Conference Call for Papers
Rethinking African Mobility: Past Lessons, Present Realities and Future Possibilities
In line with its commitment to advancing critical, policy-relevant research on mobility and displacement, the IDRC Research Chair on Forced Displacement in Anglophone West Africa, led by Mary B. Setrana, is partnering with the Centre for Migration Studies (CMS), University of Ghana, and the Metropolis International Migration Network to convene a major international conference as part of CMS’s 20th anniversary activities.
Conference dates: 17–19 November 2026
Location: University of Ghana, Accra
Format: In-person only
Submission deadline: 1 March 2026
Conference Rationale
Mobility is central to Africa’s development aspirations. It shapes labour markets, human capital flows, innovation, and technological linkages, while also opening pathways for regional integration, economic transformation, and cultural exchange. At the same time, Africa’s rapidly expanding data ecosystem presents new opportunities to better understand the drivers, patterns, and consequences of mobility across the continent. Harnessing these opportunities requires robust, harmonized, and innovative data systems that can support more inclusive and forward-looking mobility governance.
Yet, these developments also present significant challenges. The relationship between mobility and immobility remains underexplored, and debates on development, protection, resilience, and durable solutions often remain fragmented. Migration governance in Africa continues to operate within a complex, multi-layered ecosystem shaped by national priorities, regional commitments, and global geopolitical dynamics. Within this context, dominant Western, risk- and security-oriented frameworks have often overshadowed the developmental, historical, and structural dimensions of African mobility.
Responding to these challenges, the conference seeks to contribute to a much-needed paradigm shift by critically examining African mobility through past lessons, present realities, and future possibilities. The aim is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue that moves beyond crisis-driven narratives and supports more just, evidence-based, and transformative approaches to mobility and displacement in Africa.
Call for Submissions
We invite individual paper and panel submissions that engage with the conference theme from a wide range of disciplinary, methodological, and geographical perspectives. Submissions are welcome from scholars, early-career researchers, doctoral students, policymakers, practitioners, and civil society actors. A limited number of travel grants will be available for presenters from non-OECD countries.
How to Apply
Individual Paper Proposals should include:
- A 250-word abstract outlining the topic, methodology, and preliminary findings
- Name(s), affiliation(s), and contact details of the author(s)
- A short biographical note (maximum 100 words) written in the first person
Accepted individual papers will be grouped thematically into panels and assigned a chair.
Panel Proposals should be submitted as a single document and include:
- A 250-word panel abstract outlining the panel theme
- Three to four thematically linked paper abstracts (250 words each)
- Name(s), affiliation(s), and contact details of each contributor listed above each abstract
- Short biographical notes (maximum 100 words) in the first person for the panel chair(s) and paper authors
Submission and Conference Links
- Abstract submission portal: https://www.conftool.org/metropolis-intl-2026/
- Conference website: https://metropolisintl.org/2026-conference
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