IST-Africa

IST-Africa is one of the most established and prestigious ICT4D / Digital Development International Conference communities, showcasing technology-enabled Research, Innovation and  ICT4D activities and capacity in Africa,  Europe and other parts of the world.

The IST-Africa conference series is a flagship activity of the not-for-profit policy and research IST-Africa Institute. 

Hosted by IST-Africa Partner Countries since 2006, the annual IST-Africa Conference showcases international cooperation and African Information Society, Digital Development, ICT and Innovation Adoption, Policy and Research Capacity Developments and Success Stories.

IST-Africa is a unique community that brings together cross-disciplinary stakeholders from government, industry, education and research and societal sector with end user communities to share knowledge and results from research and innovation as well as implementation projects, exchange ideas and good practices, and identify community needs requirements and opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration.

IST-Africa showcases impactful programs and project results aligned with supporting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides a world-class international forum to showcase existing technology-enabled Research, Innovation and ICT4D activities and capacity in Africa, Europe and other parts of the world. It raises awareness of the appropriate use of technology in the context of Digital Development in low-resource settings, and traditionally underserved communities.

IST-Africa 2025

Hosted by the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Education (State Department for Higher Education and Research) and National Research Fund and Supported by the European Commission (EC) and African Union Commission (AUC), IST-Africa 2025 is the twentieth in an annual series of Ministerial Level Technology Research Conferences. IST-Africa 2025 will take place as an in person event in Nairobi, Kenya in May 2025.

The Scientific Programme for IST-Africa 2025 is based on a double blind peer review of Papers submitted to an open Call for Papers which closed on 31 October 2024.

Core thematic areas include: 

• Technology-enabled Healthcare (mHealth /eHealth);
• Technology-enhanced Learning and eSkills
• Technology-enabled Agriculture (mAgriculture /eAgriculture) & Environmental Sustainability
• Energy - ICT for Power Delivery, Micro-grids
• eInfrastructures and NRENs (National Research and Education Networks)
• Next Generation Computing: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Future Internet, Internet of Things (IoT)
• eGovernment and Public Service Delivery
• Content Technologies including Languages; Digital Preservation
• Cyber Security, Privacy and Trust
• Collaborative Open Innovation and Technology-enabled Entrepreneurship (including Social Entrepreneurship)
• Global Development (including ICT4D)
• Societal Implications of Technology

IST-Africa Conferences have been hosted by the Government of

• South Africa – Department of Science and Technology (10 – 14 May 2021, 16 – 20 May 2022, Virtual; 31 May – 02 June 2023 Tshwane)
• Uganda - Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (18 – 22 May 2020, Virtual)
• Kenya – Ministry of Education (08 – 10 May 2019, Nairobi)
• Botswana - DTPS, Ministry of Transport and Communications (09 – 11 May 2018, Gaborone)
• Namibia - National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (31 May - 02 June 2017, Windhoek)
• South Africa - DST (11 - 13 May 2016, Durban)
• Malawi - National Commission for Science and Technology (06 - 08 May 2015, Lilongwe)
• Mauritius - Ministry of ICT and National Computer Board (06 - 09 May 2014, Mauritius
• Kenya – MoEST (06 -09 May 2013, Nairobi)
• Tanzania - COSTECH (09 - 11 May 2012, Dar es Salaam)
• Botswana - DRST (11 - 13 May 2011, Gaborone)
• South Africa - DST (19 - 21 May 2010, Durban)
• Uganda - UNCST (06 - 08 May 2009, Kampala)
• Namibia - MoE (07 - 09 May 2008, Windhoek)
• Mozambique - INTIC (09 - 11 May 2007, Maputo)
• South Africa - DST (03 - 05 May 2006, Tshwane)