This is an academic conference and publication opportunity rather than a grant or financial-support programme.

Organisation

AfriquEurope

Conference Partners

The conference is jointly organised with:

Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny

and coordinated with:

• Delegation of the European Union to Côte d’Ivoire
• Delegation of the European Union to the African Union in Addis Ababa

Conference

AfriquEurope 11th Conference

Theme

Youth, Gender and Social Transformation in Africa: New Perspectives for EU–Africa Relations

The conference marks 25 years of EU–AU relations and will examine youth, gender and broader social transformation in Africa, while considering emerging perspectives for relations between Europe and Africa.

Overview

AfriquEurope is inviting researchers and authors to submit papers for its 11th conference, which will bring together perspectives on youth, gender and social transformation in Africa within the wider context of EU–Africa relations.

The conference provides an opportunity for researchers to present their work in an international academic and policy-oriented setting and contribute to discussions around how changing social dynamics in Africa may shape future relations between Africa and Europe.

The event will take place at the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on 5–6 November 2026.

Conference Focus

The central focus is:

Youth, Gender and Social Transformation in Africa

with particular emphasis on:

• Youth.
• Gender.
• Social inclusion.
• Social transformation.
• Africa–Europe relations.
• New perspectives for EU–Africa relations.

The opportunity is categorised under Gender and Social Inclusion.

Submission Opportunity

Interested authors are invited to submit an abstract proposal for consideration for presentation at the conference.

The submission must include:

• An abstract of no more than 300 words.
• A short biographical note of no more than 150 words.

The abstract should present the proposed paper and its relevance to the conference theme.

Panel Proposals

Panel proposals are also eligible for consideration.

A panel proposal should include at least three presenters.

This provides an opportunity for groups of researchers working on related questions to propose a coordinated discussion rather than submitting only an individual paper.

What Happens After Acceptance?

Authors whose abstracts are accepted will be required to submit a:

3–4-page summary of their paper

by 16 October 2026.

The conference also provides publication opportunities.

A selection of papers presented at the conference will be published in a selected volume.

In addition, shortened versions of some presented papers will be considered for publication in the AfriquEurope Jean Monnet Paper Series.

Who Should Apply?

The opportunity is relevant to authors and researchers whose work connects with the conference's focus on:

• Youth in Africa.
• Gender and social inclusion.
• Social transformation.
• Africa–Europe relations.
• Emerging perspectives on EU–AU relations.

Geographic Scope

Africa–Europe

Conference Country

Côte d’Ivoire

Conference City

Abidjan

Venue

Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny

The theme is explicitly international in scope, focusing on African social transformation and its implications for EU–Africa relations.

Key Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline:
21 September 2026

Notification of Acceptance:
25 September 2026

Paper Summary Deadline:
16 October 2026

Conference:
5–6 November 2026

Submission Requirements

Stage 1 – Abstract

Maximum:

300 words

Must be accompanied by:

Biographical note – maximum 150 words

Stage 2 – Accepted Papers

Authors with accepted abstracts must submit:

3–4-page paper summary

Deadline:

16 October 2026

Application / Submission Process

The call indicates that abstract proposals should be submitted through the available submission form on the AfriquEurope conference webpage.

The call also notes that authors who submitted their abstracts by email between 14–24 August 2026, before the online form was created, do not need to resubmit through the form.

Publication Opportunities

There are two potential publication routes:

Selected Volume

A selection of conference papers will be published in a selected volume.

Jean Monnet Paper Series

Shortened versions of some presented papers will be published in AfriquEurope’s Jean Monnet Paper Series.

Applicants should therefore view publication as a potential benefit, rather than assuming acceptance of an abstract guarantees publication.

Important Considerations

Applicants should take note of:

• The submission is an abstract, not a full paper, at the initial stage.
• The abstract must not exceed 300 words.
• The biographical note must not exceed 150 words.
• Panel proposals require at least three presenters.
• Accepted authors must subsequently provide a 3–4-page summary by 16 October 2026.
• Only a selection of conference papers will be published in the selected volume.
• Only some presented papers may appear in shortened form in the Jean Monnet Paper Series.
• No financial support or grant amount is specified in the information provided.

Conference Theme in More Detail

The conference is positioned around the question of how youth, gender and social transformation are reshaping African societies and what these developments mean for future EU–Africa relations.

For researchers working at the intersection of social change, inclusion and international relations, this creates space to contribute research that connects African experiences and transformations with broader Europe–Africa engagement.

Click HERE to visit the official website.