African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Summit 2025

African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Summit 2025

A Renewed AERC for Africa’s New Development Priorities

  • 30th November - 2nd December 2025
  • Glee Hotel, Nairobi
Concept Note View Agenda Register Now
African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Summit 2025

African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Summit 2025

A Renewed AERC for Africa’s New Development Priorities

  • 30th November - 2nd December 2025
  • Glee Hotel, Nairobi
Concept Note View Agenda Register Now

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African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Summit 2025

About The Summit

African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Summit 2025

This year, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) is holding its first Summit in the context of its new 10-year Strategic Plan (2025-2035). The three-day Summit themed ‘A Renewed AERC for Africa’s New Development Priorities’, is designed to hardwire the research-policy bridge. His Excellency, the President of Republic of Kenya is expected to grace the occasion.

Over the last three decades, AERC has built continental capacity in economic policy research and training through its biannual plenaries and thematic workshops. Recognizing that today’s policy challenges demand faster, problem-driven translation of evidence, AERC is pivoting to a new convening model through an annual, Africa-wide conferencing, explicitly designed to bridge research–policy.

The Summit is being held at a time when Africa’s development path is at a decisive inflection point. Growth has been too slow and weakly linked to poverty reduction. Macroeconomic recovery is underway but remains uneven and climate change is amplifying multidimensional vulnerability. Moreover, policies are often crafted in isolation making the policy framework highly fragmented. This notwithstanding, profound opportunities are emerging and use of data and evidence is becoming critical in guiding the policy process.

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Agenda

07:30 – 08:00

Arrival, Registration, Breakfast and Networking

08:00 – 08:30

Welcome

08:30 – 09:00

Opening Remarks

09:00 – 10:00

Session I: High-level Roundtable with African Central Bank Governors

The AERC African Central Bank Governors Forum was established in 2014 and currently has a membership of 10 Banks. Currently, Central banks in Africa are navigating an increasingly complex environment as they pursue their core mandates of monetary policy and banking sector regulation. The AERC recognizes the evolving risks—both domestic and global—that challenge Banks in delivering on their mandate and the need for developing adaptive strategies. Through its knowledge partnership with central banks, the AERC aims to deepen the understanding of emerging issues to support with evidence-based policy responses. During the Summit, the Governors and AERC will reflect on strategies to strengthen the knowledge partnership to effectively support central banks navigate the new and diverse challenges.

10:00 – 10:30

Photo Session and Health Break

10:30 – 13:00

Session II: Official Opening by Chief Guest

Arrival of the Chief Guest
Introducing the Chief Guest
Chief Guest

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch Break

14:00 – 15:00

Session III: Panel for the AERC African Private Sector Platform

The AERC is targeting to establish a platform for a structured engagement with the private sector. This session thus brings together leaders in banking, trade, technology, and manufacturing to share insights on the role of the private sector in driving inclusive growth and create jobs across Africa. Panellists will explore key policy developments at domestic, regional and global levels that affects business performance, safe spaces for engagement with evidence-
based policy dialogue, the support that businesses envisage from the policy research institutions and suggestions on what an African Private Sector Platform should prioritize for effective engagement.

15:00 – 16:00

Session IV: Panel for the AERC Strategic Plan 2025 – 2035

Since its establishment in 1988, AERC has prepared strategic plans to guide in delivery of its core mandate. During this Summit, AERC is launching its 10-year Strategic Plan and this session will serve to create awareness among stakeholders on what AERC plans to achieve in the decade. The mission of AERC is to strengthen local capacity for rigorous, independent research through an integrated approach that combines research excellence, high-quality graduate training, and strategic partnerships. The 10-year Strategic Plan prioritizes globally competitive training, context-relevant research, and stronger links between research, policy, and practice. By embedding a dynamic, mutually reinforcing model across capacity building, policy engagement, and knowledge co-production for effective policy impact of research, AERC aims to drive impactful solutions to Africa’s economic challenges.

16:00 – 16:30

Health Break

16:30 – 18:00

Fireside Chat I – Governance, Security and Economic Fragility

Among the prioritized areas of research focus for AERC is in Governance, Security and Economic Fragility. Despite progress made, governance reforms in Africa have largely fallen short, and without urgent, credible action to build inclusive, effective institutions, the continent risks missing both the AU Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, conflicts are increasing both in frequency and intensity, and this is derailing Africa’s development by destroying infrastructure, displacing people, and deterring investment. Conflicts also undermine human capital through disrupted education, poor health, and malnutrition. Further, insecurity diverts resources from development to military spending, delaying economic transformation. The research work programme aims to critically explore the complex relationship between governance/institutional quality, conflicts and economic fragility. The discussion will serve to enrich this programme.

18:30 – 21:30

Gala Dinner

Distinguished Service Awards & Induction of new AERC Fellows 2025
Entertainment

07:30 – 08:30

Arrival, Registration, Breakfast and Networking

08:30 – 10:00

Fireside Chat II – Industrial policy and growth strategies

The AERC research programme focuses on the Industrial Policy as a key factor in the economic transformation process. Africa’s industrial policy must adapt to shifting global dynamics and the continent’s unique socio-economic context, where traditional models of industrialization are less applicable. As growth increasingly comes from sectors like ICT, tourism, and food processing, industrial policy should be part of a broader economic transformation agenda, not a standalone solution. To help countries achieve inclusive and sustainable growth, policies must also address the realities of the large informal labour market, integrating it into the formal economy and improving productivity and job quality. The discussion in this session will contribute towards shaping this research programme by bringing out the key priority areas of policy focus and possible growth strategies.

10:00 – 10:30

Health Break

10:30 – 17:00

Parallel Session I: Regional Policy Engagement Workshop for East Africa (PASHFARM Project)
This policy outreach event focuses on the Policy Analysis for Sustainable and Healthy Foods in Africa Retail Markets (PASHFARM) in the Eastern African sub-region. It explores how evidence-based research can shape effective nutrition policies in Africa. Discussions are based on practical experiences from ongoing initiatives that aim to improve access to affordable, safe, and nutritious food, particularly for low-income and vulnerable populations. A series of policy briefs present key findings on enhancing demand for nutrient-rich foods, addressing food price shocks, and tackling gendered barriers in informal food markets. Through open dialogue and Q&A, the session identifies clear policy pathways for promoting nutrition-sensitive, inclusive food systems in Africa.

Parallel Session II: Regional Policy Engagement Workshop for East Africa (PASHFARM Project)
This policy outreach event focuses on the Policy Analysis for Sustainable and Healthy Foods in Africa Retail Markets (PASHFARM) in the Eastern African sub-region. It explores how evidence-based research can shape effective nutrition policies in Africa. Discussions are based on practical experiences from ongoing initiatives that aim to improve access to affordable, safe, and nutritious food, particularly for low-income and vulnerable populations. A series of policy briefs present key findings on enhancing demand for nutrient-rich foods, addressing food price shocks, and tackling gendered barriers in informal food markets. Through open dialogue and Q&A, the session identifies clear policy pathways for promoting nutrition-sensitive, inclusive food systems in Africa.

Parallel Session III: Thematic Research Programme

  • Group A: Poverty, labour markets and income distribution
  • Group B: Macroeconomic policy and growth
  • Group C: Finance and resource mobilization
  • Group D: Production, trade and economic integration
  • Group E: Agriculture, climate change and natural resource management
18:00 – 19:00

Keynote address by Nobel Prize winner on Productive Politics for Reforms
Prof James Robinson alongside Prof Daron Acemoglu and Prof Simon Johnson were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economic Science. The Nobel Prize was based on their research work on how institutions are formed and affect prosperity. In their work, they highlight the critical role of political and economic institutions in the evolution of living standards, providing guidance on to how to design policies to promote economic development. This is relevant in addressing the persistent poverty status that African continent finds itself.

19:00 – 21:00

Cocktail/Dinner
Book launches
1. “The Domestic Saving Shortfall in Sub-Saharan Africa”, https://www.wider.unu.edu/publication/domestic-savings-shortfall-sub-saharan-africa
2. The Routledge Handbook of Infrastructure Finance, https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Infrastructure-Finance/Abor-Macomber-Arun-Murinde/p/book/9781032679297

07:30 – 08:30

Arrival, Registration, Breakfast and Networking

08:30 – 10:00

Fireside Chat III – Unlocking digital potential of Africa
The AERC research programme is focused on exploring how to unlock digital potential of Africa. Digital technology is revolutionizing the African economy with potential for inclusive development. The AU 2063 views digital economy as crucial for inclusive economic growth and technological transformation, catalyzing integration, trade and job creation. That said, the continent needs to invest in digital infrastructure, improving digital skills, and creating an enabling regulatory environment to unlock the digital potential. The discussions in this session brings together key players in the digital sector contributing to the conceptualization of the research programme making it more focused on the priorities for the continent.

10:00 – 10:30

Health Break

10:30 – 17:30

Parallel Session I: Data Governance in Africa (Phase I & II) Project

Digitization is rapidly transforming Africa’s economies, creating new opportunities and laying the groundwork for AI adoption in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, finance, education, and public finance management (PFM). In the realm of PFM and tax policy, digital tools are enhancing transparency, improving revenue collection, and enabling more efficient allocation of public resources. As digital trade expands under frameworks like the AfCFTA Digital Protocol, strong data governance becomes essential to ensure privacy, ethical use, and equitable access to digital systems. Artificial Intelligence depends on high-quality, well-governed data to drive innovation and scale impactful solutions. However, gaps in infrastructure, regulatory fragmentation, and limited digital literacy continue to hinder progress. This session explores how Africa can build robust digital ecosystems—through inclusive policies, investment in infrastructure, and coherent data governance frameworks—to support economic transformation, effective public sector management, and sustainable development.

Parallel Session II: Regional Policy Engagement Workshop for Southern Africa and Cameroon (PASHFARM)

This policy outreach event focuses on the Policy Analysis for Sustainable and Healthy Foods in African Retail Markets (PASHFARM) Southern African sub-region. It explores how evidence-based research can shape effective nutrition policies. Discussions are drawn from practical experiences from ongoing initiatives that aim to improve access to affordable, safe, and nutritious food, particularly for low-income and vulnerable populations. A series of policy briefs present findings on enhancing demand for nutrient-rich foods, addressing food price shocks, and tackling gendered barriers in informal food markets. Through open dialogue and Q&A, the session identifies clear policy pathways for promoting nutrition-sensitive, inclusive food systems in Africa

Parallel Session III: Technical session for thematic groups

  • Group A: Poverty, labour markets and income distribution
  • Group B: Macroeconomic policy and growth
  • Group C: Finance and resource mobilization
  • Group D: Production, trade and economic integration
  • Group E: Agriculture, climate change and natural resource management
17:30-18:00

Concluding Remarks and Vote of Thanks

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Speakers

Prof. Ernest Aryeetey

Prof. Ernest Aryeetey

Chair of the AERC Board; Director at Large; Secretary General, African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), University of Ghana

Dr. Kamau Thugge

Dr. Kamau Thugge

Governor, Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

Gov. Lesetja Kganyago

Gov. Lesetja Kganyago

Governor, South African ReservBank (SARB)

Prof. Victor Murinde

Prof. Victor Murinde

Executive Director, AERC

Dr. Abbi Kedir

Dr. Abbi Kedir

Director of Research, AERC

Dr. Addisu Fekadu Andeta

Dr. Addisu Fekadu Andeta

Lead Scientist, Arba Minch University, South Ethiopia

Dr. Ashagrie Zewdu

Dr. Ashagrie Zewdu

Associate Professor, Center for Food Science and Nutrition, Addis Ababa University

Dr. Yohannes Ayalew Birru (PhD)

Dr. Yohannes Ayalew Birru (PhD)

Chief Executive Officer, Amhara Bank S.C.

Jonathan Chipili

Jonathan Chipili

Director, Research, Bank of Zambia

Mulay Weldu

Mulay Weldu

Head of the Tax Policy Department, Ethiopia

Prof. Romain Houssa

Prof. Romain Houssa

Professor of Economics – University of Namur

Nancy Rapando

Nancy Rapando

Lead for the Africa Climate Agrifood and Nature (AFRICCLAN)

Prof. Abebe Shimeles

Prof. Abebe Shimeles

Honorary Professor at University of Cape Town, Department of Economics and Senior Economic Advisor

Dr. Francis Chipimo

Dr. Francis Chipimo

Deputy Governor,  Bank of Zambia

Prof. Izak Atiyas

Prof. Izak Atiyas

Fellow, Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Dr. Wairagala Wakabi

Dr. Wairagala Wakabi

Executive Director, CIPESA

Ruth Okowa

Ruth Okowa

Country Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Kenya

Prof. Léonce Ndikumana

Prof. Léonce Ndikumana

Distinguished Professor of economics and Director of the African Development Policy Program at the Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Dr. Yemi Kale

Dr. Yemi Kale

Group Chief Economist and Managing Director, Research and Trade Intelligence, Afreximbank

John Olela

John Olela

Director of Planning and Project Monitoring, National Treasury, Kenya

Prof. Bernadette Dia Kamgnia

Prof. Bernadette Dia Kamgnia

Consultant in International Development, Senior Researcher at the CAPEC

Prof. Tom Ondicho

Prof. Tom Ondicho

Associate Professor, University of Nairobi