African development and one health. Juxtaposing resource extraction and sustainability

From 26 to 28 August 2026, the Swiss Society for African Studies (SGAS/SSEA) and the Association for African Studies in Germany e.V. (VAD) will jointly hold their respective biennial conferences in Basel, Switzerland. The conference hosted by the ZASB Research Network Africa at the University of Basel connects scholars based in Europe, Africa and beyond and welcomes participants from all career levels.

The conference theme “African Perspectives on Global Transformations” proposes a framework that responds to increasingly urgent calls for decolonization, epistemic justice, reparations, climate justice and restitution, under the conceptual header of planetary health and cosmopolitan flourishing. Based on this framework, the conference brings together approaches to examine past, present and future global transformations from a broad spectrum of disciplines and thematic areas.

Call for Papers

Africa’s development trajectory presents a critical paradox: how to harness the continent’s abundant natural resources for economic advancement while preserving ecological diversity and public health. This panel invites scholars to examine the complex intersections between resource extraction, environmental sustainability and public health across African contexts. The One Health approach—recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health—offers a vital lens for understanding Africa’s development challenges. As the continent experiences unprecedented urban sprawl, agricultural intensification, and extractive industry expansion, the delicate balance between economic growth and ecological preservation becomes increasingly precarious. From mining operations disrupting traditional pastoralist systems to deforestation affecting zoonotic disease patterns, African communities navigate competing demands for immediate economic benefits and long-term sustainability. We seek papers that explore how African perspectives challenge conventional development models, highlighting indigenous knowledge systems, community-based resource management practices, and innovative governance approaches that prioritize holistic well-being. Potential topics include: extractive industries and health outcomes, agricultural transformation and ecosystem services, wildlife conservation and community livelihoods, climate change adaptation strategies, and traditional ecological knowledge in modern policy frameworks. This panel aims to centre African voices in global conversations about sustainable development, moving beyond external prescriptions to showcase endogenous solutions that balance economic aspirations with environmental stewardship. Contributions from scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of medical humanities, environmental health, development studies, and policy innovation are particularly welcomed.

Rules

• All papers must be proposed via the online conference platform.
• A paper can have one or multiple authors (maximum 4). The person who submits the proposal is the corresponding author.
• One or more presenters can be specified among the authors. Participants may not present more than one paper.
• It is permitted to be a non-presenting co-author on multiple papers. One or more presenters can be specified among the authors
• Every person can have each conference role once: you can be
  • a convenor/chair to one panel, and
  • a discussant once, and
  • a presenter once.
• Papers are proposed to a specific panel. A paper can only be presented in one panel. While it is technically possible to submit the same paper to several panels, we do not encourage that – all multiples will have to be withdrawn.
• The paper proposals will be reviewed by the panel convenors. The decision on acceptance or rejection is up to the panel convenors.
• Papers which are neither accepted nor rejected by the panel convenors, but marked for ‘transfer’, will be given the opportunity to be re-housed into other panels. The organizing committee will propose these papers to convenors of suitable panels that still have space.
• Each panel session slot of 90 minutes will accommodate up to four paper presentations. In order to leave time for discussion, we encourage presentations of 15 minutes. Ultimately, the convenors are responsible for organizing the meeting in such a way that all presenters have equal opportunity to present and discuss their research.
• While there is no general rule on the circulation of papers, convenors may invite authors to share the full paper ahead of the conference. To facilitate this and save on email traffic, authors can upload PDFs of their papers via the conference platform. The papers will then be accessible for all registered conference participants.

Panels

1) Studying Africa Understanding the World

2) Diaspora, cosmopolitanism, and African identities

3) Politics and Governance

4) African Positions in Changing World Orders

5) Planetary Health, urbanization and natural resources

6) Technology and digitalization

7) Lifeworlds and sociality

8) Arts, language and cultural expression

9) Memories, histories, archives, museums

Procedure

Paper proposals must consist of:

• The panel to which the paper is proposed
• Paper title
• An abstract of max 250 words
• Name, institutional affiliation and email address of author(s)

The deadline for paper submissions is 11 January 2026 (23:59 CET).

All proposals must be made via the conference platform. We do not accept paper proposals via email.