Tech Diplomacy Africa Symposium
The Tech Diplomacy Global Institute is pleased to announce the Africa Symposium on Tech Diplomacy, taking place on 28-29 April 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. Hosted alongside the Women in Tech Global Summit 2026, this high-level gathering will spotlight Africa’s leadership in shaping the digital future, from AI governance and digital public infrastructure to capacity building and tech ambassador initiatives.
The two-days symposium will convene policymakers, diplomats, technologists, and civil society leaders from across the continent and beyond to explore how tech diplomacy can support inclusive growth, strengthen digital sovereignty, and ensure that African voices help define global digital norms.
📅 Date: 28-29 April 2026
📍 Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Speakers
H.E. David Martinon
Ambassador of France to South-Africa
H.E. Eugenio Garcia
Tech Ambassador, Brazil
H.E. Ana Maria Pesantes
Ambassador of Ecuador to France
Ayumi Moore Aoki
Founder President, TDGI
Dr. Tawfik Jelassi
Chair of the Supervisory Board, TDGI
Manuel Schiappa Pietra
President and CEO FreeBalance
Sïmon Saneback
COO, TDGI
Sarah Al Feghali
Chief Innovation Officer, TDGI
Prof Corneliu Bjola
Professor of Digital Diplomacy University of Oxford
Virginia Blaser
Ambassador, Invest in Cape Town
Prof Renée Cummings
Professor of Practice in Data Science University of Virginia
Prof Julio Pertuze
Associate Professor, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Akua Gyekye
Head of Government Affairs, Microsoft Kenya
Amy Karle
Ultra-contemporary Artist and Designer
Tonee Ndungu
Founder: Kytabu & Tribbe Nation
Tsebeletso Mashau
Group CIO Standard Bank
Titi Akinsanmi
AI Policy Expert
Albertus Aochamub
CEO MeatCo Namibia
Lora Gailly
Associate Project Officer, UNESCO
Agenda
Tuesday 28 April 2026
09:00 – 09:30
Opening Ceremony: A New Digital Era
A powerful ceremonial start bringing together global leaders, diplomats, and innovators to set the tone for a shared digital future rooted in inclusion, peace, and prosperity. Through music, storytelling, and national symbols, we celebrate the collective ambition to shape technology that serves people and planet.
09:30 – 10:00
Ministers, Founders, and diplomatic representatives outline the urgency of aligning tech innovation with public interest, gender equality, and global cooperation. These remarks frame the summit as a platform to turn vision into commitments for a fairer digital world.
10:00 – 10:30
A high‑level tribune explores how governments can steward digital transformation while protecting rights, fostering innovation, and closing global divides.
10:30 – 11:15
If the Global South Led the Next Digital Order
A plenary conversation imagining a world where the Global South sets the digital agenda, standards, and platforms of tomorrow. Leaders discuss data sovereignty, AI governance, and investment models that unlock local innovation while reshaping global power dynamics.
11:15 – 11:40
Coffee Break
11:45 – 12:00
Superintelligence is shifting from theory to imminent reality, forcing us to rethink innovation, governance, and human progress. Drawing on criminology, psychology, law, and AI ethics, Professor Renée Cummings examines how superintelligent systems could transform healthcare, security, education, the economy, and global power. She offers a pragmatic framework rooted in justice, transparency, and human dignity, outlining the strategic choices leaders must make now so that as intelligence advances, humanity advances with it.
12:00 – 12:35
This cross‑sector dialogue brings together technologists, policymakers, and innovators to explore how to design digital economies that are inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. It examines how financial inclusion, skills, and infrastructure can close the digital divide, while a strong gender lens ensures women and girls are not only connected, but leading, shaping, and benefiting from the next wave of digital transformation.
12:35 – 12:50
12:50 – 13:15
An energetic, high‑level debate where experts argue for and against the motion that AI poses an existential risk to our species.
13:15 – 14:00
Networking Lunch
14:15 – 15:15
and
15:45 – 16:45
Interactive workshop built around five key topics:
1. What if AI governance frameworks reflected Southern realities?
2. What if interoperable DPI unlocked inclusive growth across regions?
3. What if data partnerships strengthened sovereignty and innovation?
4. What if regional cyber alliances improved collective defense?
5. What if new financing models accelerated digital independence?
Participants can move from one to another every 30 minutes
16:45 – 17:15
Emerging Pathways for Collective Action: Sharing outputs of the roundtables.
17:15 – 17:45
A closing fireside on minilateralism in the digital age. As smaller coalitions gain traction in tech governance, the discussion will explore where they work, where global agreements remain essential, and the risks of fragmentation. It will also examine what this shift means for the Global South, and whether minilateral alliances can truly outperform global frameworks and where influence can come from networks and not size
17:45 – 19:30
Cocktail Reception
Wednesday 29 April 2026
10:00 – 11:15
Meet the Tech Ambassador:
Interactive discussions with current and/or former Tech Ambassadors
11:15 – 12:30
Strategic Foresight Lab (Part 1):
A strategic foresight lab exploring what it would take for the Global South to shape the future of compute, energy, and infrastructure by 2040. Through future signals, hands-on scenario design, and backcasting, participants will imagine bold outcomes and translate them into present-day priorities. The session will surface critical choices, partnerships, and mindset shifts required to build a sustainable and sovereign digital future.
12:30 – 13:30
Networking Lunch
13:30 – 14:45
Strategic Foresight Lab (Part 2)
14:45 – 15:30
Leadership Fishbowl:
A leadership fishbowl on what it means to preserve our humanity in a rapidly evolving digital age. As technology reshapes power, sovereignty, and systems, this session creates space for candid, rotating dialogue among leaders to challenge assumptions and build on each other’s perspectives. It will conclude with a collective commitment on what must never be compromised as we shape the digital future.
15:30 – 16:00
Energy Break
16:00 – 16:30
Final Commitments and Closing Remarks
19:00 – 23:30
Dress code: Formal