SBL-UNISA International Engaged Scholarship Conference AfCFTA
This conference is a platform for policy makers, revolutionary academics, agents of change, and indigenous knowledge holders to contribute their intellectual prowess towards creating collaborative opportunities between the public and private sector; between urban and rural businesses; between local, national and regional enterprises, to create sustainable economies. The aim of the conference is to enlist the voices of policy makers, local, regional and global enterprises to contribute their perspectives on poverty eradication solutions in the context of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. The conference seeks to spotlight systems for coproducing knowledge in ways that navigate policy, science and indigenous knowledge to advance poverty eradication agendas of African communities.
Today’s world is an interdependent trade ecosystem. The recent signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (2018) underpins the commitment of the African leaders to operationalise the interdependence of economies in the African region. Even more important, is the prevailing mood amongst African leaders to fast-track industrial development and regional integration. On 1 January 2021, trading under AfCFTA started. The AfCTA with its 35 signatories, is an instrument that legitimises the creation of a single continental market for goods and services – with free movement of business, people and investments – laying – the foundations for the integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa. One of the expected outcomes through the implementation of the agreement is to boost intra-African trade. Currently, intra-African trade accounts for between 10-16%. It is expected that the agreement will accelerate growth and sustainable development through a doubling of overall intra-African trade by 2022, and tripling trade in agricultural goods by 2023.
Trade interdependences pose challenges for policy makers and opportunities for local and cross-border traders. Challenges abound when economic policies do not create an enabling environment for local and international trade to be optimized. Forward-looking trade policy frameworks are crucial in international trade; but these are not enough to transform and align African economies with the needs of the current digital industrial revolution. Without a special kind of policy making acumen and leadership sensibilities, that unlock capabilities to navigate the global business environment nimbly, the policy environment will still not yield inclusive growth.
Notwithstanding collapsing of borders as envisaged in the AfCFTA, trade deficit in Africa is high, while intra-Africa Trade is low. This is attributed to several factors including changes in the structure of the African economies that saw unrelenting unemployment figures in the past ten years, decline in the productive sector of the African economies, while inequality increased in some countries.
The effects of the financial crisis of Covid 19 and the Ukranian War, as well and the increase in indebtedness of households aggravates growth problems faced by small, medium and large enterprises. These economic conditions require the private and public sector to swivel around in search for growth opportunities, often, in unchartered waters of international trade. Accordingly, the questions that will drive chapters invited for this publication will be contextualized around the unique geopolitical and economic circumstances of Countries in Africa. Some of these questions are: how can small, medium and large business unlock value against the low growth-trap, high inequality, and the speed of technological and market changes? What will it take to erase the legacy policy choices from the consciousness and soul of local businesses, and institutionalise the AfCFTA to invigorate the African economies? What kind of international trade opportunities are available and how can local business better prepare for such opportunities? Given, trade facilitation problems, infrastructure deficit, as well as peace and security issues in Africa how can the public and private sector institutionalise the AfCFTA in a way that would pivot Africa on a new inclusive growth path
TRACK 1: Intra-Africa Trade Status
Harmonisation of the continental free trade market for African countries is a significant development towards a greater African unity.
AfCFTA offers a scholarship platform for contributions to this intra-continental free-trade harmonisation endeavour.
Papers (and Abstracts): Novel Research contributions are invited finance, currencies, banking, and investment topics to help Africa shape its common-market harmonisation endeavour.
TRACK 2: Agenda 2063 and implications for national and regional policies
AfCFTA offers a scholarship platform for contributions towards this intra-continental free-trade harmonisation endeavour.
Papers (and Abstracts): Novel Research contributions are invited on economic policies, strategies and related topics - to help Africa shape its common-market harmonisation endeavour
TRACK 3: Entrepreneurship, Small Business and the Informal Sector
Papers (and Abstracts): Novel Research contributions are invited on how respective nation states, regional economic formations, and the greater continental economic development initiative can better enable the small, micro and medium entrepreneurs to access, contribute to, and benefit from the new Africa Free-Trade market development
TRACK 4: Exporting, Internationalization and Foreign Direct Investment
Papers (and Abstracts):
Novel Research contributions are invited on how provincial bodies, nation states and respective regional collaborative formations can align their internationalization regimes, including multilateral trade frameworks to better exploit the current Africa Free-market trading developments
TRACK 5: Cultural diversity, Human Resources and Logistics/Supply Chain and Organization
Papers (and Abstracts):
Novel Research contributions are invited on how provincial bodies and nation states, respective regional collaborative formations and the greater continental economic governance structure can align their Human-Resources, Operations and Logistics - including Supply Chain and Project Management regimes can be aligned for the new intra-continental free-trade market environment.
TRACK 6: Technology Infrastructure, Innovations, Tools, Systems & Enablers
Papers (and Abstracts):
Novel Research contributions are invited on advancing national, regional and trans-Africa technology infrastructure, systems, tools, networks and practices – including technology literacies, in order to capacitate efficiency and trade competitiveness in the Africa Free-Trade market
Abstracts format
Title of Paper
Author’s Name(s) (Full Name(s))
Affiliation/University/ Institute
e-mail address
ABSTRACT
An abstract should be a single paragraph, with no indentation. It should summarize key points of the manuscript in 200 to 350 words. Hence, standard practice have seen abstracts being spared citations, references, figures, tables and graphs. For, abstracts should capture only the essence of the manuscript, including a few lines of introduction, linked to a shortened problematic and a rationale. Whilst titles should give a clear link between the proposed manuscript and the conference, the framing of the abstract must also show a link between the proposed manuscript and the theme of the conference. The aim and objective would follow logically, leading to a methodology. An expected contribution also balances the context (in place of the findings). Linking this to the actual aim and purpose of the conference or journal would improve the relevance (and acceptability) of the abstract. Obviously, if the manuscript is based on the work that already has the findings, the abstract becomes even more balanced. Indeed, abstracts should also end with a logically flowing conclusion.
*Provide 5 key words in alphabetical order separated with semicolons, not included in the title.
Keywords: writing; template; sixth; edition; self-discipline
We invite original, high-quality papers of unpublished conceptual, constructive, experimental and/ or theoretical research in topical areas across the four thematic areas of the conference.
NB: Authors undertake NOT to submit the same manuscripts for publication or similar consideration in other publication platforms. Submission of a manuscripts implies that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
Full Paper Reviewing Process
Language
Images, Figures, Tables
Standard international formatting practice in the use of Tables, Figures or images applies.
Tables
The Heading of the Table is placed above the Table. The Title of Figures is always placed below the figure as demonstrated below.
To demonstrate the use of figures, we use an image from the 1st International Engaged Scholarship Conference’22, that highted the essence of the co-creation spirit. The essence of collaborative linkages in activities in Figure 1.
Paper Structure
File format
Formatting & Paper Length Limit
Paper length | Full paper: within 15 pages, including references, tables/ charts and keywords |
Abstract length | 200-350 words |
Key words | 3-5 words |
Font | 12-point Times New Roman |
Paragraph | Single-spaced |
Margin | Normal (Top :2.54 cm , Bottom: 2.54 cm; Left : 3.18cm , Right: 3.18cm) |
Page numbers | Bottom-centered |
Layout | One-column Portrait |
Format | MS Word-compatible file |
Poster Format
A poster is a graphical illustration of your research project, article message or idea. As such, a poster should be based on the submitted abstract as accepted by the Scientific Committee. It must be a format that is easy to follow, read and comprehend with minimal effort.
Mostly through inclusion of some of visuals, charts and or graphs - joined by fewer words. As a basis, a Poster must have a title that is bold and representative of the message of the poster. Usually on top of the poster, together with the names and affiliations of the authors, in a font lower than that of the title. The colours of the text and images must always be in direct contrast to the background, to enhance visibility. Size: A1 international paper size, on a board or material that allows it to be posted on the boards.
Please submit your final full conference paper by clicking the "Submit Conference Proceedings" button above.
After your abstract has been approved, please submit your final full paper to https://www.scienceopen.com/collection/5ecb0f84-732e-478f-a2ab-63b1557dce1c/upload-preprint
Note that you must be registered on the ScienceOpen platform to submit. Register at www.scienceopen.com/register
13th-15th September 2024
MARRIOTT HOTEL, KIGALI, RWANDA
THEME: Bridging Barriers to Cross-Regional Trade and Technological Development Synergies in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area
The University of Rwanda (in Association with the UNISA SBL and the University of Botswana) is hosting the 3rd International Engaged Scholarship Conference, focusing on Bridging Barriers to Cross-Regional Trade and Technological Development Synergies in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Call for Abstracts
Abstracts are invited (as of 01 March to 20 August 2024) on each of the 6 conference thematic areas:
Abstract are submitted on a separate link:
Upon a positive evaluation of your abstract, a conference paper will be invited for submission by no later than 05 August 2024, to a double-blind peer review process.
ScienceOpen disciplines: | Economics |
Keywords: | Africa |
DOI: | 10.14293/S2199-1006.1.SOR-ECON.CLJXRJE.v1 |