AU InnoLab · African Union INNOFEST '26

Des écosystèmes jeunesse dynamiques pour l'IA et la souveraineté numérique

African Union INNOFEST '26 est la rencontre phare du Laboratoire d'innovation — deux journées au siège de l'Union africaine à Addis-Abeba, avec trois salles en parallèle et la Spark Zone ouverte en continu.

29–30 septembre 2026
08:00 UTC+3 – 17:00 UTC+3
Siège de l'Union africaine
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Hybride
Participation sur accréditation

Siège de l'Union africaine, Roosevelt Street, Old Airport Area, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

À propos

La rencontre phare du Laboratoire d'innovation.

Deux journées au siège de l'Union africaine à Addis-Abeba, avec trois salles en parallèle et la Spark Zone ouverte en continu.

African Union headquarters, Addis Ababa

Siège de l'Union africaine, Addis Ababa

Cette édition porte sur un écosystème jeunesse dynamique pour l'IA et la souveraineté numérique : qui construit les modèles, où résident les données, et si le continent est un marché pour l'infrastructure d'autrui ou le propriétaire de la sienne. Le programme ouvert propose des masterclasses, des ateliers interactifs, des panels et des démonstrations — l'IA responsable pour l'Afrique, les compétences vertes et l'avenir de l'emploi, la mobilité portée par les femmes, les réseaux mesh communautaires pour les régions mal desservies, et l'identité nationale FAYDA. En parallèle, sur invitation, la Communauté de pratique africaine inaugurale sur les violences faites aux femmes et aux filles facilitées par la technologie se réunit sur les quatre sessions pour lancer une plateforme continentale de données probantes et d'action coordonnée. La participation est gratuite et ouverte à toutes celles et ceux qui construisent. Les délégations des États membres, les institutions partenaires et la presse s'inscrivent par la même porte que tout le monde.
  • 01

    Deux journées, trois salles à la fois

  • 02

    Un volet fermé sur les VFFG-FT

  • 03

    En anglais et en français, sur place ou en ligne

Informations pratiques

Ouvert à toutes celles et ceux qui construisent.

Gratuit et ouvert à toutes celles et ceux qui construisent.

Diffusion

Streams live on YouTube from mardi 29 septembre à 08:00. No registration needed to watch.

Une inscription est nécessaire pour obtenir un pass, scanné à l'entrée. Les sessions marquées « sur invitation » sont des sessions de travail fermées et ne relèvent pas de l'inscription générale.

Faire accréditer

Participation: Participation sur accréditation

Programme

Programme

Le programme ouvert propose des masterclasses, des ateliers interactifs, des panels et des démonstrations.

mardi

29 septembre

08:00–09:30

Arrival, registration and breakfast

Format: Registration

Salle: Spark Zone

Accreditation opens. The Spark Zone opens with it and stays open all day.

09:30–10:30

Official opening of InnoFest '26

Format: Plenary

Salle: Multipurpose Hall

Welcome remarks from the Director of Women, Gender and Youth, followed by opening remarks from the Chairperson of the Commission.

  • Ms. Prudence NgwenyaDirector, Women, Gender and YouthAfrican Union Commission
  • H.E. Mahmoud Ali YoussoufChairpersonAfrican Union Commission

10:30–12:00

High-level intergenerational panel

Format: Plenary

Salle: Multipurpose Hall

Keynote from the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, then a panel across generations. Also invited: the Minister of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia (TBC) and the Minister of Youth of Algeria (TBC).

  • Ms. Prudence NgwenyaDirector, Women, Gender and YouthAfrican Union Commission
  • H.E. Ms. Lerato Dorothy MatabogeCommissioner, Infrastructure and EnergyAfrican Union Commission
  • Ms. Pelonomi MoiloaChief Executive and Co-Founder (TBC)Lelapa AI, South Africa
  • Mr. Alain GoumouFounder and Chief Technology OfficerTinaan Tech, Guinea
  • Ms. Kate KallotFounder and Chief Executive (TBC)Amini, Kenya

12:00–14:00

Lunch and Spark Zone

Format: Break

Salle: Spark Zone

The Spark Zone stays open through lunch.

14:00–15:30

V-MATH and Veri-Math

Format: Masterclass

Salle: Small Conference Hall Two

Step-level verification for enhancing mathematical reasoning in large language models. A masterclass.

  • Mr. John Paul RugabaAI LeadVictoria University Kampala

14:00–15:30

Building responsible AI solutions for Africa

Format: Interactive Workshop

Salle: Multipurpose Hall

From research to real-world impact. An interactive workshop.

  • Mr. Samson O. AjaoSystem Analyst; Co-Founder and Chief Operating OfficerBowen University, Nigeria · Datum Africa

14:00–15:30

Inaugural African Community of Practice on Combating Tech-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls — session one

Format: Interactive Workshop

Salle: Small Conference Hall One

Convened under SIARP 2.0 by the AU Innovation Lab with UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA. A working session rather than a panel: validating the inaugural State of TF-VAWG in Africa brief and co-creating the Community of Practice roadmap to 2029. Approximately 50 invited participants.

15:30–15:45

Coffee break and Spark Zone

15:45–17:15

Skilling and reskilling African youth in cottage technologies

Format: Panel Discussion

Salle: Multipurpose Hall

For educational and sustainable development. A panel discussion.

  • Dr. Wunmi HassanChief ExecutiveHigh Tech Centre

15:45–17:15

Showcase: AU–EU Youth Lab

Format: Showcase

Salle: Small Conference Hall Two

The AU–EU Youth Lab presents its work.

15:45–17:15

Inaugural African Community of Practice on Combating Tech-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls — session two

Format: Interactive Workshop

Salle: Small Conference Hall One

Convened under SIARP 2.0 by the AU Innovation Lab with UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA. A working session rather than a panel: validating the inaugural State of TF-VAWG in Africa brief and co-creating the Community of Practice roadmap to 2029. Approximately 50 invited participants.

mercredi

30 septembre

08:00–09:00

Arrival and Spark Zone

09:00–10:30

Inaugural African Community of Practice on Combating Tech-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls — session three

Format: Interactive Workshop

Salle: Small Conference Hall One

Convened under SIARP 2.0 by the AU Innovation Lab with UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA. A working session rather than a panel: validating the inaugural State of TF-VAWG in Africa brief and co-creating the Community of Practice roadmap to 2029. Approximately 50 invited participants.

09:00–10:30

From mobility to opportunity

Format: Interactive Workshop

Salle: Multipurpose Hall

Building AI-powered, women-led mobility ecosystems in Africa. An interactive workshop.

  • Ms. Nouran FaroukCo-founder and Chief ExecutiveDosy

09:00–10:30

Building Africa's AI-ready workforce

Format: Masterclass

Salle: Small Conference Hall Two

Equipping young people to work, create and lead with AI. A masterclass.

  • Ms. Egline JeptooDigital Skills Trainer; Co-founderBrand Moran

10:30–11:00

Coffee break and Spark Zone

11:00–12:30

Inaugural African Community of Practice on Combating Tech-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls — session four

Format: Interactive Workshop

Salle: Small Conference Hall One

Convened under SIARP 2.0 by the AU Innovation Lab with UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA. A working session rather than a panel: validating the inaugural State of TF-VAWG in Africa brief and co-creating the Community of Practice roadmap to 2029. Approximately 50 invited participants.

11:00–12:30

Déployer des réseaux Mesh communautaires

Format: Interactive Workshop

Salle: Small Conference Hall Two

Pour connecter les zones rurales, enclavées et mal desservies en Afrique : une infrastructure numérique résiliente au service de l'inclusion, de l'innovation et de la transformation locale. Atelier interactif en français.

  • Mr. Jacques SyakoleraChief ITIntelligence de la Technologie Industrielle (ITI)

11:00–12:30

Unpacking green skills and the future of jobs

Format: Masterclass

Salle: Multipurpose Hall

A masterclass on where the work is going and what it will ask for.

  • Dr. Enoch Opare MintahChief ExecutiveSustainability Skills and Careers Launchpad Africa

12:30–14:00

Lunch and Spark Zone

14:00–15:30

Showcase: FAYDA national ID

Format: Showcase

Salle: Small Conference Hall Two

Ethiopia's national digital identity programme presents its work.

14:00–15:30

From ideas to impact

Format: Panel Discussion

Salle: Small Conference Hall One

Unlocking Africa's youth innovation potential. A panel discussion.

  • Mr. Kibagendi Cliff NyakundiRegional Manager, Sub-Saharan AfricaHult Prize Foundation

14:00–15:30

Pitch session: Spotlight Initiative

Format: Pitch Session

Salle: Multipurpose Hall

Teams pitch to the floor.

15:30–16:00

Coffee break and Spark Zone

16:00–17:00

Closing ceremony

Format: Plenary

Salle: Multipurpose Hall

The festival closes.

  • Ms. Prudence NgwenyaDirector, Women, Gender and YouthAfrican Union Commission

Intervenants à l'honneur

Intervenants à l'honneur

Découvrez les voix qui façonnent les débats sur l'IA, la souveraineté numérique et les écosystèmes jeunesse du continent. Ouvrez une fiche pour en savoir plus.

  • PN
    01Ms. Prudence NgwenyaDirector, Women, Gender and YouthAfrican Union CommissionEn savoir plus

    Opens the festival and moderates the high-level intergenerational panel.

  • MA
    02H.E. Mahmoud Ali YoussoufChairpersonAfrican Union CommissionEn savoir plus

    Delivers the opening remarks of InnoFest '26.

  • LD
    03H.E. Ms. Lerato Dorothy MatabogeCommissioner, Infrastructure and EnergyAfrican Union CommissionEn savoir plus

    Keynote to the high-level intergenerational panel.

Intervenants

Autres intervenants du programme ouvert

  • 04

    Ms. Pelonomi MoiloaChief Executive and Co-Founder (TBC)Lelapa AI, South Africa

    Participation to be confirmed.

  • 05

    Mr. Alain GoumouFounder and Chief Technology OfficerTinaan Tech, Guinea

    Panellist on the high-level intergenerational panel.

  • 06

    Ms. Kate KallotFounder and Chief Executive (TBC)Amini, Kenya

    Participation to be confirmed.

  • 07

    Mr. Samson O. AjaoSystem Analyst; Co-Founder and Chief Operating OfficerBowen University, Nigeria · Datum Africa

    Leads the workshop on building responsible AI solutions for Africa, from research to real-world impact.

  • 08

    Mr. John Paul RugabaAI LeadVictoria University Kampala

    Masterclass on step-level verification for mathematical reasoning in large language models.

  • 09

    Dr. Wunmi HassanChief ExecutiveHigh Tech Centre

    Panel on skilling and reskilling African youth in cottage technologies.

  • 10

    Ms. Nouran FaroukCo-founder and Chief ExecutiveDosy

    Workshop on building AI-powered, women-led mobility ecosystems in Africa.

  • 11

    Ms. Egline JeptooDigital Skills Trainer; Co-founderBrand Moran

    Masterclass on equipping young people to work, create and lead with AI.

  • 12

    Dr. Enoch Opare MintahChief ExecutiveSustainability Skills and Careers Launchpad Africa

    Masterclass unpacking green skills and the future of jobs.

  • 13

    Mr. Jacques SyakoleraChief ITIntelligence de la Technologie Industrielle (ITI)

    Atelier en français sur les réseaux mesh communautaires pour les zones rurales et mal desservies.

  • 14

    Mr. Kibagendi Cliff NyakundiRegional Manager, Sub-Saharan AfricaHult Prize Foundation

    Panel on unlocking Africa's youth innovation potential.

Informations sur le lieu

Siège de l'Union africaine

Roosevelt Street, Old Airport Area, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Registration

Free. Bring the QR on a phone or printed — both scan at the gate. Sessions marked Invitation Only are closed.

Visa and travel requirement

Most nationalities need a visa for Ethiopia. Apply through the e-visa portal early, and request a letter of invitation once you are registered. A pass is not a visa.

AUC security

A secured compound. Bring the photo ID you registered with — it is checked against your pass at the perimeter. Gates open an hour before the first session.

Organisateurs et partenaires

Organisateurs et partenaires

African Union INNOFEST '26

Votre badge est imprimé sur place.

Indiquez-nous le nom qu'il doit porter et l'adresse avec laquelle vous vous êtes inscrit, et nous vous retrouverons sur la liste des délégués.

Faire accréditer
African UnionAfrican Union Innovation Lab

AU InnoLab Events

Rencontres, délégations et l'accès — pour les institutions du continent.

© 2026 African Union Innovation LabAfrican Union Headquarters · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia