Development Research Group

The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), the University of Ghana-Legon, and the World Bank announce a competitive call for papers and participation in a two-day policy research workshop to be held on November 11-12, 2025. We invite you to submit empirical papers that delve into the critical barriers to, as well as the opportunities to promote, women's economic participation. Priority will be given to research that studies policy solutions tailored to the unique economic landscapes of Africa to spur economic growth. 

📅 Submission deadline: June 30, 2025

To foster academic dialogue relevant on industrial policy for Africa, the World Bank Institute for Economic Development, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) Program, and the International Growth Center (IGC) are convening a research conference in Nairobi, Kenya on February 16-18, 2026. 

The organizers invite abstract submissions for research paper presentations on any issue pertaining to industrial policy. 

📅 Submission deadline: July 30, 2025

Wild animals, plants, and other living organisms make Earth habitable, and their existence holds intrinsic value. Sub-Saharan Africa is the most important region for biodiversity conservation because more wildlife populations and landscapes remain intact there than anywhere else.

In this Policy Research Talk, World Bank economist Gabriel Englander will present insights on current and emerging trends in African conservation policies.

Entrepreneurial activity is a pillar of economic growth. Successful businesses power local economies, generate jobs, and offer a pathway out of poverty. However, turning a small unproductive firm into a resilient, growing business is rarely straightforward.

This edition of Research Insights collects evidence from four studies that examine how different forms of support—training, information, and business networks—can shape outcomes for micro and small firms.