The Future Earth Africa Hub Assembly Meeting, convened at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, from June 2 to 3, 2025, was organised by the Future Earth Africa Hub and the Leadership Centre. The Assembly marks a pivotal gathering of sustainability scientists from the Leadership Centre’s sustainability science cluster, representatives from the National Research Foundation of South Africa and the Future Earth Africa Hub Regional Nodes, as well as Future Earth Global, along with staff from the Hub and the Leadership Centre.
This meeting built upon the foundational discussions initiated during the Future Earth Africa Hub Regional Nodes Induction Workshop held in October 2024 at Rhodes University, South Africa. The Assembly served as a strategic platform to align regional efforts with global sustainability objectives, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and chart a cohesive path forward for the Africa Hub’s initiatives.
The Assembly was guided by several core objectives aimed at enhancing the implementation of Future Earth programmes across Africa. These included facilitating the development of localised strategic plans for Regional Nodes and Science Clusters, exploring sustainable operational models for these entities, and promoting streamlined activities under the Africa Hub’s umbrella. Additionally, the meeting emphasised the importance of capacity development, multi-stakeholder engagement, and active participation in global Future Earth initiatives.
The Assembly yielded several critical outcomes that will shape the future trajectory of the Africa Hub. It reinforced the importance of collaboration between Regional Nodes and Science Clusters, ensuring that regional efforts are harmonised with global sustainability agendas. The meeting also underscored the need for robust capacity development programmes to empower emerging researchers and strengthen Africa’s contribution to global sustainability science.