The Project Management Institute (PMI) has announced that Nairobi, Kenya will host the 8th annual PMI Africa Conference, which will take place at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel from September 10th-12th this year. This is the first time the highly anticipated conference will be held in Kenya and it promises to be the largest gathering of project professionals on the continent.

PMI is a leading professional organization for project management and a growing global community of millions of project professionals who use project management skills. The conference will provide a platform to showcase Africa’s project economy, reflect on the community’s shared values, and celebrate the extraordinary work of project professionals. This year’s theme, “Africa We Want: Together We Can,” will focus on the first decade of Agenda 2063 and the skills transformation required to enhance project design and implementation.

The PMI Africa Conference is an eagerly awaited event that brings together a range of experts, including decision-makers, academicians, industry experts, changemakers, and thought leaders from across Africa and beyond. The conference is set to host over 50 speakers and 400 delegates from 24 countries, making it a significant platform for sharing knowledge and exploring new trends.

Agenda 2063, which includes several flagship projects such as the integrated high-speed train network, the Grand Inga dam, the establishment of a single African air-transport market, and the Pan-African e-network, will require skilled project management to ensure their success. These projects are complex and will require close collaboration and deep coordination across national, regional, and continental levels.

A report by McKinsey has highlighted that many of the region’s attempts to address infrastructure gaps fail to progress beyond the planning stage. The report states that “80 percent of infrastructure projects fail at the feasibility and business-planning stage,” emphasizing the critical role that project management plays in ensuring that these projects achieve their strategic goals and contribute to economic growth, job creation, and resilient infrastructure.

The conference’s focus will be on skills transformation, youth empowerment, women in project management, sustainability, and accelerating infrastructure development, all of which are essential for the success of the flagship projects. These domains have been identified as crucial to Africa’s economic growth.

Jeane Mathenge, President of PMI Kenya Chapter, expressed her enthusiasm for hosting the conference in Kenya, stating that the country has experienced significant growth in the number of project professionals since 2020. This growth highlights the growing demand for project management skills, and she points to the successful launch of Taifa 1 as an example of how projects in science and technology can contribute to socioeconomic development and global standing.

The conference is open to a global audience interested in learning how African changemakers and project professionals are seizing the growth opportunity. George Asamani, MD, PMI sub-Saharan Africa, highlights the need for more knowledge to move projects from paper to prosperity, emphasizing the significance of the conference in fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions for project management.