By Joseph Abuje
The 7th African Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum (ARSTIF) is convening in Kampala, Uganda, from April 7-8, 2025. The annual Forum is a critical event designed to accelerate Africa’s attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs) through strategic and judicial use of science, technology, and innovation.
Hosted by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Technology, and organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and its strategic partners, ARSTIF 2025 will focus on “Driving Job Creation and Economic Growth through Sustainable and Inclusive Science, Technology, and Innovation Solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.” The 2025 Forum, occurring just five years before the 2030 deadline, underscores the urgent need for innovative, sustainable, and scalable solutions to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The Forum will congregate policy makers, industrial and civic leaders and academia for a robust exchange of views and discussions as well as showcase innovative solutions, firms and public services targeting key Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, participants will explore solutions to enhance healthcare for all in Africa (SDG 3), to bridge and achieve gender equality (SDG 5), to stimulate economic growth and job creation (SDG 8) and, technological solutions for marine resource conservation (SDG 14).
Building on previous iterations, ARSTIF 2025 will also provide a platform to map out next steps for the continent in implementing recently adopted strategies and initiatives. These include the Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2034 (STISA 2034), adopted in February 2025, and the Global Digital Compact, adopted in September 2024. Discussions will also advance science diplomacy and partnerships for building an African research area (SDG 17).
The forum will also unveil groundbreaking approaches to transforming STEM education across the continent and delve into the transformative power of digital solutions and artificial intelligence for infrastructure advancement in key sectors like transport.
The Forum will explore policies, technology transfer, and global alliances to accelerate Africa’s development, fostering collaboration and strategic talent channeling. Previous Forums have served as platforms for launching transformative initiatives such as the African Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa, which aims to seed 1 million startups capable of generating $100 billion in revenues, and the Origin Research and Innovation Hubs, a continental platform for problem-solving, scaling startups, and showcasing African innovations.
The African Coalition of Communities Responsive to Climate Change (ACCRCC) welcomes the convening of the 7th African Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum (ARSTIF) as a timely and critical platform to advance the continent’s sustainable development agenda.
Dr Rosalid Nkirote, Executive Director, the ACCRCC said the Coalition emphasizes that for Africa to truly achieve the SDGs and Agenda 2063, the role of grassroots communities must be front and center. “Innovation must not only be top-down; it must be rooted in the lived experiences of local communities who bear the brunt of climate change, unemployment, poor healthcare access, and gender inequality,” said an Dr Nkirote. The Coalition calls for stronger mechanisms to integrate community knowledge systems, local innovations, and inclusive participation into national and continental STI strategies.
ACCRCC further urges ARSTIF 2025 participants to actively engage civil society organizations, community-based groups, and youth innovators in the discussions and follow implementation plans. “We need deliberate efforts to break down policy and technology silos, and to ensure that digital and scientific transformations reflect the realities of the people on the ground—from pastoralists in Turkana to fisherfolk along the Indian Ocean coast,” the spokesperson added. According to ACCRCC, building bridges between formal science and local knowledge will not only accelerate SDG progress but will also foster trust, resilience, and ownership—key ingredients for transformative change across Africa.