The growing need for African institutions to collaborate in addressing shared social and economic challenges is opening new opportunities for Zimbabwean development practitioners to contribute to research, training and capacity building across the continent.

As part of the drive local organisation the Institute of Social Development Practices (ISDP) recently participated at the Annual Human Resource Student International Conference and Expo 2026 hosted by Kenya's Tharaka University on October 22 and 23.

Held under the theme "Human Potential in an AI-Driven World: Leading, Adapting and Thriving," the conference examined the relationship between artificial intelligence, human capacity development and the changing world of work.
At the conference, ISDP founder and executive director, Petronella Muungani engaged community development students, sharing her professional experiences and highlighting opportunities for graduates in the social sciences field.

Muungani said the engagement had reinforced the importance of creating platforms through which African professionals could share experiences and develop solutions to challenges affecting communities across the continent.

“Overall, the visit was a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange, networking and building relationships that could lead to future collaboration between Zimbabwe and Kenya,” she said.

She said the discussions had laid a foundation for possible cooperation between ISDP and Tharaka University, with opportunities extending to academic exchanges, collaborative research and professional development.

Muungani said the Institute was interested in developing partnerships that would expose students and practitioners to experiences beyond their national borders while strengthening the capacity of institutions involved in social development.

Tharaka University conference convenor, Dr Viona Aluvale, said the event was designed to establish a sustained relationship between academia and industry, allowing practitioners to share workplace experiences while universities align their teaching and research with emerging professional demands.

"For the academy, it is a feedback loop: practitioners show us how HR is actually done, faculty test their teaching and research against real problems," she said.

Dr Aluvale said the university was keen to extend the benefits of the conference beyond Kenya through partnerships with international speakers and institutions.

She said potential cooperation with ISDP could include internships and attachments for students in Zimbabwe, joint community development and youth employment programmes, as well as shared research initiatives.

She added that the university was interested in sharing its experiences with other African institutions, including its dual-certification model, under which Human Resource Management students graduate with both academic degrees and the Certified Human Resource Professional qualification.

Ghanaian conference co-host Benjamin Owusu-Ansah said collaboration among African institutions was particularly important as technology continued to transform the workplace and the delivery of services.

He said the changing employment environment required institutions to share knowledge on how emerging technologies could be integrated into organisational systems while maintaining responsible human-centred approaches.

"AI is changing how organisations recruit, develop talent, deliver services and make decisions, so Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwean institutions can exchange experiences on how to adapt these technologies responsibly," he said.

Owusu-Ansah said there were significant opportunities for joint training programmes and continued professional development involving institutions from different African countries.

The engagements at Tharaka University brought together perspectives from East, Southern and West Africa, demonstrating the potential for regional partnerships in education, human capital development and professional training.

For ISDP, the engagement provides an opportunity to expand its continental networks and strengthen its role in connecting development practitioners with academic institutions and emerging professional opportunities.

📸ISDP Founder and Executive Director Ms Petronella Muungani (in black) with officials from Tharaka University in Kenya during a recent conference on human capacity development.