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The conference will bring together library and information professionals, researchers, lecturers, policymakers, development partners, graduate students, and industry leaders focused on strengthening development outcomes, transforming communities, and advancing sustainable development in Africa through information, knowledge, innovation, and collaborative action.
Conference highlights.
The five-day programme features a blend of keynote addresses, plenary sessions, panel discussions, parallel paper presentations, training workshops, and cultural activities, all designed to promote knowledge exchange, professional development, and regional collaboration.
Key thematic areas covered in the programme include:
- Artificial Intelligence and library and information services in Africa
- Libraries, information services, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Partnerships, advocacy, and strategic positioning of libraries
- Digital technologies, open science, and reading culture
- Innovation and transformation in library and information services
- Policy, legal, and cybersecurity issues
- Knowledge management in organisational and development contexts
- Data, analytics, and artificial intelligence in libraries
- Strategic marketing of library and information services
Keynote addresses and expert panel discussions
The programme features high-level keynote speakers and expert panellists drawn from leading universities, national libraries, international organisations, and the private sector. The three keynote addresses will explore topics such as:
- African libraries at new crossroads
- Harnessing AI and data for Africa’s development
- Strengthening LIS human capital for a digital future
In addition, interactive panel discussions will examine how libraries and information professionals can advance the SDGs, build resilient and sustainable partnerships, and responsibly adopt artificial intelligence to enhance service delivery across the African continent.
Plenary and parallel sessions
Participants can look forward to a rich programme of plenary and parallel sessions featuring peer-reviewed papers and case studies from across the SCECSAL region. These sessions will highlight practical experiences, evidence-based research, and innovative initiatives that demonstrate how information professionals and their institutions - libraries – in Africa are contributing to social transformation, capacity development, and sustainable development.
The programme also includes optional training sessions, side events, and professional meetings.
Cultural evening and networking
Beyond the academic and professional sessions, the conference will feature networking opportunities, including a Welcome Cocktail and a Cultural Evening. Highlights of the Cultural Evening include the SCECSAL Excellence Awards ceremony and the Rhythms of SCECSAL where delegates from participating countries showcase their cultures through cultural or national dress, dance, poetry, and song - celebrating unity in diversity across the SCECSAL region and beyond.
What’s next?
This programme is preliminary and subject to change. Participants and interested readers are encouraged to regularly visit the SCECSAL Forum Blog for the latest updates and announcements. For official information on registration, accommodation and transport arrangements, and the final conference programme, please follow SCECSAL and LIAZ communication channels and visit the conference website at https://conference.scecsal.org/.
Experience the XXVII SCECSAL Conference like never before – see you in Livingstone this April!
Download the programme HERE!
