October 14, 2026 | Rembrandt Hotel | Bangkok, Thailand
Africa’s Voice at World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings – Bangkok
A high-level policy convening platform, co-convened at the margins of the World Bank and the IMF Annual and Spring Meetings.
Accelerating Africa's Transformation
Africa @ World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings is a high-level policy convening designed to elevate African priorities within the global economic policy space and to facilitate meaningful exchanges between African leaders, policy researchers, civil society and development partners.
Building on the success of the last two editions—which brought together senior African policymakers, multilateral agencies, private sector executives, and development experts—this 2026 Annual Meetings edition aims to expand beyond an Africa-focused convening to bring Africa and Asia into the same conversation. The platform will explore shared development challenges and opportunities for South–South partnership.
The convening provides a neutral, respected platform where African policymaker, regional bodies, international institutions, civil society, and the private sector can engage candidly on the reforms, investments, and partnerships required to accelerate inclusive and sustainable development. It seeks to strengthen Africa’s voice in global forums and promote actionable solutions for long-standing structural challenges.
2026 Trailblazer for Africa Award
Meet the 2026 Trailblazer for Africa Award Honoree
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Director-General, World Trade Organization
Former Minister of Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala serves as the seventh Director-General of the World Trade Organization, a position she has held since March 2021. She is the first woman and the first African to lead the organization. In November 2024, all 166 WTO members reappointed her by consensus, and she began her second four-year term on 1 September 2025.
Countdown to October 14, 2026
Participants
Objectives of the Convening
Evidence-Based Dialogue
Encouraging evidence-based exchanges among policymakers, experts, and the private sector.
Global Economic Governance
Strengthening Africa’s role in global economic and financial decision-making.
African Policy Priorities
Highlighting African perspectives on reform, financing, resilience, and jobs.
Structural Transformation
Identifying pathways to accelerate structural change across African economies.
Global Market Integration
Supporting deeper integration into regional and global markets.
Actionable Policy Outcomes
Delivering practical recommendations to inform policy decisions.
Innovating for Job Creation
Unlocking Employment and Job Creation in Africa
Development for Sustainable Growth
Advancing Human Capital Development – Health and Education for Sustainable Growth
Infrastructure & Energy for Growth
Infrastructure and Energy as Catalysts for Growth
Boosting Africa’s Trade Growth
Enhancing Africa’s Role in Global Trade and Regional Integration
Digital Transformation & Finance
Digital Transformation & Financial Inclusion
Economic Policies & Empowerment
Gender-Responsive Economic Policies & Women’s Financial Empowerment
Event Agenda
Registration & Welcome
Delegate check-in, badge collection, networking Coffee
Official Welcome
Master of Ceremony
Opening Remarks
- Dr Denis Foretia, Executive Chairman, Nkafu Policy Institute; Founder and Co-Chair, Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation
9:50 am
Transition — Panel 1 setup
Panel 1: Industrialisation, Value Chains, and Jobs
Moderated panel covering: structural drivers of youth unemployment; opportunities from shifts in global supply chains for Africa-Asia value chain integration; high-potential sectors for job creation at scale; technology transfer and financing for industrial capacity
Coffee Break & Networking
Panel 2: Gender-Responsive Economic Policy
Moderated discussion covering: where the gender dimensions of mainstream fiscal and economic policy go unexamined and what that costs governments; what changes when policymakers are inside the research process rather than receiving its conclusions; what institutions that commission and finance economic evidence would need to do differently
Bio Break
Registration Packages
Participation in the Africa @ World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings is by invitation only. Registration fees are payable only after an invitation has been formally extended. For any questions regarding registration, please contact the organizers.
Standard Delegate
- Access to all plenary and panel sessions
- Participation in networking breaks
- Conference kit and digital materials
- Coffee and refreshments
Executive Delegate
- All Standard Delegate benefits
- Reserved seating at all sessions
- Priority check-in
- Access to speakers’ lounge
- Personalized name badge
VIP Delegate
- All Executive Delegate benefits
- VIP table at Trailblazer Award Luncheon
- Recognition in digital
program
Academic / Nonprofit Delegate
Proof required
- Access to all sessions
- Digital program materials
Student Delegate
Student ID required
- Access to all sessions
- Digital materials and Student networking events
Highlights of the October 2025 Edition
Blogposts
No posts found!
Convenor
Co-Convenors & Strategic Partners
Our Partners
Rembrandt Hotel
All our activities will happen at Ballroom 3 & 4
Venue Details:
Address
Sukhumvit Soi 18 Klong Toey, Sukhumvit Road, Klong Toei Bangkok, Thailand 10110