The Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on 22 May 2026 opened the two-day Pre-Summit Track-II Academic Conference of the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit at Sapru House in New Delhi under the theme Shared Futures Shared Strength Expanding India-Africa Partnership. The conference runs through 23 May 2026 and is jointly curated by ICWA, the Ministry of External Affairs Africa Division and partner African think tanks to feed academic and policy recommendations into the official India-Africa Forum Summit IV scheduled in New Delhi from 28 to 31 May 2026. The main summit is structured around the operational theme IA SPIRIT — India Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation Resilience and Inclusive Transformation. Track-II working sessions on 22 May focus on five priority baskets — digital public infrastructure including Aadhaar and UPI stack transfer to African partners; critical minerals and value-chain security with focus on lithium cobalt rare earths and copper; food security including India’s pulses, millets and dairy cooperation; climate resilience, solar electrification through the International Solar Alliance, and Global Biofuels Alliance partnerships; and connectivity through Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, ports and digital cable systems. The conference brings together scholars, retired ambassadors, industry leaders, women entrepreneurs and youth delegates from India and 54 African Union member states. The 23 May session will feature a recommendations report and an India-Africa Dance and Music Festival. India last hosted the IAFS in 2015, making the 2026 Summit the resumption of the highest-level India-Africa engagement format after an eleven-year gap.