The conference will be convened under the theme Risk in Time and Space, highlighting the variability of disaster risks over time and space, says the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The 2025 edition will place special emphasis on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), an approach that empowers local communities to engage actively in risk assessment, decision-making and the development of adaptive strategies. By focusing on local knowledge and participation, CBPR offers powerful pathways for addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change and disaster risks, adds the council.

The Windhoek 2025 Conference will bring together experts in climate change, disaster risk reduction, policymakers, practitioners and community based participatory research from around the world to share insights, exchange knowledge and explore innovative solutions. The programme will feature interactive panel discussions, workshops, and breakout sessions designed to encourage dialogue and practical solutions to the complex challenges posed by climate change and disaster risks across disciplines and regions, says the council.

Participants will engage with case studies and research findings from Southern Africa and other climate vulnerable regions, offering critical perspectives on the real-world impacts of climate change. More than 100 delegates are expected to attend, representing countries including Namibia, South Africa, Canada, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Algeria, Japan, Greece and Germany, adds the council.

The conference aims to strengthen networks and partnerships that transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries, promoting inclusive and forward-looking approaches to disaster risk management. Through collaborative efforts, the 2025 conference seeks to contribute to the development of resilient, adaptive communities capable of navigating the evolving landscape of global climate challenges, says the council.

Discussions will explore themes such as risk analysis fundamentals; risk assessment; disaster risk management; risk perception, communication and governance; risk mitigation in sectoral policies; monitoring and coping with real risk problems; and risk and ethics, adds the council.

The event will be officially opened by The Right Honourable Dr Elijah Ngurare, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, alongside The Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Honourable Dino Ballotti, says the council.

Distinguished international experts will also deliver keynote presentations, including:

  • Prof Ranjan Datta, Mount Royal University, Canada: Indigenous Knowledge in Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention through Development Policies in African Regions
  • Dr Olivia Kunguma, University of the Free State, South Africa: Alert and Warning in the Climate Change Era: Reconsidering a Risk Communication Consensus
  • Prof Ioannis Pitas, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece: AI and Big Data Analytics for Natural Hazards in Disaster Risk Management

The third edition of the Climate Change and Futures in Africa Conference Series is jointly organised by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) of South Africa in collaboration with the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) of Namibia, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the National Research Foundation (NRF), says the council.

The HSRC adds that it is also in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), Santam South Africa, Department of Cooperative Governance, University of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu University, Midlands State University, University of the Free State, Future Earth, and the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), as well as the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Zimbabwe, concludes the council.

The programme can be viewed here. 

For more information, visit www.hsrc.ac.za. You can also follow The HSRC on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor