AGORA Conference

AGORA is the flagship platform of the World Bank Group Institute for Economic Development for advancing development in Africa through evidence-based dialogue and cross-regional collaboration. Named after the ancient Greek public forum, AGORA is designed as an open arena where African and European institutions set the agenda together, ensuring balanced ownership and accountability.

AGORA addresses a structural gap in development dialogue: most Africa-focused conferences are either African-led in Africa or donor-led in the Global North, with little joint leadership. AGORA seeks to break that pattern, creating a recurring instrument for dialogue that is tied to implementation partners on both continents.

The 2025 Inaugural Conference in Palermo, Italy

From November 3–5, 2025, AGORA will convene top economists, researchers, private sector leaders, and policymakers to explore two transformative themes:​

• Growth and the Energy Transition​
• Agricultural Transformation and Job Creation​

Africa’s stability and prosperity hinge on creating jobs at scale. Each year, more than 10 million young people enter the labor market, yet current growth patterns generate only about 3 million formal jobs. ​Agribusiness and energy, Africa’s largest job engines, hold the key. Agriculture already employs more than half the workforce, while renewable energy is expanding rapidly. By focusing on these sectors, AGORA will connect policy dialogue directly to private-sector growth, infrastructure, and long-term competitiveness.

Designed for Long-Term Impact

AGORA is a standing instrument alternating between Italy and African host countries, with year-round engagement to track progress, respond to emerging challenges, and deepen partnerships. By combining the convening power of the World Bank Group and African institutions with the political momentum of Italy’s Mattei Plan, AGORA turns policy into tangible results for Africa’s future.