CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Africa Region has partnered with the African Union (AU) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) for the 2026 IABC Africa Conference, a gathering that organisers say will focus on the role of communication in driving Africa’s development agenda.
The conference will take place in Cape Town from 21 to 23 October and is expected to bring together communication professionals, business leaders, government officials, academics and development practitioners from across the continent.
The partnership unites three organisations with a shared interest in strengthening Africa’s voice and improving how the continent communicates its priorities, opportunities and progress.
Organisers say the conference comes at a time when strategic communication is becoming increasingly important. Governments, businesses and development institutions are facing growing pressure to build trust, navigate rapid technological change and engage more effectively with stakeholders.
Delegates will explore how communication can support Africa’s development goals while helping organisations respond to an evolving media landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, digital platforms and changing audience expectations.
IABC Africa Chair Dr Adeyemi Opeyemi said the partnership reflects the growing importance of communication in shaping Africa’s future. “Working with the AU and AUDA-NEPAD strengthens the connection between policy, development and the professionals responsible for communicating Africa’s story,” he said. “It also creates an opportunity to promote communication that is credible, strategic and aligned with the continent’s development priorities.”
For AUDA-NEPAD, the conference provides an opportunity to advance the ambitions of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term blueprint for the continent’s social and economic transformation.
Head of Communications and Advocacy Zipporah Maubane said achieving the goals of Agenda 2063 requires more than policy commitments alone. “Strategic communication is fundamental to building shared understanding, strengthening trust and mobilising collective action,” she said.
She added that the partnership would create a platform for communication professionals from across Africa to exchange ideas and explore how effective communication can accelerate development priorities. “It is also important that Africa’s stories, innovations and progress continue to resonate both within the continent and globally,” she said.
The African Union and AUDA-NEPAD are expected to play a prominent role throughout the conference. Both organisations will contribute keynote speakers, lead high-level discussions and help shape sessions focused on key Agenda 2063 priorities.
Topics on the agenda will include youth development, climate resilience, digital transformation and strengthening health systems.
The conference will also mark the first IABC Africa regional event of its kind in more than a decade. Organisers hope it will help raise professional standards and strengthen the practice of strategic communication across the continent. As communication professionals adapt to rapid technological advances and shifting public expectations, organisers believe the event will provide valuable opportunities for learning, collaboration and professional development.
Further details on the conference programme, speakers and partnership activities are expected to be announced in the coming months.
