The University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights has issued a call for abstracts for its upcoming colloquium exploring the critical intersections between climate change and sexual and reproductive health and rights across the African continent. Scheduled for 12–13 November 2026 in Pretoria with a hybrid format, the event seeks to convene scholars, researchers, practitioners and experts to examine how environmental shifts are reshaping SRHR outcomes, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised communities.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat in Africa. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns and extreme weather events are already disrupting access to healthcare, exacerbating food insecurity and displacing populations in ways that directly affect sexual and reproductive health services. The colloquium aims to generate evidence-based insights that can inform policy and practice across the continent.
Why This Colloquium Matters for African Higher Education
South African universities have long positioned themselves as leaders in addressing continent-wide challenges through rigorous, context-specific research. The University of Pretoria, with its established Centre for Human Rights, continues this tradition by focusing on an area where data remains limited yet urgently needed. By inviting contributions that centre African voices and experiences, the colloquium reinforces the role of higher-education institutions in producing knowledge that serves both local communities and global scholarship.
Participants will explore how climate-induced migration, water scarcity and agricultural disruptions intersect with issues such as maternal health, access to contraception, gender-based violence and adolescent reproductive health. These discussions are expected to highlight gaps in current research while identifying practical interventions that universities and governments can support.
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Submission Details and Timeline
Abstracts must be submitted by 30 June 2026 to sindiso.nkomo@up.ac.za, copying maryanne.obiagbaoso@up.ac.za. Selected papers will be presented at the colloquium and considered for publication in an accredited journal. The hybrid format ensures broad participation from researchers across Africa and beyond, removing geographic barriers that often limit engagement in such specialised events.
Full details, including thematic areas and submission guidelines, are available on the Centre for Human Rights website. Early-career researchers and postgraduate students are particularly encouraged to contribute, reflecting the University of Pretoria’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of African scholars.
Broader Context in South African Research Landscape
The call arrives at a time when South African higher-education institutions are increasingly integrating climate and health research into their strategic priorities. Regulatory bodies such as the Department of Higher Education and Training and the National Research Foundation have emphasised interdisciplinary approaches that address the Sustainable Development Goals. This colloquium aligns directly with those priorities by bridging environmental science, public health and human-rights frameworks.
Universities across the country, from the University of Cape Town to Stellenbosch University and the University of the Witwatersrand, have similarly expanded programmes examining climate impacts on health. The University of Pretoria’s focus on SRHR adds a vital gender and rights dimension that has sometimes been underrepresented in broader climate-health dialogues.
Photo by Jolame Chirwa on Unsplash
Opportunities for Academics and PhD Candidates
For academics and doctoral researchers in South Africa and internationally, the colloquium represents a timely platform for networking and publication. Accepted papers will undergo peer review for journal placement, offering valuable exposure in a field gaining momentum. The event also provides a rare opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, civil-society organisations and community representatives who can translate research into action.
Postgraduate students working on related topics may find mentorship and collaboration prospects that strengthen their dissertations and future career trajectories. The hybrid model further supports participation from scholars in resource-constrained settings who might otherwise be unable to attend in person.
Looking Ahead: Building a Research Agenda
Outcomes from the colloquium are expected to feed into longer-term research agendas at the University of Pretoria and partner institutions. By documenting evidence and best practices, participants will help shape curricula, influence funding priorities and support advocacy efforts aimed at protecting SRHR amid a changing climate.
The initiative underscores the evolving role of South African universities as hubs for solution-oriented scholarship that responds to the continent’s most pressing challenges. As the deadline for abstracts approaches, the higher-education community has a clear opportunity to contribute to a growing body of work that places African experiences at the centre of global conversations on climate and health.