8th Biennial Conference of the Africa Academy of Management
January 4-7, 2026
ESCA Ecole de Management
Casablanca, MOROCCO
‘The Art of Collaboration: Addressing Grand Challenges in Africa Through Research, Education, Practice and Policy Making’
An increasingly complex world characterized by intractable problems with implications for quality of life and ecological sustainability have been labelled societal grand challenges. In an African context, these challenges include eradication of poverty, digital transformation, ecological sustainability, entrepreneurial initiatives, and health promotion among others. The ill-defined nature of these grand challenges not only require interdisciplinary collaborations but also a mix of methodological approaches to understand these challenges. The theme of the AFAM 2026 Biennial conference ‘The Art of Collaboration: Addressing Grand Challenges in Africa Through Research, Education, Practice and Policy Making’ provides a platform for multiple stakeholders to engage in robust discussions across disciplinary boundaries, reflect on contextualized pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning, and wrestle with how to bridge the academic-practitioner divide to contextualize solutions to Africa’s grand challenges. Reflecting the broader call for relevance in management research, the theme of the conference puts the spotlight on understanding and theorizing management-related phenomena in African contexts to advance global management theory as well as develop contextualized solutions to some of these challenges.
We encourage the submission of empirical and conceptual papers that broadly align with the theme of the conference and address context-specific issues, including but not limited to:
- Inclusive Business Models for Sustainable Development in Africa
- Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment: Building Africa’s Future Workforce
- Leadership Philosophies and Indigenous Management Practices
- Digital Innovations and Technology Adoption in African Markets
- Policy Frameworks for Enhancing Regional Trade and Economic Integration
- Climate Resilience and Green Business Practices in African Enterprises
- Ethical Business Practices: Combating Corruption and Strengthening Transparency
- Business Education and Skill Development for Future Industries
- Informal Economies and Their Role in Urban and Rural Development
- Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs
- Religion and spirituality in African organizations
- Transforming Healthcare Systems Through Innovation and Collaboration
- Financing Innovation and Addressing Capital Constraints in African Start-ups
- Navigating for Natural Resources and Geopolitics in African Business
- Decolonization and the African University
- Context Specific Methodologies for Africa
Conference Proceedings:
Proceedings Editor: Dorothy Mpabanga, University of Botswana, Botswana (dorothym366@gmail.com )
Abstracts of papers accepted and presented at the conference will be published in Conference Proceedings. There will be a best paper award for each track. Winners will receive a certificate, and the paper will be highlighted in the conference program. Best papers will also be considered for publication in the Africa Journal of Management (AJOM) subject to the journal’s blind review process.
Please check the AJOM website at http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rajm20/current
About The Host Institution:
Established in 1992, ESCA School of Management has continuously innovated, adopting global best practices in higher education to provide high-quality instruction. In 2017, ESCA became the first private management school in Morocco to be officially recognized by the state. As a further recognition of its commitment to excellence, ESCA received AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation in 2018, the first business school in Morocco and Francophone Africa to receive such a recognition. Located in the heart of the Casablanca Finance City, the school boasts a Next-Generation campus hosting students from 30 different nationalities. The school offers a wide range of postgraduate programs including Executive Master’s, MBA, Specialized Master’s as well as undergraduate programs including Professional Bachelor’s Degree and a Bachelor’s in Business Management among others. Students enrolled on these programs gain international exposure through the school’s partnerships with 121 higher education institutions worldwide. ESCA is perennially ranked as the top business school in Morocco and Francophone Africa. Additionally, it secured the 3rd spot in Africa in the esteemed Eduniversal rankings of 2023. Each year, ESCA School of Management trains over 1,100 multicultural students, equipping them to become engaged, innovative, responsible, visionary, and high-performing leaders.
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