Public engagement is essential if scientists are to influence policy, education and public discourse. However, engagement activities are limited and challenging in developing countries. A major barrier to effective outreach in these countries is the lack of model programmes that address the multiple, peculiar challenges faced. At this symposium, I will discuss the outcomes, feedback and extensions to approaches being used to develop innovative solutions to public engagement across Africa, especially in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania. These include: (i) an evidence-based approach to public engagement training for undergraduate and graduate students, (ii) training programmes to develop high school teachers’ capacity to use alternative, low-budget resources to teach practical aspects of science in resource-limited settings, and (iii) audience-specific engagement approaches, including those for school children, high school students and community groups in different settings, highlighting commonalities and divergence among audience. Furthermore, I will discuss how these approaches could be adapted and expanded to different developing-world settings.