AGORA in Motion
AGORA (Africa Growth and Opportunity: Research in Action) is the flagship platform of the Institute for Economic Development. It brings together policymakers, researchers, development institutions, think tanks, and private-sector leaders to shape Africa’s development agenda through shared knowledge and practical dialogue. The inaugural conference in Palermo in 2025 demonstrated the value of this approach. Participants called for continuity, collaboration, and structured follow-up that extends beyond a single annual gathering. AGORA in Motion carries that work forward throughout the year. It provides an ongoing platform where ideas are refined, partnerships are strengthened, and research informs policy and investment decisions in real time. Each annual AGORA conference builds on months of sustained engagement and contributes to the next cycle of collaboration.
Ongoing Policy Dialogue
AGORA in Motion convenes recurring discussions aligned with core themes such as agriculture, energy, industrial development, and job creation. Policymakers, researchers, investors, and development partners meet in focused settings designed to surface evidence, identify priorities, and coordinate action across institutions and regions. Recent engagements have included high-level discussions on resilience, and agriculture with multilateral partners in Rome, policy roundtables in Rwanda linking research to government priorities, and thematic sessions at the Industrial Policy Conference in Nairobi.
- Rwanda’s Power Push Enters a More Complex Phase: A roundtable in Rwanda with government officials to bring recent insights from research to policy makers (January 21st, 2026).
- Industrial Policy for Africa Conference: AGORA-framed sessions in Nairobi on agriculture linking policymakers, researchers, and experts to identify policies for testing and evaluation (February 16-18, 2026)
Research and Expert Collaboration
Targeted consultations support major analytical work, including the World Bank Group’s flagship World Development Reports and policy research reports. These engagements connect researchers with practitioners and decision-makers, shaping research questions, identifying data needs, and strengthening the link between analysis and implementation. Engagements underway includes collaboration on an Africa-focused companion to the World Development Report (WDR) on standards, consultations related to artificial intelligence and development, and thematic discussions on energy access and industrial policy.
- Standards for Development – The Evolving Landscape of Global Standards: Implications for Agrifood Systems: Expert consultations on agriculture and standards to prepare WDR companion papers with a focus on Africa (January – May 2026).
- World Development Report 2026 Regional Consultation in Africa: Roundtable sessions in Pretoria with regional experts to provide inputs on how AI is shaping development trajectories across Africa (March 18-20, 2026).
Policy and Investment Design
AGORA in Motion organizes workshops that bring together governments, implementing agencies, researchers, and investors to design policies and programs grounded in evidence. These sessions focus on practical design choices, monitoring frameworks, and mechanisms for learning and adaptation.
- Ongoing discussions around a Mattei LEADS program on energy and agribusiness illustrate this approach, connecting research insights with program development and long-term capacity building.
Knowledge and Learning
The platform produces policy briefs, thematic summaries, podcasts, and curated discussions tailored to different audiences. These efforts expand access to research findings and support analytical capacity among African and European partners. Early outputs include energy and agribusiness briefs following the first AGORA conference, a planned podcast series on energy, and joint dissemination events around major global reports.
- Agriculture Brief
- Energy Brief
- Policy Research Working Paper: African Trade and Investment for Global Resilience
- Policy Research Working Paper: Work and Opportunity for Africa
- Podcast - One Apple, Fifteen Rules: How Agrifood Standards Shape Markets
Measuring Progress
AGORA in Motion defines impact through observable change. Policies and investment programs incorporate evidence generated through sustained engagement. Research agendas reflect operational priorities. Partnerships continue across conference cycles. Interventions include monitoring and evaluation frameworks at the design stage. Each annual AGORA conference therefore reflects documented progress, shared learning, and new commitments shaped by a year of collaboration.
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