Call for papers
WIDER Development Conference: COVID-19 and development – effects and new realities for the Global South

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges, and undone hard-earned progress on the pathway to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2021 WIDER Development Conference will take place online during 6-8 September 2021, with the aim of connecting research and policy communities around the world to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on development in the Global South, and how to move forward.

The three-day conference will provide a platform for sharing knowledge on the effects of the pandemic in different regions across the Global South, and discuss what can be done to support recovery and get back on track to continue progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. 

The conference will feature keynote addresses from Oriana Bandiera on COVID-19 and extreme poverty, and from Staffan Lindberg on COVID-19 and democracy, a special session in honour of the late Benno Ndulu, policy panel on data gaps, fireside chats, a poster session and more. The event will also provide opportunities to engage with other participants through networking opportunities. 

While not exclusive, we particularly welcome papers from researchers from the Global South on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the developing world, and for the 2030 Agenda. We are especially interested in papers that offer new empirical evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as papers that analyse the efficacy of policy responses to the pandemic in the Global South. Papers that look at the implications of the pandemic for the future of work, global governance, fragility and conflict, and environmental sustainability are also welcome. 

Interested applicants wishing to present original research should complete the online application form . In addition to researchers from the Global South, we encourage submissions from early-career and female researchers. 

See full call for papers