The Project Management Institute (PMI) Global Summit Series is set to take place in Cape Town from September 14 to 15, 2026, following a successful edition in Kigali that attracted more than 1,000 project professionals, industry leaders, and government officials from across Africa.
Hosted by PMI Sub-Saharan Africa at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the summit has grown into Africa’s largest platform focused on project delivery, leadership, and innovation.
This year’s summit will be held under the theme Africa Delivers M.O.R.E Together, reflecting what organisers describe as a shift in how projects are executed and measured across the continent.
According to George Asamani, the theme highlights the importance of collaboration in driving Africa’s development agenda.
“From regional blocs such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community (EAC), to transformative initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Mission 300, Africa’s greatest achievements have been built through partnership, coordination, and shared purpose,” said Asamani.
He added that the philosophy aligns with the African concept of Ubuntu, “I am because we are”, which he said reinforces the interconnected nature of the continent’s success.
Organisers say the Cape Town summit will focus on turning that philosophy into practical action by bringing together governments, industries, and communities to improve project execution and long-term impact.
The discussions come at a time when Africa faces growing pressure to strengthen project preparation and delivery capacity. During last year’s summit in Kigali, leaders from the African Development Bank noted that the continent’s major challenge is not access to funding, but the shortage of bankable and well-prepared projects capable of attracting investment.
The summit will also address the widening demand for project management professionals. According to PMI’s Talent Gap report, global demand for project professionals is expected to increase significantly by 2035, with Sub-Saharan Africa projected to experience demand growth of up to 75 percent.
“Without the right skills and capability, even the most promising initiatives stall. The Global Summit Series Cape Town is designed to change that, moving beyond conversation to build the talent and expertise Africa needs to deliver at scale,” Asamani said.
The Kigali summit featured prominent speakers including Akinwumi Adesina, who emphasised the need for projects to move beyond planning and deliver measurable impact.
Other speakers included representatives from the African Development Bank, Zipline Rwanda, the Government of Zambia, as well as former NASA scientist Moses Adoko, Nigerian entrepreneur and musician Banky W, and chess advocate Tunde Onakoya.
Academic leaders from institutions including the University of Rwanda, University of South Africa (UNISA), and the Telfer School of Management also contributed to discussions on managing complex and high-impact projects.
This year’s programme will include sessions on mega-project management, artificial intelligence applications in African infrastructure development, and strategies for delivering projects that create economic, social, and environmental value.
The 2026 edition also marks ten years since the launch of the PMI Global Summit Series in Johannesburg, highlighting what organisers describe as a decade of growth, collaboration, and impact across Africa’s project management sector.
