11 – 12 May 2026 — Nairobi, Kenya
Africa is not waiting.
It is building.
Africa Forward: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth
The Africa Forward Summit 2026, hosted jointly by Kenya and France, brings together Heads of State, business leaders, and innovators to forge a new partnership built on equal ground.
Two Days. Two Tracks.
One shared agenda.
11 May 2026
Business Forum
1,500+ business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors. B2B matchmaking, workshops, and networking at the University of Nairobi.
Learn More12 May 2026
The Summit
Heads of state, the African Union, and 30+ CEOs. Plenaries, roundtables, and a closing communiqué at KICC, Nairobi.
Learn MoreBusiness Forum participants
Including major African and French corporate leaders, SMEs, and young entrepreneurs
Heads of State
African Heads of State and the President of France attending the Summit
Themes
Roundtables spanning energy, finance, agriculture, AI, the blue economy, health, and industrialisation
Nairobi, Kenya — Home of Africa Forward 2026
A new chapter in Africa–France partnership
Historic. Inclusive.
Action-Oriented.
The Africa Forward Summit “Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth” is a Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held on 11–12 May 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The Summit is co-hosted by H.E. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya, and H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic.
The Summit aims to demonstrate the African continent’s innovation capacity and affirm a shared commitment to developing common, mutually beneficial solutions based on effective multilateralism and a spirit of transformative partnership.
This Summit represents a significant opportunity for a paradigm shift to a more balanced, equitable, and mutually respectful partnership anchored on shared aspirations of effective multilateralism, transformative partnership, sustainable development and Africa’s agency in addressing pressing emerging regional and global challenges.
From the Heads of State
Welcome Messages
H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H.
President, Republic of Kenya
It is my distinct honour to warmly welcome you to Nairobi, Kenya, for the inaugural Africa Forward Summit, co-hosted by Kenya and France at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and the University of Nairobi on the 11th and 12th of May 2026.
Kenya, the cradle of humankind, is proud to host you once again on African soil, a place where history began, and where the future is being actively shaped.
Karibuni Nyumbani — Welcome home.
Africa stands at a defining inflection point. Ours is a continent powered by a youthful, rapidly growing population — creative, ambitious, and determined to transform ideas into enterprises, and enterprises into opportunity.
Across our nations, innovation is not a distant aspiration, it is already driving progress. From fintech and artificial intelligence to climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy, African solutions are shaping global conversations.
Yet, alongside this immense potential lies an equally urgent responsibility — to unlock the investments, partnerships, and financing frameworks required to scale these opportunities sustainably and inclusively.
It is within this context of momentum, ambition, and purpose that the Africa Forward Summit convenes. This high-level gathering reflects a renewed and forward-looking partnership between Africa and France, grounded in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and a clear commitment to delivering tangible outcomes.
Together, we are deliberately moving beyond legacy narratives and toward a relationship defined by co-creation, co-investment, and measurable impact. One that recognizes Africa not as a frontier, but as a partner and a driver of global growth.
Africa is no longer content with aspiration alone. We are advancing with clarity and resolve, shifting from dialogue to delivery, from commitments to implementation, and from potential to performance. The true measure of this Summit will not be the conversations we hold, but the outcomes we deliver for our people.
The inaugural Africa Forward Summit brings together leaders from government, business, finance, innovation, youth, and civil society to accelerate actionable solutions across key priority areas, including:
- Peace and security
- Energy transition and green industrialisation
- Reform of international financial architecture
- Sustainable and value-added agriculture
- Artificial intelligence and digital transformation
- Blue economy
- Health systems and sovereignty
Across these sectors, the Summit will prioritize bankable projects, investment pipelines, technology transfer, and skills development, ensuring that partnerships translate into real economic opportunities, jobs, and improved livelihoods for citizens across the continent.
Our shared objective is clear: to unlock capital, scale innovation, deepen trade and investment linkages, and create inclusive growth pathways that are resilient, sustainable, and African-led.
As co-hosts of this Summit, Kenya and France are committed to providing a platform that enables alignment between policy, capital, and innovation. We aim to catalyze partnerships that are not only ambitious in vision, but practical in execution to deliver results that endure beyond the Summit.
We look forward to welcoming you to Nairobi for what promises to be a defining moment in Africa–France cooperation as we set a new standard for partnership, progress, and shared prosperity.
Welcome to Nairobi. Welcome to Africa Forward.
H.E. Emmanuel Macron
President of the French Republic
Since 2017, we have been working on overhauling the Africa–France relationship. We wish to build partnerships on an equal footing, founded on shared interests and tangible results.
The Africa Forward Summit will be a significant milestone in that endeavour. For the first time, France and an English-speaking African country will co-chair this event, symbolizing an open and future-focused relationship.
This summit will bring together States, businesses, young people, artists and diasporas. Because the relationship between France and Africa cannot merely be declared, it must be built on the ground by innovators, entrepreneurs and creatives.
Our priority is clear: to step up investments and strengthen our cooperation programmes in healthcare, education, food, digital technology, energy and infrastructures. In Nairobi, some 1,500 economic stakeholders will be mobilized to transform ambitions into projects and projects into results.
We are making a strategic choice in ensuring the private sector is the driving force behind this new momentum.
But beyond the economy, there is an essential political message: Africa must be fully involved in global decisions. Peace, climate, technology and prosperity: none of these challenges can be addressed without it. That is why we are spearheading an ambitious reform of international governance, for a fairer, more representative and more effective multilateralism.
The Nairobi summit will be a moment of truth in the lead-up to the G7 Summit in Evian. A moment to welcome a renewed relationship between Africa and France, one that is clear, of a high standard and firmly action-oriented.
Seven Themes
Structuring the Summit’s agenda
Energy Transition & Green Industrialisation
A joint plenary structured around facilitating trade and investment, promoting bankable projects, and strengthening skills and talent development.
Reform of the International Financial Architecture
Reforming the financial architecture to better mobilize private capital (both local and international) for the development of the African continent.
Blue Economy
Three axes: strategic priorities in maritime governance and environmental security; creation of blue jobs; and decarbonisation of maritime transport.
Sustainable Agriculture
Strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships to support the transition toward productive, sustainable, and resilient food systems in Africa.
AI & Digital Technologies
Investment in digital infrastructure, partnerships for open AI, growth of start-ups and talent training, and financing the high-tech sector.
Resilient Health Systems
Health cooperation through partnership and co-construction, strengthened local production of vaccines and medicines, and continental capacity in health.
Peace & Security
Plenary session on peace and security issues in support of African mediation efforts and the actions of the African Union.
Programme & Concept Notes
Scan or browse the full document set
Official Summit Programme booklet, overall concept note, and seven thematic concept notes covering Green Industrialisation, IFA Reform, Peace & Security, AI & Digital, Blue Economy, Health and Agriculture.
Open Resources
Host Country
Discover Nairobi
Kenya — the cradle of mankind, Africa’s Silicon Savannah, and gateway to East Africa. Experience the warmth, innovation, and natural beauty of the host country.
Discover Nairobi