The Hertie School Africa Policy Club proudly presents the 3rd annual

AFRICA POLICY
WEEK

27th-30th April, 2026
Berlin, Germany / onsite and Online

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Africa Policy Week brings focus to various topics in African affairs, in particular African public policy and international affairs, in the Hertie School community and in Berlin. This will be a good opportunity for students interested in African affairs to hear from experts in specific fields and network.

Day 1 Theme: Leadership, Governance, and AI in the Digital Era

Monday April 27, 17:00 (CEST)
Hertie School / Hybrid
Day 1 of Africa Policy Week 2026 opens with a focus on governance, leadership, and the growing role of digital governance and AI in African policy contexts. The sessions highlight the importance of intentional, context-sensitive leadership in strengthening public institutions. A dedicated discussion on digital governance will address digital sovereignty, data governance, and AI-enabled development. Together, the sessions reflect on what inclusive and future-oriented governance means for African societies.
For more information

Day 2 Theme: From Aid to Investment: What Really Works for Africa, and How We Know

Tuesday April 28, 18:00 (CEST)
Hybrid
Day 2 of Africa Policy Week 2026 is dedicated to economic development and Africa’s future growth pathways. The discussions will explore development models and the role of European partners, including Germany. An introductory moderated panel will be followed by small-group discussions led by expert speakers. This format enables deeper engagement with key economic opportunities and challenges across the continent.

Day 3: Harnessing the power of digital health and AI for the attainment of UHC

Wednesday April 29, 18:00 (CEST)
Online
Day 3 of Africa Policy Week 2026 focuses on how digital health and AI can advance Universal Health Coverage in Africa. The virtual session will assess current levels of adoption, policy frameworks, and advocacy efforts. Speakers will share practical use cases while addressing barriers and health system challenges. The discussion aims to inform policy thinking on equitable and resilient digital health systems.
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Day 3 Theme: The Sudan Nexus: Fragmentation, Global Competition, and the Reconstruction of Regional Security

Wednesday, April 29, 15:00-17:00 (CEST)
Hertie School / Hybrid
Day 3, Session Two of Africa Policy Week 2026 examines Sudan’s state collapse and its systemic impacts on regional and global security. Transitioning to an in-person forum in Berlin, the session evaluates international peace efforts following the April 2026 Berlin Conference. Through a keynote and expert panel, the discussion analyzes the efficacy of EU restrictive measures, the institutional role of the African Union, and accountability mechanisms for conflict-related sexual violence, identifying strategic pathways for civilian protection and regional stability
For more information

Day 4 Theme: Applying Renewable Energy Pathways to African Agri-Food Systems

Thursday, April 30, 16:00 (CEST)
Hertie School / Hybrid
Day 4 of Africa Policy Week 2026 examines the role of renewable energy in transforming African agri-food systems. The session will highlight applications such as solar irrigation, cold storage, agro-processing, and sustainable bio-energy. The discussion will conclude with policy-oriented reflections on scaling renewable energy for food security and sustainability.
For more information

About Us

The Hertie School Africa Policy Club is a student-run club at the Hertie School (Berlin, Germany) promoting informed discussions of African public policy, economics, and international affairs. Through events and publications such as The Afropolitan Blog, the club aims to create a forum for exchange on these topics at the Hertie School. The club aspires to cultivate a community sensitive to the intricacies of narratives and discourse on African politics and culture.

The Africa Policy Club’s and its members’ positions do not reflect those of the Hertie School.

You can stay up to date on our events and new blog articles by subscribing to our email list below. You can also contact us using the form to the right or by sending an email to hsafricapolicy@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you!

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© 2026 Hertie School Africa Policy Club. All Rights Reserved.

Day-1: Governance, Leadership, and Digital Governance in Africa

 April 27 | 17:00–19:00 (CEST)
Hertie School, Berlin / Hybrid

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Key note speakers and panelists

Africa Policy Week 2026 — Day 1

Monday, April 27, 2026 · Hertie School, Berlin · Hybrid

Governance · Leadership · Digital Transformation

17:00 – 17:20 · Welcome & Opening Remarks

Opening Statement — Esther Ndagire, President, Hertie School Africa Policy Club

Welcome Remarks — Prof. Thurid Hustedt, Dean of Graduate Programmes, Hertie School

Alumni Reflections — Osita Abana, President, Hertie School Africa Alumni Network

Keynote — Ms. Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya, Director, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, African Union Commission

17:20 – 17:25 · SOS African Scholars Programme Remarks

Rumbidzai Maunze, Head of Scholarships and Educational Development, SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit

17:25 – 17:40 · Special Presentation

“What’s storytelling got to do with it?” — Victor Mark-Onyegbu, Head of Community Building, Africa No Filter

17:40 – 17:55 · Interactive Discussion

Intentional integration of African issues into global public policy; what works and what doesn’t

Facilitators — Esther Ndagire · Natasha Siyumbwa

17:55 – 18:00 · Transition Break

Poetry Reading — Nafisah Animashaun

18:00 – 18:40 · Panel: Digital Governance & AI Sovereignty

Moderator — Marielle Düh, PhD Researcher & Research Fellow, Hertie School & WZB · Digital Policy Fellow, BMDS

Panelist — Franz von Weizsäcker, Head of Programme DataCipation & Data Governance in Africa, GIZ AU

Panelist — Nanzala S. Gonda, Strategy, Change & Digital Sustainability Consultant, EY

Panelist — Joshua Kwesi Aikins, Senior Fellow & Head, Economy and Society Programme, APRI

Panelist — Furat Abdulle, Data & AI Advisor, Avanade

Focus: Africa’s digital sovereignty, ethical AI, data governance, and inclusive policy frameworks

18:40 – 18:45 · Transition Break

Africa Policy Week Video

18:45 – 19:00 · Closing & Networking

Final remarks · Food & drinks · Informal networking

Linkedin

Esther Ndagire

Hertie School Africa Policy Club

President

Master of Public Administration

Opening Statement

Linkedin

Prudence Ngwenya

African Union Commission

Director, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate

Keynote Speaker

Linkedin

Victor Mark-Onyegbu

Africa No Filter

Head of Community Building

Special Presentation

“What’s storytelling got to do with it?”

Linkedin

Nanzala S. Gonda

EY

Strategy, Change & Digital Sustainability Consultant

Speaker

Linkedin

Franz von Weizsäcker

GIZ AU

Head of Programme, DataCipation and Data Governance in Africa

Speaker

Link

Joshua Kwesi Aikins

Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI), Berlin

Speaker

Linkedin

Furat Abdulle

Avanade

Data & AI Advisor

Speaker

Link Linkedin

Marielle Düh

Hertie School & WZB

PhD Researcher & Research Fellow

Digital Policy Fellow, BMDS

Moderator

Harnessing Digital and Emerging Technologies for the Attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa

Wednesday April 29, 18:00-20:00 (CEST)
Hertie School/Online

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Africa Policy Week (27th-30th April 2026), an initiative by the Hertie School Africa Policy Club, seeks to amplify African perspectives on governance, leadership, and sustainable development within the Hertie School community. Through interactive panels, expert conversations, and cross-sector dialogue, the week aims to promote inclusive learning, policy engagement, and the visibility of African-led approaches in global public policy discussions.

Day 3 of Africa Policy Week 2026 focuses on the growing role of digital and emerging technologies in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Africa. As health systems on the continent continue to face structural challenges — including limited access to services, workforce shortages, fragmented data systems, and financing constraints — digital innovation has emerged as a key policy lever for expanding coverage and improving health outcomes.

From digital health records and telemedicine to artificial intelligence and health data platforms, African countries are increasingly experimenting with technology-enabled solutions. At the same time, questions remain around governance frameworks, interoperability, equity, and sustainability. Without clear policy direction, digital health risks reinforcing existing inequalities rather than addressing them.

This virtual session brings together policymakers, practitioners, and digital health experts to assess the current state of digital health and AI adoption in Africa. The discussion will explore policy frameworks, advocacy efforts, real-world use cases, and persistent system-level barriers, with the aim of informing more equitable, resilient, and people-centred digital health strategies in pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.

Speakers

Linkedin

Atef Fawaz

eHealth Africa

Executive Director

Topic

Status of digital health & AI adoption, policy frameworks, and the role of advocacy organizations in Africa

Linkedin

Dr. Abel Mestie Mekonnen

Public Health Informatics Fellow, Africa CDC, and Digital Health Advisor for FMOH, Ethiopia

Topic

Use cases, adoption barriers, health system challenges & best practices for digital & AI in African health systems

Linkedin

Oluwatobi Adewumi

InnovateHealth Africa

Executive Director

Topic

How could digital and emerging technologies improve universal health coverage?

Moderator

Linkedin

Yenus Ibrahim

Master of Data Science for Public Policy, Hertie School

The Sudan Nexus: Fragmentation, Global Competition, and the Reconstruction of Regional Security

📅 29 April 2026 | ⏰ 15:00 – 17:00 (CEST)
📍 Format: Hybrid (Online & On-site)
📌 Africa Policy Week 2026 – Day 3

Thank you for participating!

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Africa Policy Week (27th-30th April, 2026), an initiative by the Hertie School Africa Policy Club, seeks to amplify African perspectives on governance, leadership, and sustainable development within the Hertie School community. The week-long series brings together students, policymakers, scholars, and practitioners to engage with key policy challenges shaping the African continent today. Through interactive panels, keynote addresses, and thematic discussions, Africa Policy Week aims to promote cross-cultural dialogue, collaborative learning, and the inclusion of African policy perspectives in global public policy debates.

Day 3 of Africa Policy Week 2026 focuses on one of the most urgent and complex crises on the continent today: the ongoing war in Sudan and its far-reaching regional and global implications. As the conflict enters a prolonged phase, Sudan is witnessing not only humanitarian catastrophe but also deep structural fragmentation, competing claims to sovereignty, and increasing entanglement with regional and global power struggles.

This virtual session moves beyond short-term crisis narratives to examine Sudan as a pivotal case for understanding contemporary conflict dynamics. Discussions will explore the emergence of de facto partition, the rise of a tech-integrated mercenary economy, and the role of external actors in sustaining the conflict. The session will also critically assess international policy responses, including the effectiveness of EU–AU financial sanctions targeting conflict-linked gold flows, as well as Germany’s Feminist Foreign Policy as a framework for addressing conflict-related sexual violence and accountability.

 

Through a high-level keynote and an expert panel, the event aims to foster a deeper understanding of Sudan’s war not as an isolated tragedy, but as a defining test for regional security governance, international diplomacy, and global responsibility.

Speakers

Facebook

Dr. Elshafie Khidir Saeid

Fikra for Research and Studies

General Director & Coordinator, Sudanese Civilian Forces

Linkedin

Dr. Buthaina (Asma) Elnaiem

University of Bahri / Advocacy Group for Peace in Sudan

Associate Professor & Executive Director

Linkedin

Charlotte Boetticher

SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit

Advisor, Humanitarian Action

Topic

Sudan’s War Beyond Borders: Displacement and Child Protection in Chad in the World’s Largest Displacement Crisis

Linkedin

Dr. Gerrit Kurtz

German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)

Associate, Africa and Middle East

Moderator

Linkedin

Alisha Chandranath

Hertie School

Master of Public Policy

Moderator

Applying Renewable Energy Pathways to African Agri-Food Systems

📅 30 April 2026 | ⏰ 17:00 – 19:30 | 📍 Room 3.61 (Hybrid)
Africa Policy Week 2026 – Day 4, Panel 5

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As Africa works to transform its agri-food systems, energy access remains one of the most decisive — and most overlooked — factors shaping productivity, resilience, and sustainability. While renewable energy is often discussed primarily through a climate lens, its role in food systems goes far beyond emissions reduction. From irrigation and cold storage to agro-processing and rural value chains, energy access directly influences food security, farmer incomes, and market stability.

This session explores how renewable energy pathways can be applied across African agri-food systems to unlock inclusive and sustainable development. It examines where renewable technologies are already making a difference, where progress remains limited, and why scaling solutions continues to face structural, financial, and governance barriers.

Bringing together researchers, policy practitioners, and energy-transition experts, the discussion will connect energy policy with agriculture, rural development, and food systems transformation. Speakers will reflect on practical applications, trade-offs, and policy choices needed to ensure renewable energy supports smallholders, agri-SMEs, and local value addition — rather than deepening existing inequalities.

Speakers

Linkedin

Dr Ramdane Orou Sannou (Online)
Research Fellow, UNU-FLORES

Linkedin

Nibwene Mwakibinga (On-site)

Independent Researcher, Climate & Energy Policy

Linkedin

Dr Grace Mbungu (On-site)

Lecturer, University of Potsdam

Linkedin

Chibuikem Agbaegbu
Senior Fellow, Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI)

Moderator

Linkedin
Vermon Washington (On-site)
MPP Student, Hertie School