2026 NOVAFRICA Conference on
Economic Development

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:

Pre-conference events

2026 NOVAFRICA PhD Workshop on Development Economics

June 17, 2026.

Conference Program

Please find a pdf version of the preliminar program here.

June 18, 2026

9.00 am | Registration and Welcome coffee

9.30 am | Opening Session

10.30 am | Parallel Sessions A

12.30 pm | Lunch

2.00 pm | Keynote Speech

Abhijit Banerjee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3.00 pm | Coffee Break

3.30 pm | Parallel Sessions B

5.30 pm | Coffee Break

6.00 pm | Policy Roundtable

Job Creation in Africa

David McKenzie, World Bank
Egas Daniel, International Growth Centre – Mozambique
Helena Valente, CESO

June 19, 2026

9.00 am | Keynote Speech

Isaac Mbiti, University of Notre Dame

10.00 am | Coffee Break

10.30 am | Parallel Sessions C

12.30 pm | Lunch

2.00 pm | Keynote Speech

Sandra Sequeira, The London School of Economics and Political Science

3.00 pm | Coffee Break

3.30 pm | Parallel Sessions D

5.30 pm | Coffee Break

6.00 pm | Policy Roundtable

International Development Cooperation in Times of Geopolitical Realignment

7.00 pm | Closing Remarks

Cátia Batista and Pedro Vicente, Scientific Directors of NOVAFRICA

Pos-conference events

PhD Summer School: Development Economics

June 22-24, 2026.

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.  (TBD)

Hotel Cascais Miragem 5*****

To benefit from preferential conditions, please book through this website using code “NOVASBE2026”.
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Evolution Hotels (Sana) 4****

To benefit from preferential conditions, please book through this website using code “218200”.
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Riviera Hotel Carcavelos 4****

Special prices upon availability until May 16th, 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”.
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