Africa at UNGA 2025: The Events for Builders, Leaders & Changemakers
Flagship Picks
UNGA80’s High-Level Week runs September 23–29, 2025 in New York City, with dozens of side events across the city spotlighting Africa’s innovation, policy priorities, and creative power.
Unstoppable Africa (GABI) — Business, Trade & Investment
Dates: Sept 21–22, 2025 • Venue: Marriott Marquis, NYC
Why go: The Global Africa Business Initiative’s marquee forum convenes heads of state, global CEOs, ministers, and investors to push concrete trade & investment outcomes for the continent. Expect top-tier dealmaking energy and bold announcements.
Link: Official page (UN Global Compact / GABI)
Columbia Africa Conference 2025 — “Visions of Africa”
Dates: Sept 19–20, 2025 • Venue: Columbia Business School, NYC
Why go: A high-caliber, student-led conference aligning culture, capital, and community with candid conversations across finance, tech, policy, and creative industries—plus serious networking.
Link: Conference page (Columbia Africa Business Club) Columbia Business School Groups
MIPAD “Most Influential 100” Recognition Week
Dates: Sept 25–27, 2025 • Notable session: Recognition Ceremony, Sept 26, Harvard Club, NYC
Why go: A global celebration of excellence across the African diaspora featuring recognitions, networking, and ecosystem spotlights—firmly anchored to UNGA.
Link: MIPAD Recognition Week overview • Recognition Ceremony details (Harvard Club, Sept 26) MIPADiabpia.org
Semafor: The Next 3 Billion Summit — UNGA 2025
Date: September 24, 2025 | Location: NYC
Why go: Three billion people are still offline. This isn’t just a tech gap—it’s a global opportunity waiting to be unlocked.
Link: The Next 3 Billion
Curated Africa-Focused Events (UNGA Guide)
Africa Soft Power @ UNGA80 — “Finding X: Creativity × Finance × Tech”
Date/Time: Sept 23, 2025 • 3:30–7:00 PM • Venue: The Citigroup Center
Why go: A high-level convening reframing Africa’s creative & tech sectors as core growth engines—spanning creative capital, remittances as investment, sports leverage, data infra, and blended finance.
Link: UNGA Guide page UNGA Guide 2025
VitalTalks Live @ UNGA — The Future of Health Financing in Africa
Date/Time: Sept 23, 2025 • 3:30–5:30 PM • Venue: 15 W 39th St
Why go: Practical playbook on health taxes (tobacco, alcohol, SSBs) to fund NCD responses and strengthen domestic revenues—policy-minded and actionable.
Link: UNGA Guide page (with registration) UNGA Guide 2025
Africa’s Health Architecture — Optimizing PHC for Equity (Amref)
Date/Time: Sept 24, 2025 • 3:30–5:00 PM • Venue: IPG Health
Why go: A focused roundtable on strengthening primary health care as Africa’s equity engine—bridging AHAIC takeaways to policy and partnerships at UNGA.
Link: UNGA Guide page UNGA Guide 2025
Strengthening Democratic Foundations in Africa
Date/Time: Sept 18, 2025 • 10:00 AM–12:00 PM • Venue: Jay Conference Midtown East
Why go: Looks at civic engagement, inclusive governance, and balancing security with freedoms—timely for institutions, civil society, and policy leaders.
Link: UNGA Guide page UNGA Guide 2025
Ideas to Infrastructure — Youth as Agents in Harnessing AI for Development
Date/Time: Sept 22, 2025 • 11:00 AM–12:30 PM • Venue: Berkeley College (Midtown)
Why go: Spotlights African youth-led AI solutions and launches a Global Development Research AI platform—great for AI founders, donors, and policymakers.
Link: UNGA Guide page UNGA Guide 2025
Ghana House in New York (Impact Hub Accra x Impact Hub NYC)
Date/Time: Sept 22, 2025 • 9:00 AM–8:00 PM • Venue: Impact Hub NYC (417 5th Ave)
Why go: A full-day Ghana-focused program—networking, SDG roundtables, and cultural exchange—ideal for builders with West Africa interests.
Link: UNGA Guide page • Also listed by UN Foundation: Ghana House UNGA Guide 2025unfoundation.org
Africa on the Frontlines of Climate Change
Date/Time: Sept 22, 2025 • 10:00–11:30 AM
Why go: A people-centered climate session sharing lived impacts across Africa and community-led responses; optional healing circle follows.
Link: UNGA Guide page UNGA Guide 2025
From Campus to Catalyst: Showcasing Africa’s Next Generation of Innovators
Date/Time: Sept 19, 2025 • 12:00–4:00 PM • Venue: Newlab, Brooklyn
Why go: UNDP’s timbuktoo Initiative will articulate to participants the value proposition of UniPods as high-tech spaces where students, faculty, private sector, and governments collaborate to solve real-world challenges
Link: UNGA Guide 2025