Deadline for submissions: 7 September 2025 (Midnight, CET). The submission link is at the bottom of the page.

The upcoming conference delves into the dynamics of sustainability, in all its dimensions, in the face of pressing global challenges. The title itself reflects the profound dilemma faced by societies and communities worldwide in addressing issues at varying levels - from those demanding global collaboration to those necessitating local, context-specific action. 

"Shaping Sustainable Futures" encapsulates the diverse array of perspectives and aspirations regarding global and local progress, both in the immediate and distant future. Sustainability, in this context, signifies not only ecological soundness, but also resilience in socio-economic, cultural and political spheres. While a comprehensive approach to sustainability is ideal in theory, practical applications are subject to the diverse spectrum of ideas, ideologies, social and cultural norms, interests, and power dynamics that fluctuate across different contexts. This often leads to conflicting perspectives on what constitutes sustainable production and an equitable distribution of (limited, scarce, natural…) resources, as well as how these ought to be governed or regulated. Recognizing, comprehending, and dissecting these varied (partly shared, partly competing) visions and ensuing tensions at different strata constitutes the focal point of this conference. 

Operating under the umbrella of "Global Challenges," we invite scholarly inquiries into the obstacles confronting the global community. The term "(G)Local Solutions" refers to initiatives at diverse levels, emphasizing that local initiatives may extend beyond micro-localities, encompassing national and regional contexts. The inclusion of the 'G' within parentheses accentuates the interplay between the global and the local, highlighting the interconnectedness of different scales and levels of decision-making in addressing sustainability challenges. 

This conference seeks to foster an understanding of the interdependence between global policies/agreements (such as international trade policies, climate agreements, SDGs…) and local interventions. It acknowledges that global challenges necessitate cooperative, cross-border solutions that transcend geographical and political boundaries. Conversely, it recognizes the imperative for tailored, society- and community-driven approaches to address challenges rooted in specific socio-economic, cultural, and environmental contexts. 

We welcome researchers, policy makers and policy shapers, practitioners and students interested in the topic of the conference. The conference organizers would like to stimulate and encourage interdisciplinary collaborations and/or collaborations with non-academic actors. Particular attention will be given to comparative research on how different localities (in varying regions of the Global South and/or North) are interconnected with global dynamics. The conference theme also invites further engagement with the ongoing debate on the role and scope of Development Studies in view of the aforementioned issues.

Timeline

We are now welcoming session proposals for the EADI-IOB 2026 Conference. The timeline is as follows:

• You can submit a seed panel, harvest panel, or roundtable proposal before 7 September 2025 using the submission form (at the end of this page). 

• Your proposal will then be reviewed by the scientific committee, and you will be notified by the end of September / beginning of October 2025 whether your panel proposal is accepted for the conference or not.

• If your proposal is accepted, it will then appear in the call for abstracts (opening in October 2025) in the case of seed and harvest panels. In the case of roundtables, there is no call for abstracts since roundtables are not based on abstract submissions. Please carefully read all the information below to decide which format is best for your proposal.

Different formats

We seek to provide spaces for discussion, engagement, sharing, and co-creation among conveners, contributors and participants. For that reason, the conference gives room for a variety of different formats:

Seed Panels

• Are included in the open call for abstracts (opens in October 2025)

• Provide a platform to present work in progress, early-stage research and/or innovative ideas

• Do not necessarily require the submission of a full paper

Harvest Panels

• Are included in the open call for abstracts (opens in October 2025)

• Provide a space to present completed or near-completion research and research findings

• Upload of (draft) papers from participants before the conference is compulsory, and conveners are expected to provide feedback on the paper during the conference

• Conveners can explore possibilities for publication of contributions

Roundtable

• Roundtable sessions are not included in the call for abstracts

• Convenors are responsible for inviting panelists and to secure funds for their participation

• Conveners can invite up to 4 panelists to speak

• Roundtable sessions can have an academic, a practice-oriented or a programmatic focus

• All roundtables will be scheduled in a particular time slot on Tuesday 1st of July 2026 in the afternoon, and it is not possible to schedule a roundtable on a different time slot. Conveners and potential speakers need to ensure 1st July is feasible for them before sending their proposal

Important information

All Seed panels and Harvest panels can be organised in a hybrid way, with participants joining either in-person or online.  In the case of roundtables, we request that at least 2 speakers attend in-person. For every session, at least one (co)-convener must be attending the conference physically in Antwerp, i.e., it is not possible to organise a panel only convened remotely. 

Any single person (either convener or co-convener) can take part in the organisation of a maximum of two sessions.

We encourage convenors to aim for diverse and gender-balanced panels sessions with an adequate representation of young scholars and scholars from the Global South.

Financing

For this conference, we apply a “crowd-funding” approach. All participants, working groups and institutions presenting in a panel or roundtable and attending the Conference (whether in person or online) will be expected to be self-funded and pay the registration fees. In the case of roundtables, the arrangement of travels with speakers (including from the Global South) is within the responsibility of the roundtable conveners.   

Submission of proposals and contact

Proposals for seed panels, harvest panels and roundtables can be submitted until 7 September 2025 midnight (CET).

To submit a proposal, please fill in the Microsoft form available here, or copy paste the following link in your browser:  https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/TgRVmCNmfT 

Please be as complete as possible with the details you provide about the session. 

For any enquiries, you can contact the conference team at:  conference2026(at)eadi.org