News

The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) is set to bring together leading economists, policymakers, private sector leaders, development partners and academics for the AERC Research and Policy Summit scheduled to begin this Sunday, 30th November 2025 in Nairobi. 

The Summit will provide a platform for stakeholders to engage on Africa’s most pressing macroeconomic and development challenges and to explore pathways for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Anchored on the theme “A Renewed AERC for Africa’s New Development Priorities”, the Summit reaffirms AERC’s longstanding commitment to strengthening evidence-based policymaking and advancing rigorous, policy-relevant economic research across the continent.

A key highlight of the summit will be the official launch of the AERC 2025–2030 Strategy, which outlines AERC’s renewed mandate to expand research excellence, enhance policy engagement, and strengthen capacity building within Africa’s economic policy ecosystem. This new strategy builds on AERC’s legacy of developing highly skilled African economists and ensuring that African perspectives continue to shape global economic discourse.

In line with its continued evolution, AERC will also unveil its new Private Sector Platform, an initiative designed to deepen collaboration between AERC researchers and Africa’s private sector. The platform aims to create a structured interface for evidence-informed private sector policy advocacy, stimulate private sector investment in applied economic research and foster dialogue on innovation, productivity, competitiveness and market development across the continent.

The Summit will additionally feature a High-Level Roundtable bringing together Ministers of Finance, Central Bank Governors, CEOs and leaders from international development institutions to examine prevailing economic headwinds, policy coordination and long-term resilience for African economies. 

Delegates will also be treated to a keynote address on Productive Politics by Prof James Robinson, political scientist, economist, and winner, 2024 Nobel Prize for Economics.

Throughout the Summit, participants will engage in a series of parallel sessions showcasing new research across AERC’s core thematic areas: macroeconomic policy, trade and regional integration, labour markets and human capital, climate change and resilience, financial sector development and the digital economy. These sessions will enable researchers to present their work, receive expert critique, and refine policy recommendations that can support decision-makers across the continent.

In addition, AERC will host book launches authored by leading African researchers. These publications contribute to global economic scholarship by documenting emerging trends, challenges and opportunities within African economies while reinforcing AERC’s commitment to the dissemination of high-quality, evidence-based research.

Established in 1988, AERC remains a premier institution for economic research and training in Africa, dedicated to building local capacity for independent, rigorous inquiry into the policy issues confronting the region. The Summit reflects AERC’s continued mission to support a strong, well-informed economic policy community that can drive sustainable development and influence Africa’s role in global economic discourse.