CSEA at the Southern Voice Conference 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) participated in the Southern Voice Conference 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil, from October 27–28, held under the theme “Reimagining the Global Development Architecture.” The high-level event convened over 30 think tanks from the Global South to  discuss how to build  a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development future, with sessions on climate change, inequality, and sustainable development. 

CSEA’s Executive Director, Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, spoke on a panel titled “Empowering the Global South: Shaping the Future of Development in a Shifting World.” The session explored the evolving role of South-South partnerships and the future of international cooperation in advancing shared priorities.

Day Two opened with a plenary on 

“Southern Perspectives, Global Influence: Rethinking Our Role,”

 which examined how think tanks across the Global South can shape  global agendas and drive meaningful change. Parallel sessions focused on equity in research collaborations, innovative strategies for think tank resilience, and translating evidence into policy action. Regional breakout sessions covering Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean highlighted common challenges and opportunities for deeper collaboration. The final plenary, 

“Collective Action: From Ideas to Implementation,”

 was followed by a town hall that set out next steps for the network. Participants reflected on progress since the last convening and offered ideas to strengthen Southern Voice’s collective strategy and value to members.