Second CIDRA Conference in Addis Ababa: The Multilevel Governance of States and Regional Integration in Africa

Second CIDRA Conference in Addis Ababa: The Multilevel Governance of States and Regional Integration in Africa

Excerpt: On 4–5 November 2026, Addis Ababa University hosts the second CIDRA conference, bringing together researchers and policymakers from Africa and Europe.

The Centre for Federalism and Governance Studies (CFGS) at Addis Ababa University’s College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, a member of the CIDRA consortium, will host the second CIDRA conference on 4–5 November 2026.

The conference is titled “The Multilevel Governance of States and Regional Integration in Africa”. It looks at how two trends interact: the devolution of power to sub-national governments, and deeper regional and continental integration. This question sits at the heart of the CIDRA project.

A strong response to the call for papers
The call drew more than 70 abstracts. 50 were accepted, and most of their authors have since submitted full papers. Submissions came from across Africa and Europe. They cover federalism and regional integration, constitutionalism, state-building, geopolitics, digitalisation and regional economic integration.

Programme highlights
The conference opens at the historic Ras Mekonnen Hall, the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie I, on the Sidist Kilo Campus. The President of Addis Ababa University, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and the Head of the CFGS are expected at the opening.

Ambassador Nino-Perez, the EU’s Representative to the African Union, will give the keynote speech. A panel of four experts will then discuss regional integration and African–EU relations. Breakout sessions over the two days will feature paper presentations.

Who is taking part
Participants include CFGS and the CIDRA consortium partners, academics, and policymakers from regional and sub-regional institutions, among them the EU Delegation to the African Union and IGAD.

Why it matters now
African states are devolving authority inward and pooling sovereignty outward at the same time. Making regional integration work depends on understanding how these two processes interact. African countries are negotiating deeper continental frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) while also giving regional and local governments more power. Getting this multilevel architecture right will decide whether integration delivers the shared prosperity it promises.

Practical information
You can join the conference in person or online, and the opening session will be livestreamed on YouTube. The full programme will be published on the CFGS social media channels, including X (@CFGS_AAU).