About this opportunity
This is the call for papers for the fourth Research Conference on Accelerating Growth for Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Economies, organised by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and jointly with the Inter-American Development Bank Group, the World Bank Group, American University, Imperial College London and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab. The conference page prints the closing date plainly, CALL FOR PAPERS:
Application timeline
11 OCTOBER 2026, and states that full papers are submitted through the link on that page. That is a short runway, so it suits researchers who already have a finished paper rather than a promising idea for one.
The programme runs academic sessions alongside a keynote address at the EBRD Headquarters in London on 1 and 2 February 2027. The organisers state that papers using sex-disaggregated data are particularly encouraged, which is the clearest signal about what the committee wants to see.
The framing is about women-led small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and micro-enterprises with growth potential in developing economies, so work grounded in Nigerian and other African markets sits squarely inside the scope. No honorarium, travel grant or fee figure is published on the page, so none is claimed here.
What you receive
- A place at the fourth Research Conference on Accelerating Growth for Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Economies
- The conference runs at the EBRD Headquarters in London on 1 and 2 February 2027
- Academic sessions alongside a keynote address on the programme
- A stated encouragement for papers that use sex-disaggregated data
Who can apply
- Researchers, economists and policy analysts working on entrepreneurship
- Work focused on women-led small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and micro-enterprises with growth potential in developing economies
- Full papers submitted through the link on the conference page, which is the route the page states
- The conference page sets out the paper categories that submissions fall under
Who should not apply
- The page states full papers only, so an incomplete paper does not meet the stated submission rule
Documents to prepare
- A complete full paper in one of the paper categories set out on the conference page
How to apply
- Open the Research Conference on Accelerating Growth for Women Entrepreneurs 2027 page
- Read the paper categories and the submission route printed on that page
- Prepare the full paper, with sex-disaggregated data where your work allows it
- Submit the full paper through the link on the page before 11 October 2026
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
When do paper submissions close?
Full papers are due 11 October 2026, printed on the conference page as "CALL FOR PAPERS: DEADLINE 11 OCTOBER 2026".
Where and when is the conference held?
At the EBRD Headquarters in London on 1 and 2 February 2027, with academic sessions and a keynote address.
What kind of work is the organisers favouring?
Research on women-led small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and micro-enterprises with growth potential in developing economies. The organisers state that papers using sex-disaggregated data are particularly encouraged.
Is there a grant or travel award attached?
The conference page publishes no honorarium, travel grant or submission fee, so this call is presented as a research opportunity rather than a funded one.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
