Abidjan to Host Africa's Top Economic Leaders for the 2026 African Economic Conference

19 June 2026
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African Development Bank (Abidjan)
announcement

What? 2026 African Economic Conference

Who? African Development Bank Group, United Nations Development Programme, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

When? July 9-11, 2026

Where? African Development Bank Headquarters (CCIA), Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

From 9 to 11 July, the African Development Bank Group, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), are co-organising the African Economic Conference 2026 in Abidjan. The event will also feature the annual gathering of the Global Network of Chief Economists of Development and Financing Institutions, and of the launch of the African Chief Economists Network (ACE-Network), bringing together leading economic thinkers and policymakers from across Africa and beyond.

The theme of the 2026 African Economic Conference (AEC), 'Strengthening Africa's Geopolitical Autonomy and Trade Resilience in a Multipolar World', offers an opportunity for stakeholders to engage in frank dialogue on how Africa can enhance its autonomy in a rapidly changing global economy. Since its inception in 2006, the African Economic Conference series has served as a platform for intellectual exchange, policy dialogue, and collaboration on Africa's development challenges and priorities among policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, and academic institutions

The event will also feature the annual in-person meeting of the Global Network of Chief Economists of International Development Agencies and Finance Institutions, held in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which hosts the Secretariat for the Network.

The African Development Bank will also host a graduation ceremony for the second cohort of the Public Finance Management Academy for Africa (PFMA) and the first cohort of the Macroeconomic Policy Management Academy for Africa (MEMA). Officials from more than 36 countries are expected to receive certificates in public finance management and macroeconomic policy management practices.

Expected Participants include:

  • Mr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Planning and Development and AfDB Governor for the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
  • Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President, African Development Bank Group
  • Mr. Alexander de Croo, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme
  • Mr. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • Mr. Claver Gatete, Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
  • Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
  • H.E. Mr. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
  • H.E Ms. Chileshe Kapwepwe, Secretary General, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
  • Mrs. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, Vice President, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission
  • Prof. Jeffrey David Sachs, University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University, USA
  • Prof. Carlos Lopes, Honorary Professor, Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town, South Africa
  • Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, African Development Bank Group
  • Mr. Didier Acoutey, Senior Advisor to the President for the Private Sector, African Development Bank Group

The event will feature the following sessions:

  • High-Level Dialogue 1: Strengthening Africa's Financial Agency in a Multipolar World - Highlights from African Economic Outlook 2026
  • High-Level Dialogue 2: Harnessing the Trade, Investment and Economic Productivity Nexus in a Fragmented World
  • High-Level Dialogue 3: Deepening Domestic Capital Markets in Africa
  • High-Level Dialogue 4: Harnessing Africa's Human Capital for Inclusive Development: The Role of African Youths and the Diaspora
  • High-level Dialogue 5: Global uncertainty, macroeconomic stability and development financing in Africa

For more information: click here

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

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