November 2026: a critical dialogue on Children's Futures
Children’s Futures: A Critical Dialogue
The Children’s Institute is convening a critical dialogue on children’s futures on 25 – 26 November 2026.
The dialogue is a key opportunity to bridge research, policy and practice. It will address persistent and emerging challenges that compromise children’s health and optimal development – ranging from rising inequality to digital harm and climate vulnerability. We are bringing together local and global experts – including academics, policymakers, programme managers, and civil society members – to deepen collective understanding, foster collaboration, and stimulate future-oriented and evidence-based discussions on children’s futures.
The dialogue forms part of celebrating our 25th year of advancing children's rights.This event, open to invited stakeholders, is the first of its kind to be held by the Children's Institute.
The key objectives of the dialogue are to:
- Curate spaces for reflection on contemporary developments in child-centred research, policy and practice.
- Bridge research, policy, and practice to advance evidence-based, child-centred solutions.
- Convene a diverse community of stakeholders committed to advancing children’s rights, health and well-being.
- Strengthen inter-sectoral networks and foster new partnerships.
Over the two days there are five plenary discussions and ten carefully curated parallel sessions planned.
Plenary themes:
- Children’s futures: Five lessons on scale, care and complexity
- Demographic transitions and persistent challenges
- From risk to resilience: Putting children at the centre of our response to climate change
- The future of children's rights
- AI, digital technologies and the future of South Africa’s children
Visit our Children's Futures event page for the programme outline.