June 18 and 19, 2026
Nova SBE, Carcavelos campus
Lisbon, Portugal
Keynote Presentations
Abhijit Banerjee
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Isaac Mbiti
University of Notre Dame
Sandra Sequeira
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Call For Papers - Deadline: February 15, 2026
Invitation to submit:
We are looking for contributions on the broad theme of economic development. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: education and health; entrepreneurship and private sector development; financial inclusion; international migration and refugees; natural resource management; public service provision and political economy; technology adoption in low-income countries.
Submission guidelines and timetable:
Submissions of full papers (pdf files) are expected by February 15, 2026. Extended abstracts may also be submitted but priority will be given to full papers. Decisions will be made by March 10, 2026, at which time conference registration will open.
Submit your paper here.
You can also download the pdf version of the call for papers here.
Scientific Committee:
Program
Pre-conference events
2026 NOVAFRICA PhD Workshop on Development Economics
June 17, 2026 | Room B 008
Refugee Stories: Voices from Kakuma
A research-based documentary on displacement, livelihoods, and representation in Kakuma, Kenya, led by the Refugee Economies Programme at the University of Oxford.
June 17, 2026 | 6.00 PM | Room B 009
Post-conference events
PhD Summer School: Development Economics
June 22-24, 2026.
Conference Program
Please find a pdf version of the program here.
June 18, 2026
9.30 am | Registration and Welcome coffee
10.00 am | Opening Session
(Auditorium Champalimaud | Room B137)
10.30 am | Parallel Sessions A
| Values and Traditions (Room B 137)
| Urbanization (Room B 002)
| Education Policy (Room B 003)
| Health (Room B 004)
| Labor (Room B 005)
12.30 pm | Lunch
2.00 pm | Keynote Speech
Just Economics
(Auditorium Champalimaud | Room B137)
Abhijit Banerjee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3.00 pm | Coffee Break
3.30 pm | Parallel Sessions B
| Migration (Room B 137)
| Finance (Room B 002)
| Political economy (Room B 003)
| Health and Religion (Room B 004)
| Cash Transfer Programs (Room B 005)
5.30 pm | Coffee Break
6.00 pm | Policy Roundtable
Job Creation in Africa
(Auditorium Champalimaud | Room B137)
Chair: Catia Batista, Nova SBE and NOVAFRICA
David McKenzie, World Bank
Egas Daniel, International Growth Centre – Mozambique
Helena Valente, CESO
June 19, 2026
9.00 am | Keynote Speech
Improving Education Outcomes in LMICs through Structured Pedagogy
(Auditorium Champalimaud | Room B137)
Isaac Mbiti, University of Notre Dame
10.00 am | Coffee Break
10.30 am | Parallel Sessions C
| Behavioral Health (Room B 137)
| Market Design (Room B 002)
| Education (Room B 003)
| Gender (Room B 004)
| Climate Change (Room B 005)
12.30 pm | Lunch
2.00 pm | Keynote Speech
Experiences, Information and Attitudes toward Refugees
(Auditorium Champalimaud | Room B137)
Sandra Sequeira, The London School of Economics and Political Science
3.00 pm | Coffee Break
3.30 pm | Parallel Sessions D
| Natural Resources and Institutions (Room B 137)
| Firms (Room B 002)
| Social Programs (Room B 003)
| Environmental Policy (Room B 004)
| Conflict (Room B 005)
6.00 pm | Coffee Break
6.30 pm | Policy Roundtable
International Development Cooperation in Times of Geopolitical Realignment
(Auditorium Champalimaud | Room B137)
Chair: Mafalda Avelar, Lusa
Luis Amado, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Portugal
Magda Robalo, former Minister of Health Guinea Bissau
Mohamed Azzim, ISCTE
7.30 pm | Closing Remarks
Cátia Batista and Pedro Vicente, Scientific Directors of NOVAFRICA
Media Coverage:
Co-funded by
Registration
Early Bird Registration fee (until April 30th, 2026): 250.00 EUR.
Regular Registration fee (between May 1st and June 1st, 2026): 350.00 EUR.
Click here to go to the registration form
Travel to Carcavelos campus
Airplane
The easiest way to come to Lisbon is by airplane to the Lisbon airport. The easiest way to get from the airport to the Nova campus in Carcavelos is by Taxi or Uber. It is a 30Km journey that costs up to 35 EUR by taxi.
Car
If you arrive by car, you can use the campus parking or park for free in the campus’ surrounding areas.
Train
You can travel overnight by train. There are trains connecting Madrid (Lusitânia Comboio Hotel), Vigo (Celta train) and Irun (Sud Expresso) to Lisbon. From the city center you can take a train to the Nova Carcavelos campus. This train leaves from the station “Cais do Sodré” to either the “Oeiras” or the “Carcavelos” train station and takes approximately 35 minutes. From the Oeiras train station it is a 20 minute walk to the campus. It is 25 minute walk or 5 minute ride with the MobiCascais shuttle from the train station in Carcavelos.
Within Campus
Please see the campus map here for a description of the conference rooms and campus facilities.
Local Accommodation
Hotel Cascais Miragem 5*****
To benefit from preferential conditions, please book through this website using code “NOVASBE2026”.
website
Evolution Hotels (Sana) 4****
To benefit from preferential conditions, please book through this website using code “218200”.
website
Riviera Hotel Carcavelos 4****
Special prices upon availability until May 25th, 2026 (for the nights on 16 to 20 June): 105€/Night – Single Room | 120€/Night – Double Room (breakfast and Wi-Fi Internet included) | Cancellation Policy: free of charges if cancelled until 96h before check in| Reservations through email using this address vera.moura@rivierahotel.pt or this reservas@rivierahotel.pt using the promotional code “NOVAFRICA”.
website
