Third biennial international conference
Global Health in an Interconnected World: Embracing Ubuntu for Collective Action
A global meeting of researchers, practitioners, policymakers and communities exploring shared solutions for health equity, social justice and human wellbeing.
About the conference
Knowledge across disciplines. Action across borders.
The 3rd Biennial International Social Work and Multidisciplinary Conference Meet 2027 convenes academics, practitioners, researchers, policymakers and students to advance interdisciplinary dialogue and evidence-based responses to pressing health and social challenges.
Building on two previous editions, the conference creates space for cross-cultural knowledge exchange and partnerships across Kenya, the United States and the wider international community.
Its central proposition is simple: sustainable solutions grow when research, policy, professional practice and community knowledge work together.
Global health
Health as a shared human right shaped by social, economic, political, environmental and cultural determinants.
Interconnectedness
Recognising that challenges cross borders and solutions depend on cooperation between disciplines and institutions.
Ubuntu & collective action
Putting solidarity, mutual responsibility and human dignity at the centre of transformative practice.
Call for contributions
Explore the conference tracks
We welcome theoretical, empirical and practice-based contributions across eight thematic areas.
🏥 Global Health Systems & Policy
Universal health coverage, financing, health workforce, governance and pandemic preparedness.
🫱🏽🫲🏾 Social Work Theory & Practice
Evidence-based practice, education, professional ethics, community development and family welfare.
🌿 Ubuntu, Indigenous Knowledge & Culture
African epistemologies, indigenous healing, cultural humility and decolonising practice.
🧠 Mental Health & Psychosocial Well-being
Trauma, depression, substance use, resilience, counselling and community mental health.
⚖️ Migration, Displacement & Social Justice
Refugees, internally displaced people, diaspora, statelessness and rights-based approaches.
🧑🤝🧑 Gender, Youth & Vulnerable Populations
Gender-based violence, disability, ageing, child protection, inclusion and FGM.
🌱 Climate Change, Environment & Health
Climate justice, environmental health, eco-social work and sustainable development.
💡 Technology, AI, Innovation & Social Work
Digital social work, telehealth, AI in social services, data ethics and e-mental health
Partner institutions & co-hosts
Important dates
Plan your submission
Prepare your abstract and submit it through the official conference Email when available.
1 November 2026
Abstract submission opens
Begin preparing your structured abstract and author details.
Submissions open1 March 2027
Abstract submission closes
Late submissions will not be accepted. A maximum of three abstracts per presenting author applies.
Deadline10 March 2027
Acceptance notifications
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DecisionAbstract structure
Background, Methods, Results and Conclusion
Include
Concise title, 3–5 keywords, author affiliations
Review criteria
Originality, thematic relevance, rigour and potential impact
Presentation types
Oral or poster presentation
Attend the conference
Registration & participation
Choose the category that applies to you. Early-bird and late registration rates are listed below as provided in the conference concept note.
| Participant category | Early bird | Late registration |
|---|---|---|
| Local students | KES 1,000 | KES 2,000 |
| Local non-student participants | KES 3,500 | KES 5,500 |
| Participants from other African countries | USD 45 | USD 53 |
| International students | USD 50 | USD 70 |
| International participants | USD 140 | USD 180 |
| Exhibition — local | KES 5,000 | KES 7,000 |
| Exhibition — international | USD 50 | USD 70 |
Registration opening dates and payment instructions will be announced by the Conference Secretariat. Presenting authors must register for the conference.
Conference leadership
Organising committee
The conference is overseen by a committee representing Maasai Mara University and partner institutions.
Prof. Aloys Osano
Chairperson
Maasai Mara University, Kenya
Prof. Benard Kodak
Conference Co-Chair (Chairing)
Maasai Mara University, Kenya
Prof. Wanja Ogongi
Conference Co-Chair (Chairing)
Millersville University of Pennsylvania, USA
Prof. Sr. Paula Ude
Member
Concord University, West Virginia, USA
Dr. Raphael Namaru
Member
Maasai Mara University, Kenya
Dr. Zeddy Lemein
Member
Maasai Mara University, Kenya
Dr. Edward Kateiya
Member
Maasai Mara University, Kenya
Prof. Jessica W. Weiss
Member
Millersville University of Pennsylvania, USA
Ms. Everlyne Makhokha
Member
Maasai Mara University, Kenya
Dr. Urbanus Ndolo
Member
Tharaka University, Kenya
Bertha Saldaña DeJesus
Member
Millersville University of Pennsylvania, USA
Prof. Mihoko Maru
Member
University of Hawaii
Dr. Phyllis Muraguri
Member
President, ASWEK
Dr. Wilkin Ndege
Member
JKUAT
Dr. Timothy Okatta
Member
ASWEK
Ms. Grace Ndegwa
Member
Arizona State University
Dr. Kennedy Karani Onyiko
Secretariat
Maasai Mara University, Kenya
Prof. Mary Gitau
Conference Co-Secretary
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
Venue & logistics
Meet in the heart of Kenya
Maasai Mara University, located in Narok County, Kenya, offers a unique setting for academic exchange, framed by the breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity of the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Game Reserve. The university provides an opportunity for delegates to experience the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration, one of the region’s most remarkable natural phenomena, which typically begins reaching the Maasai Mara around June–July, with the timing varying from year to year. The conference is therefore especially significant as it coincides with the anticipated onset of the migration, offering participants an opportunity to combine scholarly engagement with an appreciation of the Mara’s extraordinary wildlife and natural heritage. This setting also reflects Maasai Mara University’s Five Ms research pillars: the Maasai Mara Game Reserve Ecosystem, the Mara River, the Mau Forest, Maasai Culture, and Maombi kwa Wote. These pillars provide an interdisciplinary foundation for research, innovation, community engagement, and sustainable development. Together with the university’s conference facilities, accommodation options, and the opportunity to experience local Maasai culture and tourism, the setting offers a distinctive environment for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and transformative academic dialogue.orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
📍 Location
Maasai Mara University, Narok
🗓️ Dates
9–11 June 2027
🚗 By road
Approx. 140 km from Nairobi
✉️ Travel support
Guidance from the Secretariat
Bring your research into the conversation.
"Complex social challenges do not respect professional boundaries. To build resilient systems, we must bring every voice to the table—from classroom research to frontline practice, and from community advocacy to legislative policy."
