AGORA in Motion: A Continuous Platform for Collaboration and Impact

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 AGORA 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.

NEW: AGORA 2026 | How can investment in skills be translated into jobs that drive growth at scale in Africa? From October 26 to 27, 2026, AGORA 26 will explore how better alignment between skills, workforce development, and entrepreneurship and firm demand can support Africa’s growth and job creation. Stay tuned!

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.

• Kiel-CEPR-World Bank African Economic Development Conference: The conference will bring together leading researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners to explore the key drivers of Africa’s economic transformation. Organized with the Kiel Institute and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), in collaboration with the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the Bank of Italy, and the African School of Economics (January 28-29, 2027).
• Growth Academy Africa: Co-organized with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA‑NEPAD) and with support from the Government of Japan, the Growth Academy Africa convened key national institutions, financial actors, academia, and think tanks to share evidence, align institutional priorities, and identify reforms to support enterprise-led growth in the region (May 21, 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).
• 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).
• Engagements with think tanks: We organize regular check-ups with our think tank partners to identify priorities, constraints, and opportunities to collaborate. We also connect these organizations with other researchers, policy leaders, and one another (ongoing). 

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.

• Africa Clean Air Forum: An event with the Africa Clean Air Network (AfriCAN) to convene policymakers, academia, industry, media and civil society organizations to foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, and cross-border partnerships to address air pollution across Africa (July 13, 2026).
• International Network on African Energy Transition (INAET): An international multi-stakeholder network by Eni and the Luiss School of Government in Rome, in partnership with the World Bank Group, including the Institute for Economic Development and IFC to strengthen collaboration to support Africa's energy transition and development priorities (June 11, 2026). 
• Call for Feedback: Standards for Development - Agrifood Systems Report: We are working with experts and partners in Africa to help identify priority gaps, key challenges, and areas where further analysis or guidance could support more effective implementation of standards in agrifood systems. The aim is to develop a companion report with a focus on Africa.
• 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).
• From Barriers to Opportunities: Leveraging Standards in Africa’s Agrifood Systems: A panel discussion on how standards can better support market access, competitiveness, and inclusion across agriculture, forestry, and natural fiber value chains (April 29, 2026). 
• On Think Tanks (OTT) Global Conference: An international forum to strengthen collaboration between African think tanks, policy institutes, researchers, and development organizations (May 19, 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).
• Partnerships with academia: We have established partnerships and are exploring new collaboration opportunities with universities from Africa and Europe (ongoing). 

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.

• Interdisciplinary Pathways Towards Evidence-Driven Air Quality Management in Africa: The webinar explored how stronger cross-disciplinary collaborations across science, engineering, economics, and policy can support clean air solutions in Africa.
• Agriculture Brief: Listen to the podcast
• Energy Brief: Listen to the podcast
• Policy Research Working Paper: African Trade and Investment for Global Resilience
• Policy Research Working Paper: Work and Opportunity for Africa
• Podcast series: Agriculture, Clean Air, and Africa’s Energy.

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.