Led by听, the initiative addressed the cultural and institutional barriers faced by women scholars by providing participants with access to resources including research supervision, seminars, placements in Canada and West Africa, leadership development, and networking opportunities.

Released February 10, 2026, this policy-focused report examines how African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities are positioned within Canada鈥檚 artificial intelligence ecosystem. Drawing on data analysis, policy review, and critical insight, the report assesses AI labour markets, innovation strategies, governance frameworks, and equity outcomes.

This volunteer-driven, unfunded research project, initiated in April 2025, is intended for policymakers, researchers, technologists, community organizations, institutions, and investors working at the intersection of technology, equity, and public policy.

Beyond advocating for systemic change, the report advances clear, evidence-based policy and investment recommendations to support an equitable and inclusive AI ecosystem and to demonstrate how ACB contributions can be leveraged for national economic prosperity.

The full report and policy brief are available here:

厂辞耻谤肠别:听CanAfro Research Institute,听465 Phillip St #206; Waterloo, ON N2L 6C7
Email: contact@canafroinstitute.com

The course is open to African Studies Majors, Minors graduate students and other interested students in 3^rd听year standing.

In 2026, Prof. Nduka Otiono, director of Institute of African Studies will direct the course.

Title:听Social Movements, Technological Innovation, and Youth Agency in Africa.

Host Institution:听School of Communication, Day Star University, Nairobi, Kenya

Note: 杏吧原创 university will cover accommodation, local travel in Kenya, meals during special outings or tours. Our students will be responsible for tuition to 杏吧原创 University, international travel, visas, insurance, vaccinations, everyday meals, and all incidental costs,

Communal wells have helped small-scale farmers adapt to drought in South Africa.听Courtesy Jabulile Mzimela

A small-scale farmer produces food for their family on land that is generally smaller than five hectares. Small-scale farmers sell their excess produce but have limited access to resources, technology and big markets.

Africa鈥檚 small-scale听听when there鈥檚 a drought because these farmers rely on rainwater. South Africa has been affected by听听over the years. However, 2015 stands out as the driest period on record since 1904, with drought affecting听, including small-scale farmers.

As droughts induced by climate change increase, South Africa鈥檚 small-scale farmers need to adapt to the changed farming environment so that they can continue to produce food.

听investigated how small-scale farmers, particularly women, were using听听to adapt to drought. Indigenous knowledge systems are听听by people who live closely with nature. They include ways of organising and classifying the world, practical observations about the local environment, and methods for managing resources responsibly. The terms indigenous knowledge and indigenous knowledge systems are used interchangeably.

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Source: https://theconversation.com/drought-and-farming-how-women-in-south-africa-are-using-indigenous-knowledge-to-cope-240462

Photos by Brenna Mackay

杏吧原创 University鈥檚 new partnership with South Africa鈥檚 University of Zululand is much more than a formal agreement to work on research projects together.

The two universities, whose leaders signed a memorandum of understanding in a ceremony on the 杏吧原创 campus on Sept. 3, are unlocking the transformative potential of African Indigenous knowledge systems 鈥� the traditional knowledge, practices and beliefs held by Indigenous communities on the continent, which can help people throughout Africa, Canada and around the world navigate some of the most pressing challenges on the planet.

鈥淓ven if this knowledge wasn鈥檛 written down, it has shaped how people live for thousands of years,鈥� said听Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, a professor in 杏吧原创鈥檚 unique, standalone听Institute of African Studies听and the principal investigator of the Mastercard Foundation-supported听听(AIKRN), which is dedicated to re-centring African knowledge.

Left to right: 杏吧原创 Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic) David Hornsby, African Studies researcher and AIKRN principal investigator Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba and Institute of African Studies director Nduka Otiono

鈥淲e鈥檙e not just mapping this knowledge,鈥� Oloruntoba continued. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going back to our roots and applying it toward sustainable livelihoods. It is something to build upon.鈥�

鈥淲e want to shift the ecosystem of knowledge production in Africa and contest Eurocentricity,鈥� added Oloruntoba鈥檚 collaborator Inocent Moyo, a human geography researcher at the University of Zululand and Deputy Dean of Research and Internationalization.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e doing involves both natural and social sciences and is directly related to the strategic focus of both our universities. We have engaged people in our communities on projects that will foreground Indigenous knowledge systems. We鈥檙e moving forward together.鈥�

A delegation from 杏吧原创 University visited South Africa and Uganda in late May on a partnership building trip 鈥� a significant step towards 杏吧原创鈥檚 goal of expanding international research and educational collaborations and an acknowledgement of Africa鈥檚 increasing importance on the global stage.

The trip embodies 杏吧原创鈥檚 principles- and values-based approach to working with partners and aligns with the Africa Charter, a framework for advancing transformative research collaborations that will uphold the continent鈥檚 place in the global production of scientific knowledge.

The 杏吧原创 University delegation met with officials at the University of Johannesburg

鈥淧artnerships like the ones we鈥檙e building with universities and other organizations in Africa are crucial, considering the trend we鈥檙e seeing around the world of nations turning inwards,鈥� said 杏吧原创听President Wisdom Tettey, who led the delegation.

鈥淎s universities, we need to look for bridges and opportunities to draw one another together.鈥�

One of the ways in which 杏吧原创 is demonstrating its leadership is through the South Africa-Canada Universities Network (SACUN), which aligns higher education institutions in Canada with their partners in South Africa.

As SACUN鈥檚 anchor institution in Canada, 杏吧原创 coordinated the establishment of the network and is helping to execute plans to collectively address challenges such as reconciliation, climate change and sustainable development.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Among the stops during the trip was a conference in Entebbe, Uganda, to launch the African Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN), which aims to connect African Indigenous knowledge with technology and global ideas in areas such as food security, biodiversity, natural resource management and environmental protection.

Supported by the Mastercard Foundation and led by 杏吧原创 African Studies researcher听Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, AIKRN aims to unlock entrepreneurship opportunities in Africa through the traditional knowledge, practices and beliefs held by Indigenous communities. Indigenous groups and institutions in Canada are among its members, including the First Nations University of Canada, which was represented in Uganda by President Jacqueline Ottmann.

杏吧原创鈥檚 David Hornsby and President Wisdom Tettey with students at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg

In her virtual keynote address, Mastercard Foundation CEO Reeta Roy talked about the opportunities for economic transformation through Indigenous knowledge systems, noting that meaningful and lasting impact arises when communities lead the process.

The conference brought together scholars, practitioners, Indigenous community members, cultural leaders and youth from 16 countries: Australia, Botswana, Benin, Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, the United States and Zambia.

Among the outcomes were the mentorship opportunities for young scholars; new ideas for integrating Indigenous knowledge into sustainable development; the creation of market access for Indigenous artisans; and support for smaller institutions by exposing them to international networks.

Amazing Things Together

The group from 杏吧原创, which included Vice-President (Research and International)听Rafik Goubran听and Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic)听David Hornsby, also held a series of bilateral meetings with South African universities.

At the University of Cape Town, discussions with humanities scholars mapped out opportunities for connectivity in areas of shared interest such as the ethics and impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Among the action items coming out of this meeting were the possibility of a joint seminar series.

Discussions at the University of Johannesburg focused on joint degree programs and the pursuit of collaborative grants through SACUN. There were also conversations about joint pedagogical training opportunities to exchange teaching strategies, particularly around large classes and new educational technologies.

David Hornsby, Vice-President Rafik Goubran and President Tettey with scholars from the media studies program at the University of Johannesburg

At the University of the Witwatersrand, physics collaboration was on the agenda, in particular the Square Kilometre Array project in South Africa,听the world鈥檚 largest radio telescope. 杏吧原创 researchers and Witwatersrand colleagues are already collaborating in areas such as particle physics but want to do more work together 鈥斕齠or instance, supporting one another on researcher skill development and exporting 杏吧原创鈥檚 undergraduate skill development听FUSION听program.

At the University of South Africa (UNISA), there was strong interest in collaboration around the digital humanities, online learning and AI, and UNISA鈥檚 participation in SACUN was also discussed.

Opportunities to utilize the SACUN call for grants were discussed at the University of Pretoria, where 杏吧原创 has established a new partnership, with plans to explore additional shared funding streams together.

At Stellenbosch University, beyond talking about the school鈥檚 participation in SACUN, 杏吧原创 met with professors from the Faculty of Engineering to talk about AI, among other subjects, and potential collaborative research projects.

President Tettey with Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice Chancellor and Principal at the University of Johannesburg

The 杏吧原创 delegation also met with Universities South Africa to talk about collaboration in two areas: mentorship opportunities through the organization鈥檚 Thuso Connect initiative, which focuses on the supporting early career researchers, and shared training on the use of AI in teaching through 杏吧原创鈥檚听Hands-On AI听series.

At South Africa鈥檚 National Research Foundation, discussions focused on the foundation鈥檚 forthcoming collaborative grants call and ways to draw in Canadian organizations such as the International Development Research Centre and MITACS.

Lastly, the group from 杏吧原创 met with James Christoff, High Commissioner for Canada in South Africa, and Caroline Bolduc, Canada鈥檚 Trade Commissioner in the country, and participated in the Africa Week science leadership summit at the University of Pretoria, where Tettey took part in two panel discussions.

鈥淎t 杏吧原创 we are always open to engaging with global partners who align with our purpose and our values in order to co-learn, share knowledge and advance our commitment to innovation that addresses complex issues and promotes inclusive and mutually flourishing communities,鈥� said Tettey.

鈥淲e look at partnerships as truly authentic and meaningful collaborations, not as the North coming to the South or vice-versa. If we put our minds together in a common purpose, we can do amazing things together.鈥�

A Long History of Collaboration听

杏吧原创 has a long history of research and educational activity in Africa.

The university鈥檚听Institute of African Studies听is the only stand-alone unit of its kind in Canada, an academic home for researchers such as South African-born听Shireen Hassim, the Canada 150 Research Chair in Gender and African Politics.

杏吧原创 also hosts initiatives like the听Queen Elizabeth Scholars Programs, which supports cross-cultural exchanges with African universities for researchers who work in areas such as climate change and societal transformation.

鈥淢eeting with our African partners was a vital step in deepening our international partnerships and fostering impactful, collaborative research and programs,鈥� said Goubran.

鈥淭hese important connections not only strengthen our global engagement but also create meaningful opportunities for the recruitment of graduate and undergraduate students, the establishment of joint and cotutelle programs, as well as exchange opportunities for both students and faculty, benefitting communities both locally and abroad.鈥�

Canada鈥檚 First Africa Strategy

杏吧原创鈥檚 efforts in Africa are timely, coming in the wake of Canada releasing its first-ever听听this past March.

The federal government鈥檚 new foreign policy states that 鈥渁t a time of global economic and geo-political volatility, Canada must seize opportunities to strengthen its economic and national security,鈥� including engagement with Africa 鈥渢oward greater economic cooperation, strengthened peace and security partnerships, enhanced engagement of African diaspora communities in Canada, and international assistance that supports economic development and youth employment.鈥�

The strategy focuses on trade and investment but is less concerned with areas such as science, technology, innovation and education, according to Hornsby, creating opportunities for 杏吧原创 to take an active leadership role.

Networks like SACUN are poised to support this work by addressing 鈥済rand challenges that transcend traditional borders and boundaries,鈥� said Hornsby.

鈥淭he challenges that we face have been unequally felt around the world, and countries in Africa have consistently been marginalized. This network rallies us to recognize that we have a lot in common and need to work together.鈥�

Source:

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