Founded in September 2023 at GERAD (Group for Research in Decision Analysis), OR@AFRICA is a visionary initiative dedicated to the advancement of Operational Research (OR) in Africa. It was born from the collective ambition of a group of African researchers seeking to create awareness, enhance visibility, foster collaboration, and provide concrete solutions to the continent’s challenges.

Despite the presence of many talented African OR researchers and practitioners in Africa and worldwide, the African continent is lacking behind in terms of OR adoption. OR@AFRICA aims to bridge this gap by creating a platform that connects academia, industry, and decision-makers, ensuring that African contributions to OR are acknowledged and leveraged globally.

From the outset, OR@AFRICA has made a strong impact through its active presence on LinkedIn, highlighting African researchers’ achievements and the impact of OR projects across the continent. Three key series were launched: Afri Icons, tracing the journeys of exceptional African OR researchers; Afri Stories, showcasing concrete projects where OR was used to tackle major challenges in Africa; and Afri Opportunities, sharing the latest academic and professional opportunities for the OR community.

A Global Initiative with an African Core

OR@AFRICA extends beyond Africa’s borders, bringing together a global community committed to OR projects related to Africa. Open to researchers, professionals, and institutions worldwide, the initiative strongly emphasizes collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building in OR across the continent.

Founded by Wissem Ahmed Zaid; Mohamed Faouzi Benammour; El Mehdi Er Raqabi; Meisseme Kadri; Abdellaoui Abdelhakim; Omar Boussouf; Oussama Siwane; and Youssouf Emine, OR@Africa was established with the support of Professor Issmail El Hallaoui. The goal is to bring together African OR researchers and non-African OR Researchers interested in the continent to tackle real-world problems in Africa using OR.

OR@AFRICA Events

Since its inception, OR@AFRICA has organized key events to promote OR in Africa and strengthen international collaborations.

In May 2024, during the Optimization Days (JOPT 2024) at HEC Montréal, the team hosted two successful sessions, including conferences and presentations, bringing together researchers, students, and professionals. With the participation of leading OR figures like Professor Gilbert Laporte, these sessions highlighted advancements in the field, while a roundtable discussion explored the challenges facing the African continent, while also highlighting the untapped opportunities that OR can help unlock and address.

A few months later, in January 2025, OR@AFRICA took a significant step forward with the first OR@AFRICA Day at GERAD. This event showcased OR in Africa through conferences, discussion panels, and networking sessions. Several research projects addressing Africa-specific challenges were presented, and insightful discussions underscored the critical role of OR in solving complex problems on the continent. It was a turning point, fostering new partnerships, research collaborations, and ambitious projects

The success of OR@AFRICA Day gained international recognition, attracting the attention of the global OR community. The event was covered by renowned OR organizations, including INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences) and IFORS (International Federation of Operational Research Societies). IFORS even published an article on this initiative in its newsletter, highlighting its impact, success, and strategic role in promoting OR in Africa.

Building the Future of OR in Africa

OR@AFRICA remains committed to strengthening collaborations and increasing the visibility of African OR research through major upcoming events.

The team will be present at the EURO (Association of European Operational Research Societies) 2025 conference, where several sessions will highlight research projects related to Africa. OR@AFRICA will also organize sessions at the Optimization Days JOPT 2025, and IFORS 2026 conference, along with hosting the OR@AFRICA Day 2026, continuing its mission to promote and advance OR in Africa.

We invite the international OR community to join us, support this movement, and contribute to the growth of a globally connected network, where OR serves as a key driver of progress across Africa.