Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE)
The Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) is a unique platform designed to expand the flow of ideas between thinkers, practitioners and policy-makers within the field of international development.
Every year the ABCDE brings together academics, politicians, representatives of civil society organizations, students and journalists from all over the world. The conference has been closely linked with the international agenda, offering a platform for the exchange of ideas on the G8 Summit, the European Union Presidency and other global events. Throughout the years, the ABCDE has brought prominent world figures into dialogue with researchers, students and non-governmental organizations leaders.
RAD and the ABCDE
RAD members are encouraged to participate in the ABCDE conference. Traditionally, at each ABCDE the RAD organizes parallel sessions and participates in the works of the ABCDE Steering Committee as an independent consultative body, thus helping shape the program of the conference. RAD's Annual Meeting is typically held back-to-back with the ABCDE conference, as well as a number of other events in which RAD is a partner, e.g. the International Essay Competition.
ABCDE Conferences homepage
NEW! ABCDE 2009 took place in Seoul, South Korea, on June 22-24.
Theme: Lessons from East Asia and the Global Financial Crisis
Visit the conference website
The ABCDE 2008 took place in Cape Town, South Africa on June 9-11, 2008, under the title of People, Politics and Globalization. It was jointly organized by the World Bank and the National Treasury of South Africa.
ABCDE Slovenia, 2007
ABCDE 2007 took place in Bled, Slovenia, on May 17-18, 2007. The conference was co-organized by the World Bank and the Government of Slovenia. The conference had as the overall theme Private Sector and Development.
ABCDE Tokyo, 2006
This conference took place in Tokyo, on May 29-30, 2006. The theme of the conference was Infrastructure and Development.
ABCDE Amsterdam, 2005
Under the overarching theme of Securing Development in an Unstable World the latest global ABCDE took place in Amsterdam on May 23-24, 2005. ABCDE 2005 was co-organized by the World Bank, The Ministry of Development Cooperation and the Ministry of Finance of The Netherlands.
Regional ABCDEs
Apart from global ABCDEs, each year a regional ABCDE takes place. The latest event was held in Beijing, China, on January 16-17, 2007, under the theme of Higher Education and Development.