President of the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire and former Prime Minister, Patrick Achi, has been announced as keynote speaker for the Gender and Inclusion Summit 2026 (GS26), scheduled to hold from September 7 to 9 in Abuja.

The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), organisers of the summit, said the 2026 edition will focus on translating policy commitments and innovations into measurable outcomes for women, young people, persons with disabilities and underserved communities across Africa.

This year’s summit is themed, “From Agenda to Action: Making Innovations Count for the Last Mile.”

Achi, an engineer, development strategist and public policy expert, has more than three decades of experience spanning infrastructure development, economic policy, institutional reform and public administration.

In addition to his leadership roles in Côte d’Ivoire, he has participated in international policy initiatives, including as an External Advisor to the joint IMF-World Bank Bretton Woods at 80 Initiative. He also serves on the World Bank Group’s High-Level Advisory Council on Jobs.

PIC said Achi’s experience in government and economic development aligns with the summit’s emphasis on moving beyond policy commitments towards implementation and measurable impact.

Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre, Dr Osasuyi Dirisu, said African countries needed stronger systems and partnerships to ensure that development initiatives translated into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

“Africa is not short of ideas. What we need are stronger systems, partnerships, and accountability mechanisms that turn promising innovations into meaningful outcomes for people,” Dirisu said.

“We are honoured to welcome H.E. Patrick Achi to GS26. His distinguished record in public leadership and economic transformation brings valuable insight into this year’s conversations on how Africa can move from commitments to meaningful action and ensure that progress reaches those furthest behind.”

According to the organisers, GS26 will bring together representatives from government, the private sector, academia, civil society and development organisations to discuss practical approaches to inclusive development.

The three-day summit will place particular emphasis on implementation, accountability and partnerships, with discussions expected to cover education, health, economic inclusion, climate resilience, prevention of gender-based violence, transportation and security.

PIC said the summit would also explore how evidence and innovation could be translated into interventions capable of reaching communities that have historically been underserved by development programmes.

The Gender and Inclusion Summit was established in 2022 as an annual platform for conversations around gender equality, inclusion and gender-responsive governance in Africa.

The summit brings together researchers, policymakers, development practitioners and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and examine approaches to gender and inclusion challenges across the continent.

The Policy Innovation Centre is an initiative of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) focused on applying behavioural insights and evidence to policy and development interventions.