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Conference Retrospective · Held Sep 8 - 10, 2026 · Nairobi, Kenya

The Culture of Science Conference 2026

A flagship Pan-African convening that repositioned science as a cultural, political, and economic force shaping Africa's next decade.

Delegates 150+ Delegates
Convened By CHReaD
Continental Initiative · Nairobi 2026

Culture of Science
Shaping Africa’s Future through Science

Convened from 8 to 10 September 2026 in Nairobi, the Culture of Science Conference brought together policymakers, researchers, financiers, regulators, innovators, educators, media practitioners, and civil society actors from across the continent. Rather than resting on aspirational frameworks, the initiative bridges the persistent gap between commitments and delivery - establishing Africa’s ownership of its scientific destiny through research sovereignty, local pharmaceutical production, ring-fenced domestic R&D funding, and public trust.

Convened in Strategic Partnership
CHReaD Logo
Convener
Speak Up Africa Logo
Co-Convener & Main Sponsor
AHRIDA Logo
Co-Convening Partner
Faith to Action Network Logo
Co-Convening Partner
Official Publications

Key Conference Outputs

Access and download the definitive frameworks issued at the close of the Culture of Science Conference 2026, establishing measurable benchmarks for Africa’s health and science ecosystem.

Continental Framework

The Culture of Science Action Agenda 2026 to 2030

A five-year framework connecting scientific knowledge to public priorities, domestic investment, and institutional accountability across six transformative Action Paths. Establishes roadmaps leading to the 2028 mid-term review and 2030 targets.

PDF Document 2026 - 2030 Framework 6 Action Paths
Official Communiqué

Culture of Science Conference Communiqué

Issued in Nairobi on 10 September 2026 by Chair Mary Muia on behalf of the CHReaD Steering Committee. Outlines urgent continental calls for ring-fenced domestic R&D budgets, AMA regulatory harmonization, and 50% pharmaceutical self-reliance.

PDF Document Nairobi Declaration Steering Committee
Strategic Architecture

The Six Action Paths

The Action Agenda establishes six core operational pathways designed to close the gap between Africa’s high-level science policies and measurable community-level delivery.

PATH 01

Learning, Knowledge & Scientific Talent

Advocating for institutional investment in research data infrastructure, STEM education, and sustainable talent pipelines aligned with national and regional health priorities.

2030 Ambition
African science systems retain, develop, and deploy the talent they train.
PATH 02

Health & Wellbeing

Closing the last-mile delivery gap to ensure existing health technologies reach communities, connecting traditional, community, and formal systems through a unified One Health approach.

2030 Ambition
Research and innovation reach the people who need them, not only the policies that cite them.
PATH 03

Food, Environment & Livelihoods

Aligning agricultural, nutritional, and ecological research with the everyday realities of smallholder farmers and food producers, investing in resilient climate-smart systems.

2030 Ambition
Science contributes directly and visibly to resilient food systems and livelihoods.
PATH 04

Innovation, Enterprise & Production

Overcoming health commodity import dependency by mobilizing innovation guarantee facilities and regulatory frameworks that allow African manufacturers to reach regional markets.

2030 Ambition
African innovations are developed, produced, and adopted at scale on the continent.
PATH 05

Culture, Media & Public Trust

Building strong partnerships between scientists and African journalists, embedding science in public discourse, and strengthening public trust in health technologies and vaccines.

2030 Ambition
Science is consistently represented, understood, and trusted in African public life.
PATH 06

Governance, Financing & Accountability

Replacing donor dependency with domestic public and private financing, ring-fencing national R&D budget lines, and coordinating transparent progress tracking towards 2030.

2030 Ambition
African science systems carry domestic financing and clear institutional ownership.

Shape the Action Agenda Roadmap

The consultation remains open for all organizations and individuals across Africa to submit their institutional perspectives.

Contribute to the Consultation
Featured Collaborator

Africa Voices of Science (AVOS)

Africa Voices of Science (AVOS) is a continental initiative launched by Speak Up Africa to amplify the leadership, research, and voices of African scientists in global health policy and innovation. At the Culture of Science Conference 2026, the Africa Voices of Science Forum brought together early-career researchers, science journalists, health advocates, and digital creators to break down silos between laboratories and communities.

  • Science Communication: Equipping scientists to convey findings without jargon.
  • Countering Misinformation: Grounding public trust in vaccines and clinical trials.
  • Youth & Women Leadership: Amplifying next-generation voices across continental science.
AVOS Session AVOS Storytelling Workshop Young Researchers Dialogue
CoS 2026 · Milestones

Culture of Science Key Moments

Five milestone moments from June through September 2026.

All Events
Jun - Jul 2026

Maliza Dose Campaign

Student-led advocacy on AMR awareness and safe drug disposal across communities.

August 2026

Action Agenda Opens

Submissions open for Africa's 3-Year Health R&D Priorities, all stakeholders invited.

7 Sep 2026

Pre-Conference Summit

Preparatory convening aligning policymakers and researchers before the main event.

8 - 10 Sep 2026

CoS Conference

Three engagement zones and plenary sessions defining Africa's health science decade.

9 Sep 2026

Minds & Mixers

A networking and social evening for participants to connect and unwind, with a live band and entertainment.

The Science Action Agenda

Africa's 3 Year Health R&D Priorities

CHReaD's Science Action Agenda is a collective declaration co-created with researchers, academia advocates, and policymakers of what Africa must do, fund, and build between 2026 and 2029.

Why a Science Action Agenda?

Africa accounts for 24% of the global disease burden but less than 1% of global health R&D investment. The Science Action Agenda names the specific structural changes, funding, capacity, access, that will shift this within three years.

How to Contribute

Coalition members can shape the agenda directly. Submit priorities, endorse existing ones, or join a working group as the Culture of Science Action Agenda moves into delivery.

Contribute to the Agenda
Continental Coalition

Join the Culture of Science Network

No single institution builds a Culture of Science alone. Governments, universities, researchers, innovators, financiers, and civil society each carry a vital role in transforming commitments into measurable outcomes by 2030.

By joining the Network, your institution participates in the formulation of the Culture of Science Action Agenda Roadmap, receives annual progress monitoring reports, and takes part in the 2028 Mid-Term Review and 2030 Final Review.

  • Institutional Sign-on: Endorse the Action Paths relevant to your organization's mandate.
  • Roadmap Participation: Define specific measurable actions, targets, and indicators.
  • Cross-Sector Collaboration: Connect with regional networks, funders, and research consortiums.
Direct Inquiries & Secretariat Contact:

Network Membership & Inquiry

Complete this form to connect with the CHReaD Secretariat and express your institution’s interest.

In Collaboration With

Conference Partners

Conference Partner 1
Conference Partner 2
Conference Partner 3
Conference Partner 4
Conference Partner 5
BioLinx Africa
Faith to Action Network
Stop TB Partnership Kenya
SAHTAC
Zihi Institute
ACHCGA

Culture of Science 2026
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Culture of Science 2026

8–10 Sep · Nairobi, Kenya

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