Conference Announcement: ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre to Host 2026 Hybrid International Conference in Harare

The Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre, in partnership with several international and local institutions, is set to host its 2026 Investment, Industrialization and Integration, Legacy Reclamation Hybrid International Conference from October 1-3, 2026, in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Theme and Rationale

The conference’s core theme is "Transformative AfCFTA Investment, Industrialization and Integration of marginalized rural-urban and resettled communities in Zimbabwe, Southern and Sub-Saharan Africa within a 4IR fast advancing digital world".

The event is positioned as an "Afrocentric, Pan African legacy reclamation flagship project" to overcome socioeconomic inequalities and consolidate peace. Organizers argue that while previous development cooperation efforts have taken place under auspices like the UN, AU, SADC, and COMESA, a depressed socioeconomic disposition remains visible in the South. The solution, they propose, lies in AfCFTA-driven, cross-sector targeted investment, industrialization, and integration of marginalized communities into the global development mainstream.

Key Details and Partnerships

The conference will be held at the Museum of African Liberation, Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) in Warren Park, Harare. The hybrid format aims to promote value chains, climate-change-compliant industrialization, research-education, and advocacy.

Notable partners for the 2026 conference include Simferopol State University Crimea, Galileo Holdings Pvt Ltd, Great Zimbabwe University, Norton Town Council (NTC), and Midlands State University.

Submissions and Logistics

The deadline for Abstract Submissions is March 15, 2026, with the Full Paper Submission deadline set for July 15, 2026. Papers are expected to have a maximum of 6,000 words and address themes including Industry, Agriculture, Tourism, Finance, Infrastructure, Smart Cities, Climate Change, Gender, and Peace and Security.

Delegate fees vary by category and origin, with local presenters paying US$120 and local students paying US$40. Zimbabwe is slated to host a crucial international economic conference in October 2026 focused on harnessing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive industrialization, investment, and socioeconomic transformation within the country and across Sub-Saharan Africa. The event, titled the 2026 ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre Investment, Industrialization and Integration, Legacy Reclamation Hybrid International Conference, aims to bridge the gap between continental trade policy and tangible economic growth in marginalized communities.

The conference's ambitious theme—"Transformative AfCFTA Investment, Industrialization and Integration of marginalized rural-urban and resettled communities in Zimbabwe, Southern and Sub-Saharan Africa within a 4IR fast advancing digital world"—underscores a strategic vision to use the world’s largest free-trade zone as a tool for "legacy reclamation," addressing deep-seated socioeconomic inequalities inherited from the past.

The AfCFTA, launched in 2021, represents a colossal effort to unify Africa’s 55 nations into a single market comprising 1.3 billion people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately $3.4 trillion. Its objective is to dismantle trade barriers, including tariffs and non-tariff measures, to boost intra-African trade, which currently lags behind other continents.

For Zimbabwe, which has ratified the agreement, the AfCFTA presents an unprecedented opportunity to expand export access beyond traditional regional markets. The government has already formulated a National AfCFTA Strategy, recognizing the accord’s potential as a key driver of integration, production, and poverty reduction. The conference, organized by the Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre in partnership with institutions including Midlands State University (MSU), Great Zimbabwe University, and Simferopol State University Crimea, is intended to serve as a platform for translating this national strategy into actionable, local-level policy.

While the economic opportunities are vast, the implementation of the AfCFTA is not without significant challenges, particularly for smaller economies like Zimbabwe. Economic analysis by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted that, on average, fiscal revenue losses from tariff reductions across the continent are expected to be limited. However, the IMF explicitly noted that for a few countries, Zimbabwe being one of them, these revenue losses could be significant, potentially reaching between 3% and 5% of GDP.

This fiscal shock necessitates a robust national strategy focused on offsetting lost tariff revenue by boosting domestic tax revenue mobilization and significantly increasing export volumes. The success of this transition hinges less on tariff removal and more on overcoming the chronic issue of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), such as complex regulatory requirements, customs delays, and infrastructure deficits.

The upcoming 2026 conference aims to directly address this challenge by promoting research and advocacy in strategic areas, including transport, infrastructure, finance, and climate-change-compliant industrialization. The central philosophical driver of the 2026 summit is "Legacy Reclamation," defined as overcoming historically persistent socioeconomic inequalities to consolidate peace and integrate marginalized communities into the global development mainstream. This mandate is intrinsically linked to the performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which are the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy and crucial for inclusive growth.

Current data reveals a profound disconnect between the continental promise and local reality: only about 1% of MSMEs in Zimbabwe currently access regional markets for export purposes. This low rate is attributed to a triad of barriers: limited access to finance, inadequate marketing skills, and a complex regulatory environment.

The conference’s focus on "marginalized rural-urban and resettled communities" directly tackles this challenge. By promoting the inclusion of these communities, the organizers seek to align continental policy with grassroots development, emphasizing value chains, value addition, and policy innovation.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stressed that success relies on strategic action, including:

1. Capacity Building: Enhancing the market readiness and digital capabilities of MSMEs, especially those led by women and youth.

2. Governance Reform: Streamlining business processes, tax statutes, and guidelines to combat corruption and discrimination at trade routes.

3. Digital Integration: Leveraging the AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Protocol to boost intra-African trade and connect local businesses to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies.

Academic Foundation and Forward Strategy

The event, which will be held at the Museum of African Liberation, Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) in Harare, highlights the convergence of trade policy, history, and development academia. The organizers—Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre—are positioning the summit not merely as a discussion forum but as a strategic platform for creating lasting partnerships and tangible outputs.

The call for papers covers a broad economic spectrum, soliciting contributions on Industry, Agriculture, Tourism, Finance, Infrastructure, Smart Cities, and Climate Change. This comprehensive scope ensures that the proceedings will address the structural deficiencies that inhibit effective trade, such as inefficient logistics and energy shortages.

With the deadline for Abstract Submissions set for March 15, 2026, and the Full Paper Submission deadline following in July 2026, the process is designed to generate research that will feed directly into policy recommendations.

In essence, the 2026 ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre International Conference is more than an academic gathering; it is a critical engagement point for Zimbabwe’s economic policymakers and the private sector. It represents a coordinated attempt to manage the risks (like fiscal revenue loss) and seize the opportunities (like market expansion and industrialization) presented by the AfCFTA, ensuring that the continental agreement delivers its promise of prosperity, particularly for the most marginalized segments of the population. The outcome of this conference will likely shape Zimbabwe’s trade agenda and its path toward leveraging Pan-African integration for national development well into the latter half of the decade.