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Nairobi, Kenya — [Friday, August 13, 2026] — Landscape Alliance, a global leader in agroforestry and landscape research, will participate in the Science Summit Nairobi 2026, taking place from 28–30 September in Nairobi.
The inaugural Nairobi edition of the Science Summit will convene the United Nations and the African Union with African and international leaders from science, government, academia, industry, finance, philanthropy and civil society. It follows the New York component of Science Summit 2026, held alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81), and will provide a dedicated platform for African and Global South scientific leadership, international research collaboration and evidence-informed policymaking.
The Landscape Alliance’s involvement brings internationally recognised expertise in agroforestry, sustainable land management, food-system resilience, biodiversity, climate adaptation and the restoration of productive landscapes to the Summit. Its participation will help connect research and practical experience from communities and landscapes across Africa with the policy, institutional and investment decisions shaping the continent’s future, and strengthening science diplomacy.
Science, trees and resilient landscapes
Forests and trees on farms and across agricultural landscapes can make an important contribution to food and nutrition security, soil health, climate resilience, biodiversity, water management and rural livelihoods. Yet the scientific knowledge and community experience required to scale these approaches are not always sufficiently integrated into national, regional and international policy, regulatory and investment frameworks.
Through its participation in Science Summit Nairobi, Landscape Alliance will contribute to discussions on how forestry, agroforestry and landscape science can inform public policy, strengthen climate-resilient food systems and support locally appropriate approaches to sustainable development. The programme will also explore how scientific evidence can be translated more effectively into implementation, investment and measurable benefits for farmers and communities.
Landscape Alliance is expected to contribute to several Summit sessions addressing areas such as:
- forestry, agroforestry, bioeconomy and climate-resilient food systems;
- land restoration, soil health and biodiversity;
- science, data and innovation for sustainable landscapes;
- the role of Indigenous and local knowledge in research and policy;
- research capacity and scientific leadership in Africa;
- financing the transition from successful research projects to long-term implementation; and
- science diplomacy, connecting African scientific priorities with continental and global policy frameworks.
- Alignment between the post-SDG agenda and the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034)
From projects to long-term policy
A central objective of Science Summit Nairobi is to strengthen the meaningful and sustained involvement of Africa’s scientific institutions in international science policy. The Summit seeks to move beyond fragmented and short-term “stop/start” projects towards a policy-based approach supported by durable institutional cooperation, enabling regulatory frameworks, research infrastructure and predictable financing.
Landscape Alliance’s extensive experience of working across research, policy and practice makes it an important contributor to this discussion. Its participation will help demonstrate how long-term scientific partnerships can support national development priorities while informing wider African Union, United Nations and international processes.
The discussions will be situated within the context of the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2034, the UN Pact for the Future, the emerging post-SDG agenda and the outcomes of the three Rio Convention processes on climate change, biodiversity and desertification. They will also examine opportunities to connect African research priorities with major international investment frameworks, including the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034.
Declan Kirrane, Chair of the Science Summit, said:
“The Landscape Alliance represents precisely the kind of African-based, globally connected scientific leadership that Science Summit Nairobi seeks to bring into international policy and investment discussions. Its work demonstrates how excellent science, long-term collaboration and knowledge developed with communities can address food security, climate resilience, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods simultaneously. We are delighted that Landscape Alliance will contribute its expertise and international network to the Nairobi programme.”
Éliane Ubalijoro, Landscape Alliance CEO said:
“The Science Summit Nairobi provides an important opportunity to connect agroforestry and landscape science with the decisions that determine how food systems, ecosystems and rural economies develop. Landscape Alliance looks forward to working with African and international partners to advance practical, evidence-based approaches that benefit people and landscapes.”
Strengthening Nairobi as a centre for global science diplomacy
Science Summit Nairobi will position the city as a platform for global science diplomacy and African-led international cooperation. By convening scientific institutions alongside policymakers, investors, development partners and the private sector, the Summit aims to generate partnerships and policy pathways that continue beyond the event itself.
Landscape Alliance’s participation reflects both Nairobi’s importance as a centre of environmental and agricultural research and Kenya’s wider role in advancing African and global approaches to sustainable development.
Further details concerning Landscape Alliance-led activities, speakers and participation arrangements will be announced as the programme develops.
About Science Summit 2026
Science Summit 2026 is an international platform examining how science, technology and innovation can support sustainable and inclusive development. The Summit will take place in New York alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly, followed by its inaugural Nairobi edition from 28–30 September 2026. It brings together scientific institutions, governments, the United Nations, the African Union, industry, finance, philanthropy and civil society to strengthen international scientific collaboration and connect evidence with policy and investment.
About Landscape Alliance
Landscape Alliance transforms science into action by unlocking the power of trees, forests and agroforestry landscapes to advance planetary health and human well-being. The organization works at the intersection of science, policy and practice to deliver systems-level solutions for interconnected global challenges. It focuses on the power of trees, forests and agroforestry landscapes to address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, food and nutrition insecurity, and persistent inequalities in livelihoods and well-being.
