This year, Africa stands at the forefront of the evolution of language services with the upcoming ALCA Annual Conference 2024. This landmark event is organized by the Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA) and marks the first anniversary of the association, reflecting on a year of significant growth and achievements. The conference is scheduled to take place online on August 28-29, 2024 and invites language service providers (LSPs), industry stakeholders, and other professionals to engage in an enriching exchange of ideas, insights, and strategies under the theme “Forging Robust and Thriving Language Services Companies in Africa.”

The ALCA Annual Conference is more than just a gathering — it’s a platform for fostering collaboration and driving the future of language services across the continent. This year’s theme focuses on the sustainability and growth of African LSPs, with sessions dedicated to strategic partnerships, innovative technologies, and the balance between global impact and local relevance.

Key themes include:

• Strategic Partnerships: Essential for sustaining and expanding businesses within the African language services industry.
• Technological Innovation: Exploring how digital tools and AI are driving efficiency and competitiveness.
• Talent Development: Addressing the need to cultivate skilled professionals to meet the industry’s growing demands.
• Market Expansion: Strategies for seizing new opportunities across the continent.
• Quality Assurance: Ensuring client satisfaction through robust quality measures.

Speakers and Sessions:

• Johan Botha kicks off the conference with a keynote on “The Real AI: Using African Intelligence for Global Innovation,” highlighting Africa’s role in shaping the future of AI.
• Carrie Fischer leads a panel on “Building Community through Volunteering,” discussing the growth and global outreach of Women in Localization.
• Ady Namaran Coulibaly & Mary Mawuena Nanafi will present “Project Management Essentials,” a workshop tailored for aspiring project managers within the language services sector.
• Christian Elongué will explore the development of communities of practice in “Building Communities of Practices in the African Language Industry.”
• Tex Texin focuses on the urgent need for language digitization in “Accelerating Implications for Digitizing Indigenous Languages.”
• Kristin Peltz will discuss the critical role of language in healthcare in her presentation, “Life Sciences in African Languages: Creating Access to Healthcare.”
• Emmanuel Clifford Gyetuah will delve into collaborative strategies in “Reshaping Collaboration in the Language Services Industry.”
• Lize Spies will highlight the importance of sign language interpreting in “Saving Lives with South African Sign Language: The Necessity of Sign Language Interpreting within the South African Public Healthcare Sector.”
• Lucrecia Jarab will examine the relationship between Africa and Latin America in “Africa and Latin America, Friends or Foes?”
• Oumi Kulthum El-kindiy Ferguson will address interpreter pricing in “The Impact of Interpreter Rates of Large Organizations on Interpreter Pricing.”
• Qhawekazi Phelakho & Siyanda Siwela will lead a panel discussion on “Quality Assurance Strategies for Client Satisfaction in Language Service Companies in Africa.”
• Renato Beninatto will explore industry trends in “The Evolution of Translation: Challenges and Opportunities for LSPs.”
• Ricky Kalu will guide participants through the intricacies of media localization in “Untapped Opportunities within the African Media Localization Landscape.”
• Serge Gladkoff will present new tools for the translation industry in “Translation and Localization Tools for the New AI Era.”
• Stefan Huyghe will discuss the transformative potential of AI in “The Intelligence Revolution: Catalyzing Africa’s Next Business Boom.”

Join the Movement

The ALCA Annual Conference is not just an event; it’s a catalyst for change in the African language services industry. By participating, you contribute to the development of a robust and thriving industry that is poised to make a significant impact both locally and globally. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative experience that promises to shape the future of language services in Africa.

Register Today

Secure your spot at the ALCA Annual Conference 2024 and join us in forging a brighter future for the language services industry in Africa. Register now and explore sponsorship opportunities to showcase your brand to a diverse audience of industry professionals.

For more information, contact Christiana Aboagye at coordinator@alca-association.org.