
The goal of the Evi4Dev Conference is to provide a platform for sustained engagement of key STI and EIP actors requisite for centering STI and EIP practice in Africa’s development efforts. The conference will convene policymakers, STI and EIP experts, funders, and practitioners working in different development fields to deliberate the status of STI and EIP, identify and commit to critical actions needed in order to centre data, evidence, and innovations in Agenda 2063 implementation efforts.