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While Africa is at the epicenter of the development challenges facing the world today, African academics exist largely on the periphery of academic research and publishing. While the majority of development challenges exist in developing countries, the vast majority of published research on development and development policies is conducted by researchers from the developed world. A recent study of articles published in top 20 development journals from 1990 to 2019 revealed that fewer than one in six (16%) articles were by Southern researchers, while close to threequarters (73%) were by Northern researchers¹. Even articles with an explicit focus on a developing country or region (which represented 61% of all articles published) showed significant authorship bias, with a substantial majority (62%) being written by Northern researchers². There have been similar disparities in presentations at major global development conferences, where developing country researchers have been greatly underrepresented, with developing country universities reaching a mean of just 9% from 2010 to 2019, compared to 57% from universities in developed countries³.

The disparity is even more stark with respect to African academics, who have been chronically underrepresented in development-related fields of study, even in Africa-focused articles.

For example, a study of leading economics journals found that, of the journal articles published on Africa during the period 2005-2015, only 25% had at least one African-based author. With respect to medical literature, multiple studies have shown Africans to be underrepresented. African health and medical journals are poorly represented in international indexing services and the continent’s research sector produces less than 1% of the world’s health research each year, raising concerns regarding the limited production, distribution, and availability of African health information⁴. This was particularly evident in the representation of African authors in Africa-focused COVID-19 literature, as a large majority (66.1%) of authors of Africa-focused COVID-19 papers were not from Africa⁵. Similar patterns have been found in journals focused on politics, society and international relations as they relate to the African continent⁶, as well as in Africa-focused public health research⁷.

The underrepresentation of African academics in scholarship regarding development issues prevalent in Africa inhibits the plurality and richness of those dialogues while also promoting a harmful imbalance wherein non-African (primarily Western) researchers have outsized influence in fields of research where African researchers have the advantage of first-hand knowledge. The absence of African scholarship from development publications means that African perspectives are largely absent from the scholarship that ultimately helps to shape global, regional and national development policies related to the continent.

This imbalance has direct and severe implications for development research and analysis, as well as for policy formulation and outcomes. Growing evidence indicates that intimate knowledge of and ongoing presence in a country is likely to provide vital insights into the framing of research questions, the formulation/application of methodologies, and the interpretation of research results⁸. As a result of this underrepresentation, the dominant methodological tools and policy frameworks may not truly be appropriate for understanding and addressing the complex challenges facing the continent, resulting in policies that may be ill-fitted to the African context, and leading to poor development outcomes and the perpetuation of the very challenges they hope to address. In addition, given the trade-offs inherent to research, the imbalance may also result in a confluence of research on questions that tend to reflect Western interests and priorities for the continent, often at the expense of other equally important matters. Such pitfalls can be avoided only by extending the circle of consensus to include more voices from the continent.

In an effort to strengthen African representation in global development scholarship and ensure that African voices are heard in the debates that help to shape the continent’s future, the Office of the Special Adviser has launched an annual academic conference, intending to provide a platform for African scholarship that addresses the wide-ranging scope of Africa’s development, with particular emphasis on the quadruple nexus of development, peace and security, humanitarian work and human rights.

The academic conference will bring together African scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from different sectors and disciplines, and will feature keynote speeches from leading experts as well as panel discussions on the most pressing issues facing African communities. There will also be an opportunity for select scholars to present their research, providing an opportunity for them to share their findings and insights with a wider audience.

The 2023 iteration of the conference will address critical themes, particularly:

African Governance: Assessing the State of the State
The discussion will focus on the critical role of the state in Africa's development and security, aiming to delve into historical contexts, the efficacy of prevailing democratic models, and strategies for effective governance.

Complexities of Resilience in Africa: Expanding the Perspective
Resilience, a linchpin in development, peace, security, and humanitarian efforts, will be examined through a comprehensive lens, extending beyond governmental approaches to encompass the multifaceted dimensions of resilience embedded in African culture and society.

Looking to the Future: The Role of African Academics in Building the Africa and the World We Want
Discussion will centre on the unique role of African academics in influencing global narratives, fostering cultural context, and establishing continental and global agendas.

A Nuanced Perspective on Global Issues:
The conference offers a distinctive lens through which to view the most pressing global issues. By showcasing the work of African scholars, the conference aims to enrich global discourse by bringing their unique and nuanced views to the forefront, underscoring the importance of diverse perspectives in addressing complex global challenges.

Building Bridges:
The conference aims to go beyond merely providing a shared platform for engagement, with a focus on building robust bridges of meaningful communication that foster shared understanding between African academics, policymakers, and development actors, bridging the gap between theory and practice in support of more impactful policies.

The conference will introduce a distinctive approach to the traditional academic conference format, by reimagining the role of academics as change agents and actively engaging policy makers and development actors throughout the conference process. From the initial selection of papers to the conference discussions and eventual preparation/publication of final papers, policymakers and development practitioners will be integral participants. This approach facilitates a dynamic exchange of knowledge and expertise between academia and the policy realm, fostering greater collaboration, the co-creation of solutions, and strengthened alignment between academic research on Africa and real-world policy and programmatic decision-making.

Multi-disciplinary Approach – Enriching Insights from Diverse Disciplines:
The conference will take a multi-disciplinary approach that extends beyond the confines of typical social science fields, recognizing that addressing complex challenges requires insights from a diverse spectrum of academic disciplines, including humanities, natural sciences, and more. Featuring participants from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including anthropology, history, cultural studies, and other humanities disciplines, allows for richer discussions and greater nuance in our understanding of pressing issues.

The conference will be held in hybrid format, with in-person participation by featured speakers and audience at the UN Headquarters in NY, as well as audience members connected via Zoom. The main thematic sessions will be held in the mornings to allow full participation from audience in Africa.

The morning thematic sessions held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. New York local time will generally feature a keynote speaker, a panel discussion featuring distinguished academics, and the presentation of 1 or 2 papers for discussion. Following each paper presentation will be responses by discussants representing academia, as well as the UN system and/or government (depending upon the approach of the paper). This will be followed by interactive discussions with featured speakers and the audience having an opportunity to exchange views on the issues under discussion.

To capitalize on the presence of distinguished and well-regarded African scholars in New York, the agenda will also include additional activities crafted with the intention of creating a bridge and facilitating meaningful engagement between African scholars and key decision-making bodies.

Targeted Participants

• African Academics (based on the continent and transnational)
• Member States (African and Development Partners)
• UN System
• Students / Youth

Outcomes

• Conference Summary / Report
• Academic Journal – expanded / finalized papers to be featured in a 2024 academic journal publication