Conference Objectives
- Examine the macroeconomic drivers and structural barriers influencing GDP growth, poverty reduction, and employment across Sub-Saharan and North African economies
- Advance dialogue on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation and its real-world impacts on intra-African trade flows
- Explore climate-resilient development strategies that reconcile economic growth imperatives with environmental sustainability on the continent
- Assess the role of digital finance, mobile banking, and fintech ecosystems in accelerating financial inclusion for underserved African populations
- Encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration between economists, development practitioners, international organizations, and African government representatives
- Identify scalable models for infrastructure investment, human capital development, and institutional reform that translate research into lasting policy impact
Who Should Attend
This event suits academic economists, economic planners, development practitioners and journalists covering African governance.
- Academic economists and development studies researchers specializing in African markets
- Government ministers, economic planners, and senior public sector officials from African nations
- Representatives of multilateral institutions such as the African Development Bank, IMF, and World Bank
- Private sector investors and entrepreneurs engaged in African frontier and emerging markets
- NGO leaders and international development practitioners working across the continent
- Postgraduate students and early-career researchers pursuing African economic development studies
- Journalists, think-tank analysts, and policy advocates focused on African economic governance
Select Ticket Type
Registration for the 28th International Conference on African Economics and Development in Ajax offers a range of participation tiers designed to accommodate the diverse circumstances of academics, practitioners, and students engaging with African economic scholarship. Each ticket category is transparently priced with all applicable taxes included, so delegates can plan their budgets with complete confidence. We invite you to review the options below and select the registration package that best aligns with your professional role and attendance requirements.
Registration Fees
- Early Bird Author Registration – US$499 For authors keen on availing a $100 discount on the regular registration fee, early bird registration is recommended.
- Regular Author Registration – US$599 If the early bird deadline has been missed, authors can opt for the regular registration process.
- Listener Registration – US$499 Individuals interested in attending the conference to expand their knowledge and network can register as listeners.
What Registration Includes
- Admission to the conference sessions
- Conference materials
- Presentation opportunity for eligible authors and speakers
- Certificate of participation or presentation for eligible registered participants
- Networking access
- Conference photo session
- Official registration confirmation
- Invitation letter support for eligible registered participants
- Refreshments or meal items as confirmed in the final venue package
Invitation Letter Support
The organizing committee of the 28th International Conference on African Economics and Development is pleased to provide official invitation letters to registered participants who require documentation to support their travel arrangements to Ajax, Canada. These letters confirm your acceptance and registration status and are issued solely to individuals who have completed the conference registration process and, where applicable, had their submitted work accepted.
To request an invitation letter, participants should complete registration, obtain any relevant confirmation reference number, and submit a formal request to the conference secretariat. Letters are typically processed within three to five business days and are sent by email.
Please note that while the conference secretariat will make every reasonable effort to provide timely and accurate invitation documentation, the issuance of an official invitation letter does not in any way guarantee the granting of a visa or travel authorization by Canadian immigration authorities or any other relevant government body; visa decisions rest solely with the applicable immigration and consular offices.
Before You Register
- Registration fees are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another person. If your visa is refused, you get 50% off one new registration for a later edition in your name.
- Your invitation letter is emailed within 3 to 5 business days after your payment is verified.
- You arrange your own visa, travel and accommodation.
Call for Papers – 28th International Conference on African Economics and Development
Authors are invited to submit original, unpublished research that advances scholarly understanding of African economic and development challenges for consideration at the 28th edition in Ajax. We welcome empirical studies, theoretical contributions, and comparative policy analyses that offer fresh perspectives on the continent’s most pressing development questions.
Accepted work may be considered for the conference proceedings where applicable and is presented during the event in Ajax, Canada.
Suggested Submission Topics:
- AfCFTA trade policy and regional integration
- Agricultural transformation and food security
- Digital financial inclusion and fintech
- Natural resource governance and Dutch disease
- Urbanization, migration, and labor markets
- Climate finance and green economy transitions
- Debt sustainability and sovereign risk
- Gender equity in African labor markets
- Informal economy formalization strategies
- Education, health, and human capital investment
- Chinese investment and South-South cooperation
- Institutional quality and economic governance
Paper and Abstract Submission
Authors are invited to submit abstracts, research papers, case studies, review papers or professional practice presentations.
All submissions are reviewed before acceptance. Submitted work should be original and not previously published.
For the 28th edition, papers can cover any of the conference tracks, for example Natural resource governance and Dutch disease, Gender equity in African labor markets or Chinese investment and South-South cooperation.
| Submission Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Abstract | A concise summary of the research, case study or presentation topic |
| Full Paper | A complete academic or professional paper |
| Case Study | A practical business, management or economic case analysis |
| Review Paper | A literature-based research or industry review |
| Professional Presentation | A practice-based presentation from professional experience |
Submission Guidelines
- Submissions must be written in English.
- Submissions must be original and relevant to the conference theme.
- Abstracts should clearly describe the purpose, method, findings and relevance of the work.
- Full papers should normally be between 4 and 12 pages.
- Authors must complete registration after acceptance to confirm participation.
Peer Review Details
All full-paper submissions to the 28th International Conference on African Economics and Development undergo a double-blind peer review process conducted by reviewers who are recognized experts in African economics, development finance, and related disciplines. Reviewers evaluate each manuscript on the basis of originality, methodological soundness, relevance to African development challenges, and the clarity of its contribution to existing scholarly discourse.
To know more about our peer review details, visit here.
Submission Form
Note: If you are interested in participating as an author, you must submit your paper through the Author Paper Submission Form before completing the payment and registration.
Best Paper Award
The Best Paper Award will be announced at the conference closing session. The winner will be rewarded with:
- Recipients of the Best Paper Award will receive a formal certificate of excellence co-signed by the conference chairs, providing lasting recognition that can meaningfully strengthen academic portfolios, grant applications, and tenure dossiers
- Winning papers will be prominently featured in the conference’s official post-event communications, shared across its international network of African development researchers and institutional partners, and prioritized for recommendation to high-impact journals in the field
28th International Conference on African Economics and Development – February 26, 2027 – Ajax, Canada
[Registration starts 9 AM, Gate closes 9:30 AM]
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Registration and networking |
| 10:00 AM – 10:20 AM | Opening remarks |
| 10:20 AM – 11:00 AM | Keynote session |
| 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Technical Session 1 |
| 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch break |
| 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Technical Session 2 |
| 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Coffee break |
| 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Panel discussion and audience Q&A |
| 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Certificate distribution and photo session |
| 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Networking session |
Venue
To be announced.
Contact Us
3 Massey Square, East York, Ontario M4C 5L5, Canada
E-mail: [email protected]
Keynote Speaker
Keynote speaker to be announced. Focus: global transformation, leadership, innovation, and strategic growth.
Conference Terms
- Name or spelling changes to an issued invitation letter cost US$50.
- A notarized invitation letter is an optional extra service (US$100), sent within 10 business days after payment. It supports a visa application but does not guarantee approval.
Terms and ConditionsRefund PolicyNotarized Invitation Letter
Disclaimer
- The 28th International Conference on African Economics and Development is an interdisciplinary gathering that welcomes contributions spanning economics, development studies, political economy, environmental science, public policy, and related fields — authors should not interpret the conference title as restricting submissions to a single discipline
- Submission of an abstract or full paper does not constitute confirmed attendance; participants are required to complete formal registration and remit applicable fees within the stipulated deadlines to secure their place at the conference and have their work scheduled for presentation
- Registered delegates are encouraged but not obligated to attend all sessions throughout the conference program; however, presenters are expected to be present for their designated session and to notify the organizing committee in advance if unforeseen circumstances prevent their participation