Future Earth Africa Hub General Assembly Emphasises Africa-led Approach to Sustainability Science

The National Research Foundation (NRF), as the Secretariat of Future Earth Africa Hub, together with the Future Earth Africa Leadership Centre, convened the second Future Earth Africa Hub General Assembly on 2-3 June 2025 at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting brought together the Africa Hub Regional Node Directors and Science Cluster Leads from across the African continent and served as a platform to outline the Future Earth Africa Hub mission, goals, and strategic framework. Central to the discussions were presentations by Regional Nodes and Science Clusters, showcasing their ongoing activities and contributions to regional and continental sustainability agendas.

Participants explored an extensive agenda that included an overview of the Africa Hub’s Leadership Centre and its implementation plans, as well as the roles and visibility of Regional Nodes in engaging with stakeholders. The meeting also addressed the Science Clusters’ planned activities, identifying cross-cutting opportunities for collaboration across regions. The introduction of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework, alongside the Africa Hub’s theory of change, provided a crucial foundation for aligning the Nodes’ action plans with broader organizational goals.

The key takeaways emphasised a transdisciplinary, African-led approach to sustainability science. Research, capacity building, and policy engagement will be guided by research from the sustainability science clusters, including health, climate, water, and governance. The assembly emphasised youth engagement, knowledge co-production, and inter-regional cooperation. Presentations also showcased projects that are underway across Africa delivered by regional clusters. The meeting also acknowledged the governance and funding challenges and stressed the value of linking local knowledge to global goals. The meeting concluded with a focus on strategic planning and implementing MEL and theory of change frameworks to guide impactful and inclusive sustainability research across Africa.