The ICSU Regional Office for Africa made a strong showing at the Seedbeds of Transformation: the role of science with society and the SDG’s in Africa conference from 9-11 May 2018 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa by mobilizing and sponsoring the participation of representatives from its Africa Future Earth Committee (AFEC), Consortia, Regional Committee, INGSA-Africa Chapter, Network of Young Scientists as well as its staff.
The conference which was co-convened by Future Earth, the South African Department of Science and Technology, the National Research Foundation of South Africa and the Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training (START), sought to explore potential trade-offs and synergies associated with the SDGs in different contexts across Africa, and identify opportunities to build on relevant action and research initiatives to advance SDG implementation efforts.
A central point from the deliberations was that for a Future Earth we need Africa to claim her power, identities and knowledges as central to sustainability and social justice on the continent. There was a strong sentiment that there is need to transform the current world order that sees Africa more for what it is not, than what it is.