Advancing Africa's Future: Stakeholders Address Project Management Gaps and Critical Public Health Challenges

As Africa positions itself as a global hub for innovation and development, two major summits and a burgeoning public health debate are highlighting the continent's focus on professional excellence and citizen welfare. The Project Management Institute (PMI) Sub-Saharan Africa has announced that the PMI Global Summit Series will be held in Cape Town from September 14-15, 2026. Under the theme 'Africa Delivers M.O.R.E Together,' this landmark event follows a successful gathering in Kigali and marks a decade of connecting project leaders. The summit aims to address a critical talent gap, as projections indicate a need for an additional 30 million project professionals by 2035 to sustain the continent's development trajectory.

Parallel to these infrastructure and leadership efforts, the health sector is confronting the rising tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). A high-level summit hosted by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in Accra recently gathered global health leaders and policymakers to transition NCD research into large-scale interventions. With NCDs responsible for over 41 million deaths annually worldwide—disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries—experts at the symposium emphasized the necessity of evidence-led policies. Ghana’s growing role as a research hub was a central theme, as participants showcased innovative community health programs and technology-based interventions designed to combat chronic conditions across West Africa.

However, these high-level discussions on health and development are met with urgent calls for improved domestic oversight in food safety and hygiene. In Ghana, public health advocates and commentators like Ajoa Yeboah Afari have raised alarms over the use of harmful chemicals, such as formalin and heavy metals, in food production. Critics argue that the state must take more decisive action to regulate food hygiene, from farm to market, to prevent avoidable illness and death. The parallel between these grassroots safety concerns and international health research underscores the complex multi-layered approach required to secure the well-being of the population while pursuing macro-economic growth.

Together, these developments illustrate a continent in a state of active transformation. Whether through the professionalization of project management to attract investment or the implementation of rigorous health research and safety standards, the common thread is a drive toward sustainable, self-reliant solutions. As registration opens for upcoming summits and citizens demand greater accountability in public health, the path forward for Africa hinges on the successful integration of professional expertise with robust domestic protections. The coming years will be defined by how effectively these strategies are implemented to meet the needs of a rapidly growing and evolving population.