Shaping the Future with Technology: Perspectives from Germany and African Countries

When the room is bustling with conversations and AfroBeats, when you’re navigating cooking logistics with an Ethiopian medical doctor, a Bavarian psychologist and a Kenyan engineer, when you find yourself in interesting interdisciplinary debates about the past, present and future of the African-German dialogue, only to later dance the night away together – then you know what’s up: it’s an ANSA conference!

From October 14th–16th 2023, this year‘s conference took place in the beautiful city of Stuttgart at the Hochschule für Technik with a new topic centered around the theme of technological development in Africa and Germany. The weekend began with a city tour and a lively team cooking evening, where new friendships quickly formed over shared meals and conversations.

The conference featured inspiring keynote talks: Dr. Sara Loetz introduced the ETAT app, a digital triage tool improving emergency care for children in Malawi; Moses Acquah reflected on technology’s human impact and the challenges of sustainable innovation; and Marc Hasselbach explored the emerging field of digital social work and the need for secure online spaces in Germany’s public health sector. ANSA members presented diverse projects, ranging from 3D printing technologies for rural Africa, water supply challenges in Tanzania, and Ghana’s energy infrastructure, to hospital management in Gambia and the use of text-mining for research. Thought-provoking discussions explored ethical dilemmas in technology, structural challenges, and global disparities.  Networking activities, workshops, and informal conversations allowed participants to exchange ideas, join working groups, and brainstorm new initiatives for ANSA’s future.

The weekend ended with an African dinner, dancing, and plans for regional meet-ups. A heartfelt thank you to the organizing team, the volunteers, and content writer Katharina Hillermann. This conference truly captured the ANSA spirit: connecting disciplines, cultures, and visions for a better future. We can’t wait to meet again next year!