African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation

12/10/2026

🎤 𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗙 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝘂𝗽 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱

We are pleased to share the full line-up for the African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF) Side Event at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2026 in Barcelona.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲:
𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗽

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀

• Dr. Saman Kamran – Founder of COD & ASCIF Regional Ambassador (Western Europe)

• Dr. Alexandre Faure – Director / Delegate Secretary, Development Council of the Greater Paris Metropolis

• Dr. Nicolás Camerati – Founder, Résilience Ville & Habitantes Organizados

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿

• Mr. David Olatunji – President & Founder, African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF)

𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀

• Lilian Kalekye Wambua – Lead, Africa Circular Economy Network (Kenya Chapter)

• Melike Elçi – ASCIF Regional Ambassador (Southern Europe)

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀

📅 3 November 2026

🕕 18:05 – 18:50

📍 Stage: AI × Cities

🏛 Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona

This session will explore how AI, collective intelligence, and democratic innovation can help cities keep every citizen meaningfully engaged in decision-making and urban development.

We look forward to an insightful conversation and to welcoming partners, city leaders, and innovators in Barcelona.

Stay tuned for more updates.









Smart City Expo World Congress UN Climate Change Giscea Giscea

08/10/2026

🌍 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲

This edition takes a deep dive into COP31 Antalya 2026, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference that will shape the next phase of global climate action.

In the article, we break down:

🟢 What COP31 is and why it matters

🟢 Key dates, leadership, and priorities

🟢 The strong focus on Zero Waste and Climate-Resilient Cities

🟢 What Africa stands to gain (and demand) in Antalya

🟢 Why this summit is a critical bridge to COP32 in Ethiopia

As the world moves from pledges to implementation, COP31 offers an important opportunity for African cities, innovators, and policymakers to influence the global climate agenda.

📖 Read the full article and join the conversation.


UN Climate Change Giscea Giscea

The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) is set to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. As the world moves deeper into the implementation decade of the Paris Agreement, COP31 represents a critical turning point, s...

05/10/2026

🏡 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Today we join the global community in reflecting on one of the most urgent urban challenges of our time: housing that is not only available, but affordable, inclusive, and sustainable.

Housing is more than shelter. It shapes opportunity, dignity, health, and the future of our cities. When housing policy focuses only on delivering units, we miss the bigger picture, building complete, equitable, and resilient communities.

At the African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF), we believe housing must be connected to land governance, climate resilience, community participation, and smart urban planning. Cities that get this right create places where people can truly thrive.

How can African cities use housing policy to build better cities, not just more units?

We welcome your thoughts below.









UN Climate Change Smart City Expo World Congress UN-HABITAT UN-Habitat Philippines

28/09/2026

🎤 𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗙 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Nicolás Camerati, will be joining us as a speaker at the African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF) Side Event during the Smart City Expo World Congress 2026 in Barcelona.

𝗗𝗿. 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹á𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶

Sociologist & Consultant in Urban and Democratic Innovation

Founder, Résilience Ville & Habitantes Organizados

Representative in Chile, Repérage Urbain

Dr. Camerati specialises in understanding territorial transformations, citizen practices, and stakeholder expectations, translating them into actionable diagnostics and strategic guidance for public decision-making.

He designs and leads collaborative processes including citizen participation, field research, participatory mapping, and multi-stakeholder coordination. His work sits at the intersection of elected officials, technical teams, residents, private actors, and institutions, with a strong focus on collective intelligence, foresight, and the use of digital tools and artificial intelligence to support more responsive territorial governance.

𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗙 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗽
🕕 18:05 – 18:50
📍 Stage: AI × Cities

🏛 Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona

We look forward to his contribution to the conversation on continuous and inclusive citizen engagement in smart cities.


Smart City Expo World Congress

28/09/2026

🎤 𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗙 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Saman Kamran will be joining us as a speaker at the African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF) Side Event during the Smart City Expo World Congress 2026 in Barcelona.

𝗗𝗿. 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗿𝗮𝗻

Founder of COD (Collaborative Ontology Development)

ASCIF Regional Ambassador (Western Europe)

Dr. Kamran is a leading voice in collective intelligence, digital democracy, and AI-enabled civic engagement. As the founder of COD, he has been pioneering practical approaches that help public institutions engage citizens at scale while turning their input into structured, actionable insights.

He will share insights on how AI and collaborative intelligence can support continuous, inclusive, and meaningful citizen participation in urban governance.

𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗙 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗽
📅 3 November 2026
🕕 18:05 – 18:50
📍 Stage: AI × Cities

🏛 Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona

We look forward to an insightful conversation on the future of democratic engagement in smart cities.


Smart City Expo World Congress Giscea Giscea

14/09/2026

🌍 𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗙 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

We are pleased to announce that the African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF) will host an official Side Event at the Smart City Expo World Congress (𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗪𝗖𝟮𝟲) in Barcelona.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗽
📅 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 3 November 2026
🕕 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 18:05 – 18:50
📍 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲: Stage – AI × Cities

🏛 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗮

As cities become more complex, a critical question remains:

How can citizen participation move beyond small, one-off exercises and become a continuous, scalable part of modern governance?

This Side Event will explore the intersection of democratic innovation, artificial intelligence, civic technology, and participatory governance. It will examine how AI-enabled tools can support more inclusive, continuous, and actionable citizen engagement, while ensuring that technology remains an enabler, not a substitute, for democratic accountability.

Drawing on real-world experience, including the Collaborative Ontology Development (COD) approach tested with the Métropole du Grand Paris, the session will also explore how such models can be adapted and co-developed for African cities and public institutions.

The discussion will bring together policymakers, civic technologists, researchers, and practitioners to identify pathways for more inclusive and responsive urban governance.

We look forward to welcoming partners, city leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to this important conversation in Barcelona.

For inquiries: [email protected]

More about ASCIF: www.ascif.org








Smart City Expo World Congress UN Climate Change Giscea Giscea Smart Cities Expo World Forum

07/09/2026

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗪𝗖𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟰

Applications for the Smart City Expo World Congress Startups Program are closing soon.

Selected startups will secure a space in the Innovation Playground, take the stage during a Startup Pitch Session, and access valuable matchmaking opportunities with key players across the urban innovation ecosystem.

The programme connects startups with:
🌍 27,000+ global decision-makers and media
🏙️ Public authorities and corporations seeking new solutions
💼 Investors focused on urban technology

As a Collaborating Partner of SCEWC26, African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF) encourages innovative startups working on smart, inclusive, and climate-resilient urban solutions to apply and showcase their work on a global stage.

𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝟭𝟰 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Apply here: https://loom.ly/qUohndI

Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of Barcelona this November.


Smart City Expo World Congress

07/09/2026

𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗽 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵! 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: “𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.”

September marks World Cleanup Day month, and this year’s theme puts food waste firmly on the table.

Every year, an estimated 1.05 billion tonnes of food are wasted globally. That waste does not simply disappear; it places pressure on urban services, wastes valuable resources, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

This World Cleanup Day, the call goes beyond cleaning up. It is a call for cities, communities, businesses, and individuals to prevent food waste, rethink how we manage it, and take practical steps toward cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable cities.

We believe circular solutions, including better food systems and waste management, are essential to building resilient urban communities.
From clean plates to clean cities, every action counts.

Be part of the movement: https://lnkd.in/eQJhKKsj


UN Climate Change UN-HABITAT Ministry of Local Government and Inner Islands Giscea Giscea

01/09/2026

🌆 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗮

The Smart City Expo World Congress remains the world’s leading platform for urban innovation, bringing together city leaders, governments, companies, and organisations to turn urban ambition into real solutions.

Since 2011, it has been a key space for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and partnerships that help cities address today’s most pressing challenges, from climate resilience and digital transformation to inclusive urban development.

As a Collaborating Partner of SCEWC26, the African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF) is proud to be part of this global conversation and looks forward to contributing to the dialogue in Barcelona.

📅 𝟯–𝟱 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
📍 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗮, 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻

We encourage our network of innovators, policymakers, researchers, and urban practitioners to join this important gathering.

Want to know more? Drop us an email at [email protected] or visit our website: www.ascif.org


Giscea Giscea Smart City Expo World Congress Smart Cities Expo World Forum

24/08/2026

The future of cities will not be decided by the number of sensors we install.

It will be decided by the quality of the decisions we make about land, housing, mobility, energy, and opportunity.

Technology can accelerate progress, but only when it is guided by clear purpose, strong institutions, and a genuine commitment to inclusion.

As cities grow rapidly across the continent, the real challenge is not simply becoming “smart.” It is becoming more resilient, more equitable, and more capable of delivering dignity at scale.

That is the conversation that matters.

What do you think should be the priority for cities over the next decade?


Giscea Giscea Smart Cities Mission