African Conference on Economic Development and Innovation
ACOEDI 2026
Economic Development Adaptation Training Programme
A structured professional development programme combining conference-based action learning, peer learning, applied training and practice adaptation.
THEME: Advancing African Prosperity: Bridging Research, Policy, and Industry for Sustainable Economic Innovation
More Than Conference Attendance
ACOEDI combines exposure, reflection, peer learning, structured training and practice adaptation into one integrated professional development journey.
Three Legs. One Professional Development Journey.
Conference Learning → Structured Training → Practice Adaptation
ACOEDI 2026 Conference
Conference-Based Action & Peer Learning
Participants engage current economic development challenges, policy, research, institutional experience, innovation and implementation practice through the ACOEDI conference environment.
Structured Virtual Training
Two Facilitated Virtual Training Sessions
Session 1
Applied Economic Development Practice
From Policy to Implementation
Developing practitioners' ability to translate policy, strategy and economic development intent into practical implementation.
Session 2
Innovation, AI, Data & Market Intelligence
for Economic Development Practitioners
Applying innovation, AI, data and market intelligence to economic analysis, opportunity identification and development decision-making.
Two facilitated virtual training sessions that convert conference learning into practical professional capability.
Practice Adaptation & CPD
Apply learning within your institution or economic environment
Participants reflect on what has changed in economic development and innovation, assess progress against their professional and institutional goals, and adapt priorities, practice and strategy accordingly.
Why This Training Model?
Economic development cannot be mastered through classroom instruction alone.
Practitioners need exposure to real challenges and implementation realities.
Practitioners must learn from peers, institutions and cross-sector experience.
Learning must ultimately be adapted to the practitioner’s own environment.
Why Now?
Economic conditions and development priorities are changing rapidly.
AI, data and digitalisation are reshaping economic development decision-making.
Institutions need practitioners who can move from policy to implementation.
Professional capability requires continuous learning and adaptation.
What “Adaptive” Means
The adaptive character of the programme, in three simple questions.
What is changing?
Emerging trends in economic development, innovation, markets, technology, policy and implementation.
How are we performing?
Assessing progress against professional, institutional and economic development goals.
What must we adapt?
Practice, priorities, strategy, tools and implementation approaches.
Certification + Continued Professional Relevance
Certification establishes professional competence. ACOEDI keeps it current.
ACOEDI is the annual adaptive CPD anchor within the IfEDI Africa professional certification journey — providing the space to examine emerging economic development and innovation trends, assess progress against professional goals, and adapt practice, priorities and strategy.
GET CERTIFIED ONCE. STAY RELEVANT CONTINUOUSLY.
Who Should Participate?
Economic development & LED practitioners
Government & development institutions
Enterprise, incubation & business support practitioners
Investment, infrastructure & development finance practitioners
Universities, researchers & knowledge institutions
Chambers, consultants, innovators & emerging practitioners
One Integrated Professional Development Journey
Experience → Learn → Adapt → Apply
Understand. Learn. Adapt. Apply.
Economic development is changing. The practitioner must change with it.
ACOEDI 2026 Banking Details
Use the details below to make payment for registration, sponsorship, exhibition, or organisational participation. Please use the correct payment reference so that your payment can be matched to your registration, sponsorship, exhibition, or organisational participation.
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Proof of payment may be requested for confirmation. For international payments, use the Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ.
Conference Theme
Advancing African Prosperity: Bridging Research, Policy, and Industry for Sustainable Economic Innovation
About ACOEDI 2026
ACOEDI is IfEDI Africa's flagship continental professional development and convening platform for economic development and innovation. It brings together researchers, policymakers, businesses, development institutions, innovators, practitioners and professionals to exchange knowledge, examine emerging economic development realities and strengthen implementation capability. ACOEDI forms the conference-based learning leg of an integrated annual Economic Development Adaptation Training Programme combining action learning, peer learning, structured applied training and practice adaptation. It supports IfEDI Africa's professional-body mandate by helping practitioners remain professionally relevant as economic development priorities, tools, markets and implementation environments evolve.
Venue & Dates
26 October 2026 — Welcome Dinner
27–28 October 2026 — Main Conference
29 October 2026 — Optional Technical Tour
Emperors Palace Convention Centre, Johannesburg
Conference Outcomes
These resources contribute to the knowledge and learning environment of the programme.
African Economic Development & Innovation Atlas 2026
A flagship continental publication integrating economic intelligence, strategic planning and governance systems.
ACOEDI 2026 Conference Proceedings
Peer-reviewed book chapters and journal pipeline from accepted academic papers.
Excellence Framework
A competitiveness and benchmarking tool recognising excellence in economic development and innovation.
Recognising Excellence in Economic Development & Innovation Across Africa
The IfEDI Africa Economic Development & Innovation Excellence Awards recognise outstanding professional, institutional and collaborative contributions to economic development and innovation across Africa.
Presented at ACOEDI 2026 on 29 October 2026.
How to Participate
Register for ACOEDI 2026
Submit a Contribution
Become a Conference Ambassador
ACOEDI 2026 Magazine & Implementation Review
The ACOEDI 2026 Industry & Implementation Review is IfEDI Africa's magazine-style knowledge output linked to the conference. It captures implementation themes, regional perspectives, illustrative case formats, innovation stories, institutional profiles, commercial visibility formats and future Atlas-linked learning. Issue 01 | 2026 Edition — 36 pages.
Contact the ACOEDI Secretariat
For enquiries about submissions, registration, sponsorship or the conference programme.