African Economists Unite to Navigate Global Financial Shifts

As geopolitical tensions and debt burdens mount, African governments have launched the African Chief Economists Network (ACE-Network) to forge a unified, evidence-based approach to continental policy. Unveiled at the 2026 African Economic Conference in Abidjan, the platform aims to bridge the gap between academic research and actionable economic strategy.

Editorial·July 13, 2026·reads: 2,935

African Economists Unite to Navigate Global Financial Shifts

The initiative, supported by the African Development Bank, the UNDP, and the OECD, serves as a collaborative hub for experts from central banks, think tanks, and the private sector. Rather than establishing a new bureaucracy, the network functions as a collective think tank tasked with identifying emerging risks and streamlining regional responses to global economic volatility.

Prof. Kevin Urama of the African Development Bank emphasized that the continent must prioritize knowledge systems and data to exert greater influence on the international financial architecture. By fostering quarterly virtual discussions and annual summits, the ACE-Network seeks to move beyond theoretical research. Dr. Raymond Gilpin of the UNDP noted that the platform is vital for advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area and transforming the continent’s demographic potential into sustainable growth. As Dr. Hanan Morsy of the UNECA stated, the success of this collaboration will hinge on its ability to deliver tangible policy resilience in an increasingly interconnected market.