AERC Call for Papers: The 2026 AIB Africa Conference to be held in Nairobi, Kenya.

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Closing Date: 2 February 2026

AERC Call for Papers: The 2026 AIB Africa Conference to be held in Nairobi, Kenya.

In an era of unprecedented global uncertainty and complexity, Africa is no longer just a recipient of global business strategies. It is emerging as a decisive force reshaping international business, global value chains, and economic models.

This Call for Papers invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit original, high-quality research that explores Africa’s evolving role in global business, innovation, policy, and practice.

Call for Papers

In an era defined by unprecedented global uncertainty and complexity, Africa is no longer merely a recipient of global business strategies but an active architect of innovative solutions that are reshaping international commerce, supply chains, and economic models. The continent’s unique economic, social, and institutional contexts offer invaluable empirical insights for advancing international business scholarship and challenging established paradigms in management science. With a combined GDP exceeding US$3 trillion, the world’s youngest population, and a demonstrated ability to leapfrog traditional development models, Africa is undoubtedly emerging as a critical player in shaping the future of global business.

Against this background, the 2026 AIB Africa conference provides a platform to advance business understanding by combining academic rigor with practical insights, leveraging Africa’s rich business contexts to develop knowledge that is both theoretically sound and practically relevant. The conference addresses the reality that uncertainty has become the new constant in global commerce.

Rather than viewing volatility as an obstacle, the conference will examine how African markets, entrepreneurs, and institutions are developing adaptive strategies, resilient business models, and innovative approaches that not only transform the continent but also offer valuable lessons for global business leaders navigating an increasingly complex world. With 54 independent countries – each with a unique institutional framework – and demonstrated capacity for innovative business models, Africa offers unparalleled opportunities for rigorous academic inquiry and the development of theory.

Through a program that integrates scholarly presentations with practitioner panels, the conference will feature keynote addresses from leading international business (IB) academics, CEOs of major organizations, and policy makers, research workshops led by renowned scholars, executive roundtables facilitated by industry leaders, and collaborative sessions that bring together academics and practitioners to address complex business challenges. This hybrid approach aims to facilitate academic contributions that are both practically relevant and advance theoretical understanding through business insights.

About the AIB Africa conference

Date: May 27th– 29th, 2026
Location: Strathmore University Business School, Nairobi, Kenya

The host city for the 2026 conference is Nairobi, Kenya’s Silicon Savannah, also known as the “Green City
in the Sun”. Kenya’s thriving tech innovation scene is home to some of the most cutting-edge technology
startups on the continent. Boasting one of the fastest mobile internet speeds in the world, thanks to its undersea fiber-optic cable, Kenya is now recognized as a truly connected country and the gateway to Africa. Its US$1 billion tech ecosystem is home to entrepreneurs, investors, and technology companies such as Facebook, Microsoft, IBM, Intel, and many other leading global technology businesses. Nairobi, therefore, offers an attractive space for IB researchers looking for exposure to this cradle of innovation in Africa.

The conference welcome submissions that align with the conference theme: “Navigating Uncertainty, Complexity, and Redefining Limits: Africa’s Role in Shaping Global Business”. Conceptual, empirical, and panel submissions may also go beyond the conference theme and encompass all areas of international business and management in and around Africa.

Special Panel Session on Africa’s role in navigating uncertainty, complexity, and global business: a special panel session focused on the conference theme will be hosted. The goal is to have a scholarly discussion
of how African innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors are navigating the precarious institutional and
infrastructural conditions that shape innovation. Nairobi is home to several technology startups and hubs that will be invited to showcase their innovations during the panel session. This session will involve leading academics, innovators, entrepreneurs. The Academy of International Business (AIB) is the leading association of scholars, consultants, and specialists in the field of international business.