Call for Papers: IDEAs Global Conference titled “Towards a needed Paradigm Shift in Economic Policy: Addressing Industrial Development and Financial Autonomy in the Global South” Sandton Conference Centre | Johannesburg, South Africa | 24-26 September 2025

Read the Concept Note

South Africa’s G20 Presidency (2025), for which this call for papers is aimed at, has called for a paradigm shift in the provision of practical solutions to the decades old challenges that afflict the Global South in general and Africa in particular. Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, Africa and the rest of the Global South yearn for practical global solutions to the persistent malaise.

For decades, efforts aimed at addressing the systemic nature of economic challenges in Africa and other developing regions have been provided from neoclassical theoretical and policy lenses. These have led to painful adjustments always falling on poor countries whilst offering no real positive outcomes. With economic nationalism rising and multipolarity a reality, the urgency for economic and monetary sovereignty is real.

• In light of these elements, the International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs) is looking for expert contributions on alternative frameworks or approaches to advancing the policy agenda on the following topics
• industrialisation by leveraging critical minerals and materials,
• domestic resource mobilisation for development,
• South-South financial cooperation schemes such as the establishment of payment systems that facilitate cross border trade.

Industrial Development and Critical Minerals

Africa’s rare earth elements and other critical minerals and materials are a sure pathway to the continent’s industrial development, ecological transformation, job creation and economic prosperity, but only if an integrated approach to the development of such strategic minerals is adopted.  As the world transitions to clean (renewable) energy, digital revolution and high-end technologies, the use of strategic minerals (critical minerals) will be elevated. This implies a significant increase in demand for minerals, and by extension an opportunity to industrialise on the back of this energy and digital revolution. The demand for critical minerals is said to triple by 2030, or a quadrupling of mineral requirements for clean energy technologies by 2040. An even faster transition, to hit net-zero globally by 2050, would require six times more mineral inputs in 2040 than today. This offers a rare opportunity for structural and ecological transformation to be quickened. Risks, however, accompany any such development.

Contributions under this topic should examine how developing economies can transform their industrial base, revolutionise their economies or avert deindustrialisation, namely by leveraging their critical minerals and materials.

Domestic Resource Mobilisation for Development

In development discourse, domestic resource mobilisation (DRM), a process through which countries, especially low to middle-income, raise and spend their own funds to provide for their development has become synonymous with sustainable economic growth, increased policy autonomy, domestic ownership of development strategies, and reduced aid dependence etc. However, the outcomes have been less than satisfactory. The focus of DRM today is almost entirely about innovative ways of raising finance for development through taxation, curbing illicit financial flows, stolen asset recovery and the use of market instruments. While these are not doubted as ways of mobilising resources, they are emphasized from a particular understanding of “resources” which limits its wider application. Moreover, the addition of borrowing under the proposed market instruments such as local currency bond markets introduce unmitigated backdoor entry of foreign players into local markets.

Contributions under this rubric should investigate the limitations of DRM as currently conceptualised and applied and suggest newer approaches that are eventually grounded on the acknowledgment of the endogenous nature of domestic (bank) money.

South-South Financial Cooperation Schemes

 The reform of the architecture of global economic governance has been one of the most deliberated yet unresolved challenge for the international community. Designed by and for a few at a time when colonialism was at its acme and development challenges were almost not there, the global financial architecture already had structural deficiencies at the time of its conception, let alone today where it has become increasingly at odds with reality and thus entirely unfit. The global economic governance architecture, encompassing institutions and frameworks, plays a central role in shaping payment systems, which in turn impacts on economic development, financial and macroeconomic stability and financial inclusion. In a multipolar world, with significant advances in financial technology (fintech), alternative payment systems are a reality, and with them urgent reforms of the governance architecture.

Contributions under this rubric are expected to investigate the catalytic nature of alternative payments systems in advancing global financial reform. In particular, policy proposals aiming at enhancing South-South financial cooperation are highly welcomed.

Expectations from Potential Contributors

 Contributors should be able to demonstrate knowledge of relevant alternative approaches/models to the economic challenges that confront the Global South, with a bias to Africa.

 Format and Delivery

Contributors are requested to submit abstracts limited to 250 words by 30 April 2025. Proposals accepted would be decided and potential contributors invited to prepare full papers by August 30 2025 that include an executive summary and a PowerPoint presentation ready for the pre-G20 conference. The paper should not exceed 10,000 words.

Remuneration

IDEAs will cover the travel and lodging expenses to attend the conference. An honorarium will also be  paid for the submitted revised completed draft of the paper and executive summary.

Contact

Abstracts should be submitted to: [email protected]