Global Policy Innovations is the Secretariat for the Annual Conference for Development and Change (ACDC), coordinated by Ashwini Deshpande, Professor of Economics at the University of Delhi.
ACDC's Mandate: The Annual Conference for Development and Change provides a forum for an emerging global network of young economists whose work challenges mainstream economic analysis of global development. Organized around the theme of Promoting Development in a Globalized World, ACDC anchors policy analysis in empirical evidence and solid theoretical bases, and provides a platform for intellectual debate and exchange.
Program Strategy and Niche: Several informal alumni networks of young development thinkers currently exist around the world. ACDC links these various networks and provides them with a supportive environment in which to share their research and analysis. ACDC also provides an institutional link for knowledge sharing between new voices and more established development scholars through its advisory board, comprised of lead global economic experts. Programming currently revolves around the organization of an annual conference, published conference proceedings, and a internet-based network of young development economists.
The Process: Three ACDC conferences are planned over a three year period and they will span three different continents (India 2005, Brazil 2006, South Africa 2007). The rationale behind rotating locations is to maximize regional participation as well as to give specific focus to each region's development experience. The first conference was held in Neemrana, India (December 2–4, 2005), and focused on Asia.
For the India conference, three key themes were selected for promoting sustainable economic growth and human development in a globalized context.
I. Sustainable Economic Development and the External Sector
II. Sectoral Development, Macroeconomic Policies and Employment
III. Social Development, Institutions and the State
The presentations and discussions addressed these themes and focused on policy relevance for countries, international organizations, NGOs, and other key development stakeholders.
