(Venue: Wits Business School, Parktown, Johannesburg. Date: 3rd - 6th November, 2026)
Theme:
Owning the Ground Beneath Our Feet: Resource Sovereignty, Monetary Independence, and the Architecture of African Wealth
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Africa holds more than 40 percent of the world's critical minerals, the youngest and fastest-growing population on earth, and a diaspora whose remittances exceeded USD 96 billion in 2024. Yet the continent's economies borrow in currencies they do not issue, price their commodities in markets they do not govern, and measure development against frameworks calibrated for fundamentally different structural conditions. Africa owns the ground. The 2026 AREF Conference asks: why has that ownership not been converted into wealth — and what would it take to change that?
Following the 2025 edition at the University of Ghana under the theme The Africa Acceleration, the 2026 conference moves to Wits Business School, Johannesburg — one of the continent's foremost graduate schools of business, finance, and economics research. The conference invites scholars, doctoral researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to submit papers that engage rigorously with Africa’s development, monetary, and financial transformation agenda.
Host: Wits Business School
City: Johannesburg, South Africa
Dates: 3 - 6 November 2026Central Themes
Five cross-cutting central themes frame the 2026 conference. Each theme speaks directly to the broader conference theme of resource sovereignty, monetary independence, and the architecture of African wealth. Authors are invited to locate their submissions within one of these themes, or at the intersections between them.
- Value Addition and Industrial Transformation:
This theme confronts the processing imperative at the heart of Africa’s wealth paradox: a continent exporting raw materials and importing the finished goods made from them. Papers are invited on beneficiation of critical minerals, agro-processing and food manufacturing, light manufacturing and industrial clusters, special economic zones and industrial policy, technology transfer and absorptive capacity, regional value chains and AfCFTA implementation, the role of state-owned enterprises and development finance institutions, energy and infrastructure as preconditions for industrialisation, skills and the industrial labour market, and the governance architecture required to move African economies up the value ladder. Contributions that link value addition to monetary sovereignty — by reducing import dependence and building domestic productive capacity — are especially encouraged. - Indigenous Intelligence and Knowledge Systems:
This theme treats indigenous knowledge not as folklore but as a body of analytical, ecological, institutional, and economic intelligence with direct implications for resource governance, value-chain design, and the continental development contract. Papers are invited on indigenous agricultural and ecological systems, traditional governance institutions, customary finance and solidarity economies, the commercial and ethical framing of indigenous plants and foods, indigenous logics of entrepreneurship, and the integration of African knowledge systems into formal research, policy, and enterprise. - Gender and Development:
This theme interrogates how Africa’s development contract is gendered — from land tenure, household economics, and unpaid care work to women-led enterprise, gender-lens investing, and the fiscal and monetary policies that shape women’s economic participation. Papers are invited on gender and labour markets, feminist political economy, gendered dimensions of resource rents, women in philanthropy and social investment, intra-household bargaining, and the measurement of development beyond GDP. Submissions that connect gender to the continent's monetary and financial sovereignty agenda are especially encouraged. - Financial Innovation and the Digital Revolution:
This theme focuses on alternative models of payment and settlement, and on what the digital revolution means for African monetary independence. Topics include mobile money ecosystems and agency banking, instant payment rails and Pan-African Payment and Settlement Systems (PAPSS), central bank digital currencies, stablecoins and cross-border settlement, decentralised finance, tokenised commodity and carbon assets, digital public infrastructure, fintech for SMEs, and the governance architecture required to convert digital innovation into structural financial sovereignty. - Agriculture and Rural Transformation:
This theme examines agriculture as the foundation of African sovereignty — the sector that employs the majority of the continent’s workforce, anchors food security, and holds the greatest latent potential for inclusive structural change. Papers are invited on smallholder productivity and land reform, agritech and mechanisation, input markets and seed systems, contract farming and outgrower schemes, rural finance and agricultural credit, climate adaptation in rural livelihoods, agri-value chains and market integration, rural infrastructure and logistics, migration and the rural–urban economy, and the political economy of land tenure. Submissions that reposition agriculture from subsistence to strategic sector — and rural areas from periphery to engine of transformation — are especially welcome.
Topics of Interest
- Monetary sovereignty, currency architecture, and exchange rate management in Africa
- Resource governance, critical minerals, and value chain transformation
- Development finance, diaspora capital, and sovereign investment instruments
- Banking sector development, financial inclusion, and mobile money ecosystems
- Decentralised finance, digital assets, and the architecture of financial sovereignty
- Fiscal policy, debt sustainability, and the political economy of structural reform
- Trade, AfCFTA readiness, and the supply-side conditions for intra-African commerce
- Labour markets, inequality, poverty dynamics, and the social architecture of growth
- Climate finance, green transitions, and the economics of natural resource governance
- Philanthropy, social investment, and the financing of the African development contract
- Energy leadership, the just transition, and the economics of the processing imperative
- Entrepreneurship, venture creation, and the innovation economy in African cities
- Comparative development economics, African institutions, and governance frameworks
Submissions
Authors are invited to submit an extended abstract (400-600 words) or a full paper. Submissions must include the paper title, author names and affiliations, a 200-word abstract, five keywords, and JEL classification codes. All submissions must be in English.
Papers presented at the conference will be considered for publication, subject to peer review, in the African Review of Economics and Finance (AREF), Ghanaian Journal of Economics, and Journal of African Political Economy and Development.
The A.K. Fosu Prize will be awarded to the best paper presented at the conference. Early-career researchers and scholars based on the African continent are especially encouraged to submit.
Key Dates
- Abstract / Paper Submission Deadline: 30 July 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: 15 August 2026
- Early-Bird Registration Closes: 31 August 2026
- Full Paper for Proceedings: 15 September 2026
- Conference Dates: 3 - 6 November 2026
Conference Committee
Organised by AREF Consult in partnership with Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand.
- Conference Chair: Prof Jones Odei-Mensah, Academic Director, Wits Business School
- Committee: Prof Ismail Fasanya, School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand
- Committee: Prof Godfred Amewu, University of Ghana Business School
- Committee: Dr Emmanuel Abakah, Bank of Ghana
- Committee: Dr Sylvester Senyo Horvey, University of the Witwatersrand
Submissions and Enquiries
www.african-review.com and www.arefconsult.com - Value Addition and Industrial Transformation:
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Opportunities for PhD Students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
The African Review of Economics and Finance (AREF) invites PhD students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) to apply for a unique opportunity to participate in the AREF 2026 Conference. This prestigious event brings together stakeholders committed to Africa’s accelerated development, including researchers, practitioners, public and private sector leaders, civil society actors, and students.
Exclusive Opportunity for PhD Students and ECRs Selected PhD students and ECRs with accepted papers will gain free access to the AREF 2026 Conference and a dedicated pre-conference Workshop and Training Track facilitated by AREF Consult. This hands-on programme is designed to empower emerging scholars by guiding them through the full research lifecycle—from conceptualisation and methodology to policy influence and article publication. Participants will benefit from:
- Tailored Mentoring: Receive personalised guidance from experienced researchers and industry experts.
- Real-World Insights: Learn practical strategies for translating research into impactful policy and high-quality publications.
- Networking Opportunities: Engage with a diverse community of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners dedicated to Africa’s development.
- Skill Development: Enhance expertise in research design, data analysis, academic writing, and policy engagement.
Due to limited spaces, only applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and submit accepted papers will be selected to attend the conference and workshop.
Benefits for Selected Participants
- Registration and Meals: Free for selected PhD students and ECRs.
- Accommodation and Transport: Self-funded (participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements).
Eligibility Criteria
- PhD Students: Must be currently enrolled in a PhD programme at a recognised institution. Evidence of enrolment (e.g., student ID, official letter from institution, or supervisor confirmation) is required.
- Early Career Researchers: Defined as researchers within five years of completing their PhD or equivalent qualification (confirmation of degree award required).
- Paper Submission: Applicants must submit a 300-word abstract for a research paper for presentation at the conference.
- Commitment to Africa’s Development: Applicants should demonstrate a clear alignment with the conference’s mission to advance Africa’s accelerated development through research and policy impact.
Application Process
1. Submit an Abstract and Expression of Interest:
- Prepare a 300-word abstract summarising your research paper, including its objectives, methodology, findings (or expected findings), and relevance to the conference themes.
- Include a brief expression of interest (300–400 words) explaining your motivation for attending the conference and workshop, and how this opportunity will advance your research and career goals.
- Submit both via the conference portal at www.african-review.com by 30 July 2026.
2. Provide Evidence of Enrolment (PhD Students):
- Upload a scanned copy of your student ID, an official letter from your institution, or a confirmation letter or email from your supervisor verifying your current enrolment.
3. Await Notification:
- Successful applicants will be notified by 15 August 2026.
4. Complete Registration:
- Accepted participants must confirm their attendance by completing registration by 31 August 2026.
Why Participate?
The AREF 2026 Conference offers PhD students and ECRs a transformative platform to elevate their research, connect with global and African scholars, and contribute to shaping the continent’s future. The dedicated Workshop and Training Track is a rare opportunity to gain practical skills and mentorship, ensuring your work achieves academic excellence and real-world impact.
Key Dates
- Abstract / Paper Submission Deadline: 30 July 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: 15 August 2026
- Early-Bird Registration Closes: 31 August 2026
Contact Information
For inquiries, please visit www.african-review.com or contact the conference secretariat.
Conference Leadership
Conference Chair: Prof. Yegandi Imhotep Paul Alagidede, University of Ghana and University of the Witwatersrand
Co-Chairs:
- Dr. Godfred, University of Ghana
- Dr. Emmanuel Joel Aikens Abakah, University of Ghana
- Prof. Jones Odei-Mensah, University of the Witwatersrand
- Prof. Ismail Fasanya, University of the Witwatersrand
Join us at AREF 2026 to advance your research, amplify your impact, and contribute to Africa's sustainable development. We look forward to your application!
Submit your application today at www.arefconsult.com or www.african-review.com.
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A.K Fosu Prize For Best Paper:
The A.K. Fosu prize will be awarded to recognise high-quality research presented at the annual AREF conference. This highly competitive award will be presented to the author(s) of the paper judged by the editors of AREF to be the best presented at the conference. The A.K Fosu prize was initiated by organisers of the AREF conference to honour the contributions of the great economist and academic leader, Professor Extraordinary Augustin Kwasi Fosu (https://isser.ug.edu.gh/people/prof-augustin-k-fosu).Eligibility:
- The award is open to young and early career researchers whose single authored paper meets the high standards of publication in the African Review of Economics and Finance. Interested delegates need to apply specifically and indicate whether they want their paper(s) to be considered for the award. The paper must be strictly single authored.
- Papers will be subjected to the usual African Review of Economics and Finance peer review process.
- Papers deemed publishable by the panel of reviewers will be long-listed for the A.K. Fosu Prize Committee.
- The award winner is selected by a vote of all the editors based on the review reports and a further assessment by the editors.
- The award will be presented at the Conference.
Benefits: Recipients are given a $250 honorarium, an award certificate, and the opportunity to develop the paper further for publication in one of the conference journals, plus a three-month mentorship and coaching opportunity with the Nile Valley Multiversity.
To be considered for the Award, check the box of the A.K. Fosu prize or submit your paper directly to Dr. Emmanuel Joel Aikins ABAKAH, email: ejaabakah@ug.edu.gh or ejabakah@gmail.com; Dr. Godfred Amewu, gamewu@ug.edu.gh or fredamewu@yahoo.com; Prof. Jones Odei-Mensah, jones.odei-mensah@wits.ac.za; Prof Ismail Fasanya, Ismail.fasanya@wits.ac.za.
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Submission Guidelines
Authors are invited to submit an extended abstract (400-600 words) or a full paper.
- Include paper title, author names and affiliations.
- Provide a 400-600 word abstract, five keywords, and JEL classification codes.
- All submissions must be in English.
Key Milestones
- Abstract / Paper Submission Deadline: 30 July 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: 15 August 2026
- Early-Bird Registration Closes: 31 August 2026
- Full Paper for Proceedings: 15 September 2026
- Conference Dates: 3 - 6 November 2026
Venue: Wits Business School, Parktown, Johannesburg
Submit and Enquire via: www.arefconsult.com and www.african-review.com
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Explore South Africa Beyond the Conference Room
Unforgettable Side Attractions at AREF 2026
While the 2026 African Review of Economics and Finance Conference promises engaging dialogue and groundbreaking research, your experience in South Africa wouldn't be complete without immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of our history, innovation, and natural beauty.
Here's what awaits you beyond the sessions:
- Johannesburg City Tour - Experience the vibrant city of Johannesburg with a guided tour of the city's landmarks and attractions.
These excursions are more than sightseeing—they are curated experiences designed to deepen your connection to the African story of progress, innovation, and heritage.
Pack your curiosity. Let Ghana inspire you.