18 August 2026
10:00 – 11:30
Seeking to contribute to the implementation of Agenda 2063’s vision of an integrated,
prosperous, and peaceful Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) invites you to an online webinar titled Debt, trade,
and infrastructure: The political economy of regional integration, taking place on 18 August
2026.
This webinar will provide a transdisciplinary platform for scholars, policymakers, researchers,
civil society actors, and development practitioners to critically engage with the political
economy of trade integration, sovereign debt, and infrastructure development within the
AfCFTA framework. Discussions will explore whether current development financing models
can sustainably support Africa’s regional integration agenda and examine policy alternatives
that may strengthen inclusive and transformative integration across the continent.
The conversation is particularly relevant to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),
which aims to accelerate industrialisation, infrastructure development, and economic
transformation through increased intra-African trade in goods and services.
The webinar will be facilitated by Dr Nwabisa Kolisi (HSRC) and will feature presentations by:
- Dr Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University
- Brian Dlamini, Development Bank of Southern Africa
Date: 18 Aug 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:30am
Venue: Online
Registration Link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/7600ac91-3f55-4b01-a2cf-c1f5f0b5bab6@161524ab-4f53-4300-a494-dcdbaeb8e86c
