Short Abstract:

This panel explores Africa’s unique resilience strategies in managing intersecting crises. Emphasizing local knowledge, digital innovations, and community initiatives. Emphasizing sustainable approaches to stability and development amidst complex environmental, economic, and political challenges.

Long Abstract:

In the face of escalating global crises, Africa presents a distinctive landscape of resilience, where local knowledge systems, digital innovations, and community-driven solutions intersect to foster stability and sustainable development. This panel will delve into the continent's strategies for addressing a "polycrisis"—a nexus of environmental degradation, economic instability, and political challenges—that surpasses the sum of individual crises. The panel aim to explore how African communities adapt, innovate, and thrive in adversity, drawing on both indigenous practices and cutting-edge technologies to navigate complex realities. Papers will highlight grassroots initiatives that blend tradition with modern approaches to crisis management, from climate adaptation techniques in agriculture to financial technology platforms promoting economic inclusion. The panel will also consider how community networks mobilize to build social cohesion, enhance governance, and empower local populations, effectively transforming crises into opportunities for growth. By examining these resilient pathways, the Panel seeks to offer insights into how Africa’s experience can inform broader global responses to intersecting crises, reinforcing that sustainable development in a polycrisis era requires not only adaptation but also innovation grounded in the unique strengths of affected communities.

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