African Women in Media (AWiM) is inviting submissions for its 10th annual conference and Global Forum (AWiM26), which will take place in Windhoek, Namibia, on December 3 and 4, 2026, under the theme: “Powering Women’s Leadership: Media, Economics, and Governance.”
AWiM conferences bring together leaders from media, creative industries, technology, policy, academia, and finance to explore how inclusive leadership can shape the future of media systems. The AWiM26 Conference marks 10 years of AWiM’s work, which is aimed at advancing gender equality in and through media, representing a moment to reflect on progress while addressing structural barriers that continue to limit participation in media economies and leadership.
This year’s conference will explore three subthemes, namely: Media, Power, and Narrative Leadership; Resources, Ownership, and the Future of Creative Work; and Governance, Participation, and Rights. It will convene practitioners, academics, policymakers, regulators, technologists, investors, funders, civil society organisations, and creators.
AWiM is inviting contributions across journalism, film, television, radio, publishing, music, advertising, sports media, gaming, cultural production, influencer and creator industries, community storytelling, and the platform and financial infrastructures that shape contemporary communication. Formats for submissions include research papers, panels, workshops, creator showcases, policy labs, exhibitions, and lightning talks.
The conference will also mark the launch of the “Windhoek Framework for Inclusive Media Economies”, an initiative aimed at strengthening fair participation of African media organisations and creators in regional and global media systems.
The Windhoek Framework advances fair participation of African media organisations and creators in regional and global media economies through equitable partnerships, inclusive leadership, and strong digital protection.
Underpinned by inclusive leadership and decision-making, it is guided by three core principles, namely: Fair market access for African media and cultural producers; Equitable global partnerships in media and creative industries; and Stronger digital protection for intellectual property, data, and creators’ rights and safety.
The Framework builds on the legacy of the historic Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press, which established the principles of press freedom and media pluralism in Africa.
While the Windhoek Declaration addressed the political foundations for media freedom, the Windhoek Framework seeks to address the economic and digital foundations necessary for inclusive media systems in today’s world.
As part of the Windhoek Framework, AWiM will present the Supplementary Protocol on Digital Protection and Artificial Intelligence (Kigali Declaration 2.0), developed through AWiM’s Communities of Practice and Policy Labs. The protocol addresses emerging risks related to digital harassment, algorithmic bias, and intellectual property exploitation in AI-driven media environments.
The expected outcomes from the conference are the finalisation and launch of the Windhoek Framework for Inclusive Media Economies; policy recommendations addressing market access, digital protection and equitable media partnerships; new collaborations between media organisations, investors, and policymakers; and commitments from investors, funders, and institutions to support women-led media enterprises and inclusive media economies.
AwiM says it is looking for proposals that are research-based, practice-based, policy-oriented, tech-focused, creative, experimental, or cross-disciplinary.
Selected contributions will feed into a range of programme formats, including: research papers (academic or applied); multi-stakeholder panels/roundtables; skills workshops / masterclasses, which should be practical and interactive; creator showcases that are short, high-energy demonstrations of methods or models; policy labs, which should be sessions designed to produce draft frameworks, guidelines, or tools; exhibitions, including photography, film, audio, extended reality (XR), interactive and digital projects; and lightning talks that are focused provocations.
It is also seeking participation from those who are building audiences through TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, Instagram, newsletters, streaming platforms, or community channels, especially if they are experimenting with sustainable income models; navigating platform risk or harassment; producing cultural or political content; or developing new formats for African storytelling.
The deadline for submissions is April 30, 2026. To submit a conference abstract, go to: https://bit.ly/4vwgymd
