The reset Africa Summit 2025
As Africa’s geopolitical and economic landscape rapidly evolves, policymakers, investors, and development actors will converge in Nairobi this July to reimagine the continent’s role in a shifting global order.
The Reset Africa Summit, organised by Scofield Associates, will run from July 23–25, 2025, bringing together influential voices from government, civil society, the private sector, and philanthropy.
What is Reset Africa?
The Reset Africa Summit is an African-led policy and development platform focused on reshaping Africa’s external engagements and internal systems in response to shifting global dynamics.
Convened by Scofield Associates, it creates space for multi-sectoral dialogue and strategic alignment around trade, aid, governance, financing, and philanthropy.
The summit encourages African institutions to exercise greater agency, strengthen coordination, and lead transformational change from within the continent.
Held under the theme “Rethinking Africa’s Strategic Position Amid Global Shifts in Foreign Policy,” the 2025 summit seeks to facilitate both shared analysis and actionable partnerships.
It will convene a broad mix of actors from national governments, regional institutions, development banks, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
A Timely Convening
Reset Africa comes at a moment when Africa’s position in the global order is under renewed scrutiny.
Multilateral systems are strained, foreign aid models are being contested, and emerging alliances such as BRICS are offering new, often competing, spheres of influence.
At the same time, African countries are pursuing regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while facing implementation and capacity challenges internally.
These developments have prompted calls for more coordinated, homegrown responses to global disruptions—responses that reduce dependency, expand fiscal resilience, and harness local capital for long-term growth.
The Reset Africa Summit is positioned to respond to these imperatives by facilitating cross-sectoral dialogue, policy innovation, and collaborative strategy.
Four Strategic Themes
The 2025 summit is organised around four interconnected thematic pillars:
- Trade in a Fragmented Global Order
This theme focuses on how African countries can recalibrate trade strategies amid global protectionism, shifting alliances, and disrupted supply chains.
Discussions will cover AfCFTA implementation, global trade blocs, tariff regimes, and trade diplomacy in a multipolar world.
- Development Aid and Domestic Financing
With traditional donor funding becoming less predictable and more conditional, this theme explores alternatives for financing African development.
These include diaspora remittances, sovereign bonds, philanthropy, and public–private partnerships, as well as strategies for expanding domestic resource mobilisation.
- Government Response and Policy Uptake
As African governments face rising debt and fiscal pressure, this track addresses institutional reform, revenue generation, and policy innovation.
Topics include tax reform, sovereign wealth funds, anti-corruption strategies, and resilience in governance systems.
- African Philanthropy and the Private Sector
Non-state actors, including philanthropic foundations, family offices, and social impact investors, are increasingly stepping into roles traditionally occupied by the state.
This theme highlights the need for policy and legal environments that support African-led philanthropy and unlock private capital for the public good.
Format and Structure
The summit will unfold over three days of intensive programming, featuring a mix of keynotes, panel discussions, technical breakout sessions, and informal networking events:
- Day 1: Continental trade strategy, AfCFTA opportunities, and global trade realignment
- Day 2: Financing transitions, donor diversification, and the future of aid
- Day 3: Governance reform, regional policy coordination, and non-state actor contributions
The summit will conclude with a “Nairobi Declaration”, a non-binding communique summarising the key takeaways and strategic imperatives emerging from the summit.
Evening networking events, including receptions and a summit dinner, will provide opportunities for participants to build partnerships and discuss collaboration beyond the formal sessions.
Who should attend
Reset Africa 2025 expects participation from over 500 delegates, including:
- African ministers of finance, foreign affairs, trade, and planning
- Senior officials from the African Union, African Development Bank (AfDB), and regional economic communities
- CEOs and executives from African conglomerates, multinationals, and investment firms
- Philanthropic institutions, think tanks, social innovators, and development strategists
- Researchers, academic institutions, and media representatives
The summit’s cross-sector composition reflects its emphasis on interlinkages between public, private, and civic actors shaping Africa’s future.
Knowledge Contributions and Call for Papers
In addition to institutional engagement, Reset Africa offers a platform for academic and practitioner input through a call for papers.
Abstracts of up to 350 words aligned with the summit’s four themes are invited from scholars, analysts, and policy experts.
Selected papers may be presented in breakout sessions or included in the summit’s post-event publications.
The deadline for submissions is June 20, 2025, and abstracts should follow APA referencing format.
Interested contributors can send their work to: resetafricasummit-abstracts@scofieldassociates.co.ke
Sponsorship Opportunities
The summit offers tiered sponsorship packages for organisations seeking visibility and strategic alignment with the summit’s goals:
- Platinum Mentor (USD 100,000): Keynote speaking role, VIP branding, and 10 delegate passes
- Gold Catalyst (USD 75,000): Featured panel slots and 8 passes
- Silver Strategic (USD 50,000): Panel access, logo placement, and 6 passes
- Bronze Engagement (USD 25,000): Event access and 4 delegate passes
Sponsors benefit from integrated visibility across event materials, sessions, and media coverage.
Registration and Contact
Registration for the Reset Africa Summit 2025 is now open. Interested participants and institutions can register online: scofieldassociates.co.ke/reset_africa_summit
As leaders gather in Nairobi this July, the summit signals not just a moment of reflection but a move toward purposeful repositioning, rooted in shared challenges, bold ideas, and a belief in Africa’s power to lead its reset.
