2026 Annual Meeting: Rwanda
Save the date for February 4-6, 2026 for the African Great Lakes Stakeholder Network Annual Meeting.
Join this meeting of the best minds in the world working together for healthy African Great Lakes.
Collaboration is paramount. With our six advisory groups and other global experts, we activate collective knowledge, passion, and resources to solve the challenges that threaten the African Great Lakes.
At this meeting we will:
- Learn from each African Great Lakes Advisory Group to advance solutions
- Inform the future of AGL monitoring, education, and training
- Break down gender barriers to tap into strong, inclusive solutions
- Work across borders to inform game-changing freshwater decisions
The African Great Lakes Stakeholder Network is a highly collaborative group of freshwater and large lakes experts from around the world. At the heart of the network is over 150 African Great Lakes experts who are, together, addressing the most critical issues on these seven African Great Lakes which hold over 25% of the world’s freshwater and support millions of people.
This meeting is open to the public and guests, observers, and specialists are warmly welcome to attend and participate.
The African Great Lakes Stakeholders Network, and this meeting, are facilitated by the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education and developed, informed, and advised by the partners and experts working on the African Great Lakes.
Annual Meeting Agenda
Updated: November 6, 2025
Day 1: Tuesday, February 03, 2026
Various times: participants arrive
9:00am – 3:00pm: ACARE Board Meeting (Closed: Board and Secretariat)
5:00pm – 6:00pm: New AWIS 2026 cohort orientation (AWIS 2026 only)
6:00pm – 8:00pm: African Women in Science (Re)union (Closed: AWIS and invite only)
Members of the 2026 AWIS Cohort and AWIS Alumni to gather, meet, and network
Day 2: Wednesday, February 04, 2026
7:00am – 8:00am: Registration and arrival
Opening Ceremony (Plenary):
8:00am – 9:30am: Welcome with guest speakers
9:30am – 10:00am: Group Photo & Coffee
Session 1 (Plenary):
10:00am – 10:30am: Objectives of the Annual Meeting and Advisory Group Strategic Plan
Session 2 (Plenary):
10:30am – 11:30am: Advisory Group Strategic Plan presentation
Session 3 (Breakout):
11:40am – 1:00pm: Review Goals 1 and 2 & Thematic Action Plan
1:00pm – 2:00pm: Lunch
Session 3 (Breakout (Cont.)):
2:00pm – 3:00pm: Review Goals 3, 4, and5 & Thematic Action Plan
Session 4 (Plenary):
3:10pm – 5:00pm: Actionable themes of the Strategic Plan
- Scientific Knowledge & Innovation
- Capacity Development & Empowerment
- Resource Mobilization & Institutional Building
- Ecosystem Sustainability & Climate Resilience
- Governance, Collaboration & Partnerships
5:30pm: Poster Session, Dinner, and Networking
Day 3: Thursday, February 05, 2026
7:30am – 8:30am: Meeting check-in and arrival
Welcome Day 2:
8:30am – 9:00am: Recap of AGM Day 1
Session 5 (Plenary):
9:00am – 10:30am: TBD
10:30am – 11:00am: Photos & Coffee
Session 6 (Breakout):
11:00am – 1:00pm: Action Strategies:
- Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
- Coordination Framework
- Governance and Leadership
- Knowledge Management and M&E Dashboard
- Sustainability and Scaling Up strategies
1:00pm – 2:00pm: Lunch
Session 7 (Plenary):
2:00pm – 3:30am: TBD
3:30pm – 6:30pm: Capacity Building Session I
6:30pm: Dinner, evening program, networking
Day 4: Friday, February 06, 2026
7:30am – 8:30am: Meeting check-in and arrival
Session 8 (Plenary):
8:30am – 10:30am: Summary of Deliberations
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LEAAG
LKAG
LMNN
LT-SAG
LTuAG
LVAG
Session 9 (Plenary):
10:30am – 12:00pm: Presentation and adoption of AGM Communique
Closing Session (Plenary):
12:00pm – 12:30pm: Remarks and future ways forward
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch
Workshops and Trainings:
1:30pm – 6:30pm: TBD
No scheduled evening events; dinner on your own, explore Kigali
Please note that the agenda is still being developed.
Please note that the agenda is still being developed.
Please note that the agenda is still being developed.
Please note that the agenda is still being developed.
Venue and Hotels
Conference Venue:
TBD
TBD
Rd
JM4
Kigali, Rwanda
Note: We are confirming the Venue, come back soon!
Hotels:
Please note: You are responsible for reserving and paying for your own accommodations. The below hotels are suggestions only. You are responsible for assessing suitability of accommodations for your needs and comfort.
| Hotel Name | Cost | Dist. // Time to walk to MICC |
| TBD Ph. +250 000 000000 |
$ | 0 meters // 0 min |
| TBD Ph. +250 000 000000 |
$ | 0 meters // 0 min |
| TBD Ph. +250 000 000000 |
$ | 0 meters // 0 min |
| TBD Ph. +250 000 000000 |
$ | 0 meters // 0 min |
Please note that there are ample hotels and other accommodations in the area. They range in location, price, and distance.
Transportation:
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from their hotel to the conference centre daily. The hotel options we have listed above are all within reasonable walking distance to the conference centre.
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Note: We are identifying and organizing the accommodations list, check back soon!
Travel Tips, Needs, and Information
Visa Acquisition:
Citizens of all countries are allowed to get visa upon arrival without prior application. There are two main categories, “no fee” and “fee”:
No Fee Visa:
Fee
Rwanda Visa Overview of Visa on Arrival: https://www.migration.gov.rw/visa-on-arrival
Meeting Contact, Questions, and Inquiries:
Ted Lawrence: ted@agl-acare.org
ACARE Business Office: info@agl-acare.org
Hosts
Partners
Funders
Supporters
Conference Participants
A list of participants of the Annual Meeting of the African Great Lakes Stakeholder Network, Kigali, Rwanda, February 4-6, 2026 will be listed here after the meeting. The purpose is to enhance connectivity between experts. If you wish to contact any of the participants, please first contact ACARE, we will facilitate communications.