Africa Health and Development Annual Research Symposium (AHDARS) 2026
Announcement at glance
Call for Abstracts
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), together with the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) and GSMA, invites African scholars and researchers to submit abstracts for the 3rd Africa Health and Development Annual Research Symposium (AHDARS 2026). The symposium convenes scholarly and policy dialogue on the governance, infrastructure, equity, production, and use of African-centred data and knowledge systems.
We welcome scientific and policy papers that examine what can be done differently to build data and knowledge systems that serve African priorities, strengthen African institutions, and keep ownership of African data on the continent.
Thematic tracks
Abstracts should address one of the eight thematic tracks below, organised into two clusters.
Authors indicate their preferred track at submission.
Authors indicate their preferred track at submission.
| Thematic track | Indicative scope |
|---|---|
| Cluster A. Data and Knowledge Sovereignty: Production, Ownership, and Infrastructure | |
| 1. Data and knowledge sovereignty,governance, and partnerships | African-led ownership, protection, and cross-border sharingframeworks; stewardship aligned with national and community interests |
| 2. Local infrastructure,interoperability, and access | Data centres, digital and institutional capacity, interoperability standards, and reduced dependence on external providers |
| 3. Data and knowledge production,innovation, and use | Evidence for policy and service delivery; pan-African partnerships;indigenous innovation |
| 4. Digital health systems and servicedelivery | Health service delivery, disease surveillance, primary healthcare,health financing, patient identity, and interoperability |
| Cluster B. Decolonisation and Data Repatriation: Equitable and Inclusive Systems | |
| 5. Equity, inclusion, and communityparticipation | Gender-responsive, youth-centred, and community-driven datapractices and governance |
| 6. Cultural contextualisation and indigenous knowledge | Integration of African philosophies and indigenous knowledge systems into data ethics and management |
| 7. Decolonial frameworks andAfrican scientific leadership | Recognition of local expertise and scientific achievement; datarepatriation; systems that empower African researchers |
| 8. The role of African actors | Contributions of academia, civil society, and the private sector toreshaping data ecosystems |
Who should submit
Submissions are invited in two categories:
- Scientific papers presenting original research, methods, or evidence.
- Policy papers presenting analysis, frameworks, or recommendations for decision-making and practice.
Authors should indicate at submission whether they wish to present as an oral or a poster presentation. Early-career researchers across the continent are strongly encouraged to apply.
Abstract requirements
- Length and structure: up to 350 words, structured under background, methods or approach, findings or arguments, and implications for African-centred data and knowledge systems.
- Languages: abstracts may be submitted in English or French. Submissions in both languages are reviewed on equal terms.
- Declarations: authors confirm the originality of the work, disclose any use of generative-AI tools, provide an ethics-approval statement where human participants are involved, and consent to the handling of personal data in line with applicable data-protection law.
How to submit
Abstracts are submitted through the online portal at link. Each abstract will receive a unique identifier and will be reviewed anonymously.
The deadline for submission is 25 September 2026.
Review process and criteria
Each abstract will be reviewed by at least two reviewers within the relevant track and scored on a one-to-five scale against the criteria below. Track leads reconcile scores, and abstracts that score above a set threshold will be invited to present at the symposium.
| Criterion | Focus |
|---|---|
| Relevance to theme and track | Fit with the symposium theme and the selected thematic track |
| Scientific and methodological rigour | Soundness of design, methods, and interpretation |
| Originality and innovation | New evidence, models, or approaches |
| Relevance to Africa's development agenda | Attention to African worldviews, contexts, and priorities |
| Policy and practice relevance | Implications for decision-making and service delivery |
| Clarity | Coherent and well-structured presentation |
Mentorship and writing support
Early-career researchers may request mentorship ahead of the deadline. Mentors provide guidance on framing and presentation, and do not review abstracts they have mentored. Support for Francophone researchers, including language assistance, is available so that language is not a barrier to participation. To request mentorship, contact lomondi@aphrc.org.
Travel grants
A limited number of travel grants will be made available, with priority for early-career researchers from East and West Africa and from Francophone institutions.
- Eligibility: an accepted abstract with the applicant as presenting author; early-career status (five to ten years post-PhD); limited institutional support; and contribution to regional and linguistic representation.
- Coverage: round ticket, accommodation, and registration will be provided, subject to available budget.
The Scientific Committee will recommend recipients based on published criteria, and the organizing committee confirms them.
Key dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for abstracts published (English and French) | 11 September 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 25 September 2026 |
| Peer review period | 25 September - 09 October 2026 |
| Notification of outcomes | 15 October 2026 |
| Mentorship, revisions, and travel-grant confirmation | 13 - 20 October 2026 |
| Final programme confirmed | 27 October 2026 |
| Symposium | 10 - 11 November 2026 |
For queries, contact the AHDARS Secretariat at lomondi@aphrc.org.
Call for Abstracts
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), together with the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) and GSMA, invites African scholars and researchers to submit abstracts for the 3rd Africa Health and Development Annual Research Symposium (AHDARS 2026). The symposium convenes scholarly and policy dialogue on the governance, infrastructure, equity, production, and use of African-centred data and knowledge systems.
We welcome scientific and policy papers that examine what can be done differently to build data and knowledge systems that serve African priorities, strengthen African institutions, and keep ownership of African data on the continent.
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), together with the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) and GSMA, invites African scholars and researchers to submit abstracts for the 3rd Africa Health and Development Annual Research Symposium (AHDARS 2026). The symposium convenes scholarly and policy dialogue on the governance, infrastructure, equity, production, and use of African-centred data and knowledge systems.
We welcome scientific and policy papers that examine what can be done differently to build data and knowledge systems that serve African priorities, strengthen African institutions, and keep ownership of African data on the continent.
Thematic tracks
Abstracts should address one of the eight thematic tracks below, organised into two clusters.
Authors indicate their preferred track at submission. Thematic track Indicative scope Cluster A. Data and Knowledge Sovereignty: Production, Ownership, and Infrastructure 1. Data and knowledge sovereignty,governance, and partnerships African-led ownership, protection, and cross-border sharingframeworks; stewardship aligned with national and community interests 2. Local infrastructure,interoperability, and access Data centres, digital and institutional capacity, interoperability standards, and reduced dependence on external providers 3. Data and knowledge production,innovation, and use Evidence for policy and service delivery; pan-African partnerships;indigenous innovation 4. Digital health systems and servicedelivery Health service delivery, disease surveillance, primary healthcare,health financing, patient identity, and interoperability Cluster B. Decolonisation and Data Repatriation: Equitable and Inclusive Systems 5. Equity, inclusion, and communityparticipation Gender-responsive, youth-centred, and community-driven datapractices and governance 6. Cultural contextualisation and indigenous knowledge Integration of African philosophies and indigenous knowledge systems into data ethics and management 7. Decolonial frameworks andAfrican scientific leadership Recognition of local expertise and scientific achievement; datarepatriation; systems that empower African researchers 8. The role of African actors Contributions of academia, civil society, and the private sector toreshaping data ecosystems
Abstracts should address one of the eight thematic tracks below, organised into two clusters.
Authors indicate their preferred track at submission.
Authors indicate their preferred track at submission.
| Thematic track | Indicative scope |
|---|---|
| Cluster A. Data and Knowledge Sovereignty: Production, Ownership, and Infrastructure | |
| 1. Data and knowledge sovereignty,governance, and partnerships | African-led ownership, protection, and cross-border sharingframeworks; stewardship aligned with national and community interests |
| 2. Local infrastructure,interoperability, and access | Data centres, digital and institutional capacity, interoperability standards, and reduced dependence on external providers |
| 3. Data and knowledge production,innovation, and use | Evidence for policy and service delivery; pan-African partnerships;indigenous innovation |
| 4. Digital health systems and servicedelivery | Health service delivery, disease surveillance, primary healthcare,health financing, patient identity, and interoperability |
| Cluster B. Decolonisation and Data Repatriation: Equitable and Inclusive Systems | |
| 5. Equity, inclusion, and communityparticipation | Gender-responsive, youth-centred, and community-driven datapractices and governance |
| 6. Cultural contextualisation and indigenous knowledge | Integration of African philosophies and indigenous knowledge systems into data ethics and management |
| 7. Decolonial frameworks andAfrican scientific leadership | Recognition of local expertise and scientific achievement; datarepatriation; systems that empower African researchers |
| 8. The role of African actors | Contributions of academia, civil society, and the private sector toreshaping data ecosystems |
Who should submit
Submissions are invited in two categories:- Scientific papers presenting original research, methods, or evidence.
- Policy papers presenting analysis, frameworks, or recommendations for decision-making and practice.
Authors should indicate at submission whether they wish to present as an oral or a poster presentation. Early-career researchers across the continent are strongly encouraged to apply.
Submissions are invited in two categories:
- Scientific papers presenting original research, methods, or evidence.
- Policy papers presenting analysis, frameworks, or recommendations for decision-making and practice.
Authors should indicate at submission whether they wish to present as an oral or a poster presentation. Early-career researchers across the continent are strongly encouraged to apply.
Abstract requirements
- Length and structure: up to 350 words, structured under background, methods or approach, findings or arguments, and implications for African-centred data and knowledge systems.
- Languages: abstracts may be submitted in English or French. Submissions in both languages are reviewed on equal terms.
- Declarations: authors confirm the originality of the work, disclose any use of generative-AI tools, provide an ethics-approval statement where human participants are involved, and consent to the handling of personal data in line with applicable data-protection law.
- Length and structure: up to 350 words, structured under background, methods or approach, findings or arguments, and implications for African-centred data and knowledge systems.
- Languages: abstracts may be submitted in English or French. Submissions in both languages are reviewed on equal terms.
- Declarations: authors confirm the originality of the work, disclose any use of generative-AI tools, provide an ethics-approval statement where human participants are involved, and consent to the handling of personal data in line with applicable data-protection law.
How to submit
Abstracts are submitted through the online portal at link. Each abstract will receive a unique identifier and will be reviewed anonymously. The deadline for submission is 25 September 2026.
Abstracts are submitted through the online portal at link. Each abstract will receive a unique identifier and will be reviewed anonymously.
The deadline for submission is 25 September 2026.
Review process and criteria
Each abstract will be reviewed by at least two reviewers within the relevant track and scored on a one-to-five scale against the criteria below. Track leads reconcile scores, and abstracts that score above a set threshold will be invited to present at the symposium.
Criterion Focus Relevance to theme and track Fit with the symposium theme and the selected thematic track Scientific and methodological rigour Soundness of design, methods, and interpretation Originality and innovation New evidence, models, or approaches Relevance to Africa's development agenda Attention to African worldviews, contexts, and priorities Policy and practice relevance Implications for decision-making and service delivery Clarity Coherent and well-structured presentation
Each abstract will be reviewed by at least two reviewers within the relevant track and scored on a one-to-five scale against the criteria below. Track leads reconcile scores, and abstracts that score above a set threshold will be invited to present at the symposium.
| Criterion | Focus |
|---|---|
| Relevance to theme and track | Fit with the symposium theme and the selected thematic track |
| Scientific and methodological rigour | Soundness of design, methods, and interpretation |
| Originality and innovation | New evidence, models, or approaches |
| Relevance to Africa's development agenda | Attention to African worldviews, contexts, and priorities |
| Policy and practice relevance | Implications for decision-making and service delivery |
| Clarity | Coherent and well-structured presentation |
Mentorship and writing support
Early-career researchers may request mentorship ahead of the deadline. Mentors provide guidance on framing and presentation, and do not review abstracts they have mentored. Support for Francophone researchers, including language assistance, is available so that language is not a barrier to participation. To request mentorship, contact lomondi@aphrc.org.
Early-career researchers may request mentorship ahead of the deadline. Mentors provide guidance on framing and presentation, and do not review abstracts they have mentored. Support for Francophone researchers, including language assistance, is available so that language is not a barrier to participation. To request mentorship, contact lomondi@aphrc.org.
Travel grants
A limited number of travel grants will be made available, with priority for early-career researchers from East and West Africa and from Francophone institutions.- Eligibility: an accepted abstract with the applicant as presenting author; early-career status (five to ten years post-PhD); limited institutional support; and contribution to regional and linguistic representation.
- Coverage: round ticket, accommodation, and registration will be provided, subject to available budget.
The Scientific Committee will recommend recipients based on published criteria, and the organizing committee confirms them.
A limited number of travel grants will be made available, with priority for early-career researchers from East and West Africa and from Francophone institutions.
- Eligibility: an accepted abstract with the applicant as presenting author; early-career status (five to ten years post-PhD); limited institutional support; and contribution to regional and linguistic representation.
- Coverage: round ticket, accommodation, and registration will be provided, subject to available budget.
The Scientific Committee will recommend recipients based on published criteria, and the organizing committee confirms them.
Key dates
Milestone Date Call for abstracts published (English and French) 11 September 2026 Submission deadline 25 September 2026 Peer review period 25 September - 09 October 2026 Notification of outcomes 15 October 2026 Mentorship, revisions, and travel-grant confirmation 13 - 20 October 2026 Final programme confirmed 27 October 2026 Symposium 10 - 11 November 2026
For queries, contact the AHDARS Secretariat at lomondi@aphrc.org.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for abstracts published (English and French) | 11 September 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 25 September 2026 |
| Peer review period | 25 September - 09 October 2026 |
| Notification of outcomes | 15 October 2026 |
| Mentorship, revisions, and travel-grant confirmation | 13 - 20 October 2026 |
| Final programme confirmed | 27 October 2026 |
| Symposium | 10 - 11 November 2026 |
For queries, contact the AHDARS Secretariat at lomondi@aphrc.org.