Uchenna Cecil izuora
The Project Management Institute (PMI) Global Summit Series is set to move to Cape Town, South Africa, from 14 to 15 September 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Following a landmark gathering in Kigali that drew over 1,000 project professionals, industry executives, and government officials, the Cape Town edition, hosted by PMI Sub‑Saharan Africa, has become Africa’s largest dedicated platform for advancing project delivery, leadership, and innovation.
Cape Town provides a fitting setting for this year’s event. As one of the continent’s leading hubs for business, infrastructure, and innovation, the city mirrors the level of ambition and execution required to deliver transformative projects across Africa. Anchored around the theme “Africa Delivers M.O.R.E Together,” the Summit will encourage project professionals to move beyond basic execution, manage perceptions, own project success, respond to change, and broaden their focus to the wider impact of their work.
According to George Asamani, Managing Director of PMI Sub‑Saharan Africa, the theme also reflects the continent’s long‑standing trajectory of collective progress. “From regional blocs like ECOWAS, SADC, and EAC to major initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and Mission 300, Africa’s greatest achievements have been built on partnership, coordination, and shared purpose,” he said. This aligns with the philosophy of Ubuntu, “I am because we are”, underscoring that Africa’s success is deeply interconnected and rooted in collaboration.
The urgency of this message was evident at last year’s Summit in Kigali, where leaders from the African Development Bank stressed that Africa’s main constraint is not a lack of capital, but a shortage of bankable projects, well‑prepared, investable opportunities that can attract financing and deliver tangible impact. Compounding this challenge is a widening talent gap. PMI’s Talent Gap report projects that global demand for project professionals will rise sharply, with up to 30 million additional professionals needed by 2035. In Sub‑Saharan Africa alone, demand is expected to grow by as much as 75%, underlining the pressing need to build project management capacity across the region.
“Without the right skills and capabilities, even the most promising initiatives stall. The Global Summit Series Cape Town is designed to move beyond talk and directly build the talent and expertise Africa needs to deliver at scale,” Asamani added.
The Kigali edition brought together some of the continent’s most influential voices, including Dr Akinwumi Adesina, then President of the African Development Bank, alongside experts such as Armand Nzeyimana and Eric Ogunleye from AfDB, Pierre Kayitana of Zipline Rwanda, and Kusobile Kamwambi from the Government of Zambia. The event also featured global figures like Dr Moses Adoko, formerly with NASA, entrepreneur and artist Olubankole Wellington (Banky W), and Guinness World Record holder Tunde Onakoya. Leading academic perspectives were provided by Professor Kayihura Muganga Didas of the University of Rwanda, Dr Sanele Nhlabatsi of UNISA, and Professor Lavagnon Ika of the Telfer School of Management.
Together, speakers highlighted the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and value‑driven execution in delivering complex, high‑impact projects. As the Summit arrives in Cape Town, it will deepen these conversations with a renewed focus on delivering impact at scale. Attendees will explore practical tools for managing mega‑projects, examine applications of artificial intelligence in African infrastructure, and connect with the continent’s leading project delivery practitioners.
PMI stresses that project success today is no longer measured only by timelines and budgets, but also by the value projects generate, whether in economic growth, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, or improved quality of life. Early‑bird registration for the Cape Town event is currently open, with discounted rates available until 12 May 2026.
Marking ten years of convening the region’s project leaders, the PMI Global Summit Series closes a significant chapter, returning to the heart of Southern Africa after earlier editions that began in Johannesburg. The journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town reflects a decade of growth, connection, and impact for the African project management community.