African–European research and capacity-development partnerships play an important role in addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, water security, land degradation, food security, and sustainable development. Over recent years, increasing attention has been given not only to strengthening scientific capacity, but also to ensuring that collaborative research translates into practical solutions and long-term societal impact.

Building on previous discussions on capacity development and African–European research cooperation, this session focuses on the next step: how partnerships can evolve from individual projects and training activities towards sustained research capacity, institutional strengthening, locally led innovation, and implementation.

We invite contributions examining innovative and equitable approaches to African–European collaboration across climate change impact and adaptation, water and land management, environmental sustainability, and related fields. Particular attention will be given to co-creation of knowledge, long-term institutional partnerships, early-career researcher development, research mobility, South–South and African–European networks, science–policy–practice interfaces, and mechanisms for translating research into locally relevant solutions.

The session welcomes both successful examples and critical reflections on challenges such as unequal partnerships, short-term funding cycles, continuity beyond individual projects, and the measurement of capacity-development and societal impacts. Contributions from researchers, practitioners, policymakers, funders, and capacity-development programmes are encouraged.