📍 Conakry, Guinea | 🗓️ 12 – 14 November 2025
Theme:
“AI for Africa: Innovate Locally, Impact Globally”
Overview
Under the leadership of Smart Africa, Guinea will host the 7th edition of the Transform Africa Summit (TAS 2025) from 12 to 14 November 2025 in Conakry — the continent’s flagship event dedicated to Africa’s digital transformation.
After Kigali, Conakry becomes the first Francophone West African capital to host this major continental gathering, which brings together heads of state, policymakers, private sector leaders, investors, startups, and experts to position Africa as a key player in global artificial intelligence.
Context and Rationale
In an era of profound technological change, Africa stands at a pivotal crossroads. The potential of digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) across the continent is immense but still underutilized.
Launched in 2013 and now supported by 40 African countries representing over 1.2 billion people, the Smart Africa initiative places Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) at the heart of Africa’s socio-economic development.
The Transform Africa Summit embodies this vision by aiming to:
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Build a Single Digital Market for Africa;
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Drive inclusive digital transformation;
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Accelerate technological sovereignty through local innovation and regional cooperation.
The 2025 edition in Conakry will serve as a strategic milestone to define Africa’s place in the global AI value chain, promoting a sustainable, ethical, and inclusive digital future.
Summit Objectives
TAS 2025 aims to bring together Africa’s digital ecosystem to:
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Define Africa’s strategic priorities in artificial intelligence;
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Identify partnerships and policy frameworks supporting innovation;
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Promote ethical and inclusive AI development;
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Empower youth, women, and startups in Africa’s digital ecosystem.
Key Themes
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Positioning Africa in the Global AI Value Chain: job creation, competitiveness, and digital industrialization.
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AI and Governance: administrative efficiency, transparency, and smart public services.
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Innovation and Entrepreneurship: empowering startups and building local capacities.
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Social Impact & Ethical AI: digital inclusion, gender equality, and data privacy.
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Infrastructure and Investment: regulatory frameworks, connectivity, and sustainable financing.
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Bridging Global and Local Perspectives: adapting international best practices to African realities.
Target Audience
TAS 2025 will gather a wide range of key stakeholders shaping Africa’s digital future:
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Heads of State and Government
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Ministers (ICT, Economy, Finance, Education, Health, etc.)
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International and multilateral institutions
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Tech companies, startups, and incubators
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Fintechs, investors, and development partners
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Regulators, academics, and digital experts
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NGOs, civil society, creatives, and digital inclusion advocates
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Organizations promoting women and girls in STEM
Summit Format
An annual high-level platform combining dialogue, innovation, and networking opportunities:
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Plenary sessions and thematic workshops
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Technology exhibitions
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B2B meetings and investment forums
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Cultural and networking events
Tentative Program
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Day -1: Policymakers’ training & African Regulators Council meeting
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Day 0: Smart Africa Investment Forum & private sector networking cocktail
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Day 1: Opening ceremony, panels, and gala dinner
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Day 2: Presidential Assembly with youth & thematic sessions
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Day 3: Workshops, side events, and closing ceremony
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Day 4: Post-event social activity
Opportunities and Benefits
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🤝 Networking: connect with Africa’s leading digital and tech players.
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💼 Sponsorship & Partnerships: align your brand with Africa’s digital transformation.
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🚀 Exhibition: showcase innovative products, solutions, and technologies.
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🎤 Workshops & Panels: host or co-organize thematic discussions.
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💡 Hackathons & Startup Pitches: highlight African innovation and creativity.
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🌍 Talent Marketplace: discover collaboration and employment opportunities.
Why Participate?
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Contribute to building Africa’s Single Digital Market.
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Discover emerging trends in AI and digital technology.
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Forge strategic public-private partnerships.
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Access investment opportunities and pan-African projects.
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Promote digital inclusion and female leadership in STEM.
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Participate in shaping Africa’s innovation policies.
How to Participate:
👉 https://smartafrica.org/tas2025 (indicative link)
Organizer
The Transform Africa Summit 2025 is organized by Smart Africa — an alliance of African countries, companies, and international organizations committed to accelerating the continent’s socio-economic development through ICT and digital innovation.
Smart Africa was born out of the Manifesto adopted in Kigali in 2013 and endorsed by the African Union in 2014.
It represents a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development across the continent, guiding Africa toward a knowledge-based economy through affordable broadband access and the effective use of information and communication technologies.
The Transform Africa Summit, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 28 to 31, 2013, led to the adoption of the Smart Africa Manifesto by seven (7) African Heads of State (Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Mali, Gabon, and Burkina Faso), who pledged to take a leading role in driving socio-economic development through ICT.
On January 30–31, 2014, the Smart Africa Manifesto was endorsed by all Heads of State and Government of the African Union during its 22nd Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa. This placed the Manifesto at the heart of Africa’s ICT agenda, extending its impact beyond the seven initial signatories to encompass all 53 African countries.
Since then, the Smart Africa Alliance has expanded to include 40 African countries, representing more than 1 billion people.
The initiative promotes:
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African digital integration;
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Affordable broadband access;
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Efficiency and transparency through ICT;
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African tech entrepreneurship;
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Equal opportunities in the digital space.
