Top 12 global development conferences to attend in 2024

Economic crises, climate change, sustainability; there’s no shortage of urgent problems for humanitarians to address. Keeping up with such a wide range of issues spanning the entire globe is a daunting prospect—but it’s well worth the effort.

Thankfully, 2024 is teeming with global development conferences. These wide scale events bring government representatives, NGOs, and nonprofits together to discuss, strategize, and find solutions for the world’s biggest development issues. It’s a place to connect with your people—the individuals and organizations fighting for change.

As long as there’s a crisis, a humanitarian’s job is never finished—but we can make it a little easier. Here are the 12 best global development conferences of 2024, divided by region.

Must-attend global development conferences in North America

8th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference

7th - 8th March, 2024

World Bank, Washington, D.C., USA

The 8th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Research Conference will gather scholars and practitioners to delve into the complexities of urban expansion and the future of cities. With a focus on the rapid growth of cities in developing nations—like those in Africa and South America—attendees will explore the importance of effective management in fostering economic development and poverty reduction.

This interdisciplinary conference will feature discussions, seminar series, workshops, and collaborations aimed at generating innovative solutions for sustainable urban development.

Pacific Conference for Development Economics (PacDev)

9th March, 2024

Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA

PacDev is the largest conference for global economic development on the West Coast. Held at none other than the prestigious Stanford University, attendees can expect to discuss their work with others in the industry and gain insight into both theoretical and empirical global development research on economics in developing countries.

With over 200 researchers set to attend, it also offers plenty of room for networking. Some of the themes and keynote speeches at PacDev include agricultural mechanization, border trade, and spatial inequality—definitely one to put on the calendar!

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Corporate Giving Conference

13th - 15th March, 2024

Columbia Tower Club, Seattle, Washington, USA

The Corporate Giving Conference seeks to provide non-profits with the latest trends and information on philanthropy, sponsorships, and employee volunteerism. Keynote speakers will be offering their unique takes on the question of corporate giving, along with the opportunities and challenges involved.

But that’s not all: the CGC also features skill-building workshops to develop your skills in cause marketing, entrepreneurship, and maximizing corporate fundraising.

USAID Global Education Conference

15th - 19th April, 2024

TBC, Washington, D.C., USA

Are you an education professional looking to grow your network, share collective knowledge, and discuss ways to support countries’ growth towards improved learning outcomes? If so, then USAID’s GEC is a conference you won’t want to miss.

GEC’s vision is to apply both local and global evidence to comprehensive education planning, programming, and implementation in developing countries. There'll be lively participatory sessions covering everything from best practices to strategies for meeting national and global goals for inclusive learning. Perfect if you’re someone who likes to get stuck in.

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13th International Conference of Business and Economic Development

15th - 16th April, 2024

Medgar Evers College, New York City, New York, USA

The ICBED is the place to be if you’re a professional or scholar interested in global business and economic development.

The ICBED will address some of the most pressing concerns of the recent global economic crises, including the weakening of traditional markets, sustainable innovation, and employment. It’s one for humanitarians who like to keep their finger on the pulse of global goings-on. See you there?

2024 Global Development Forum

18th April, 2024

TBC, Washington, D.C., USA

Hosted by the project on Prosperity and Development, the 2024 Global Development Forum broadly focuses on a range of issues such as economic growth, and challenges for emerging economies and developing countries. This event brings together government officials, nonprofits, and professionals in academia to discuss the latest in economic growth, decarbonization, and more.

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The must-attend development conferences across Europe

Global Food Security Conference

9th - 12th April, 2024

KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium

The Global Food Security Conference is all about food security, sustainability, and resilience. With a range of keynote speakers and presentations, it addresses some of the most pressing concerns and challenges for modern-day food ecosystems.

Themes include the connection between climate change and food, fairness and equity in food access, and nutrition and global health. With the UN's 2030 target for Zero Hunger looming, this annual conference aims to bring together science, business, and policies to continue to work towards a comprehensive solution.

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Development Studies Association (DSA) 2024

16th - 28th June, 2024

SOAS University of London, London, UK

The DSA 2024 conference at the University of London provides private sector professionals, policymakers, and officials the opportunity to reflect on development issues, structures, and power processes revolving around social justice.

Keynote speakers will be discussing both global and domestic inequalities and the challenges of representation. During the DSA presentations, attendees will also be given the chance to explore solutions and even demand new ways of thinking for social justice. Other major themes to expect are rights and representation, redistribution and restoration, and reproduction and production.

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International Conference on Sustainable Development

11th - 12th September, 2024

Roma Eventi Congress Center, Rome, Italy

The ICSD 2024 is the result of a collaboration between the European Center of Sustainable Development and the Canadian Institute of Technology. The main theme? Creating a unified foundation for sustainable development through research, practice, and education.

During the conference, academics have the opportunity to share ideas, present research findings, and discuss the latest in sustainability science. Some of the presentations and research topics you’ll hear include financial sustainability, climate change, and sustainable urbanism.

Global development conferences to consider in Latin America

Global Land Grabbing International Conference

19th - 21st March, 2024

TBC, Bogotá, Colombia

NGOs, activists, and researchers will feel right at home participating in 2024’s Global Land Grabbing International Conference. It aims to tackle major research and political questions like configurations of land, labor, and capital.

Hosted by the Land Deal Politics Initiative (LDPI), participants will have the opportunity to discuss displacement alongside the political and environmental dynamics of large-scale land deals. This is the perfect conference for anyone committed to the effects of land deals on the displacement of people across the globe.

The best global development conferences in Asia

Global Sustainable Development Congress

10th - 13th June, 2024

TBC, Bangkok, Thailand

Over 3,000 global thought leaders, sessions aligned with societal transformation, and much more—that’s exactly what’s waiting for you at the GSDC. It’s a platform for academics, government officials, and business professionals to discuss tangible and innovative outcomes for the world’s sustainability crises.

It covers themes such as the digital revolution, gender equality, and sustainable cities, to name just a few. Attendees will have the opportunity to broaden their network while listening to some of the world's leading experts in sustainability technology and innovation.

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Global development conferences in the Caribbean

4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States

17th - 30th May, 2024

TBC, St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda

The SIDS4 conference aims to chart the path towards small islands and developing states' biodiversity and sustainable development. Alongside lively discussions, networking opportunities, and presentations, you’ll also join the preparation of a mutually agreed upon, action-orientated political document for assessing long-term goals.

Participants will be grappling with major global crises and how they’ve affected small islands and developing states, such as past events like the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing climate change, and accrued debt.

Conference Visitors Paul Hanaoka 6FqkGMOLskY Unsplash

Ready to make a difference? Attend your next global development conference with the help of TravelPerk

Global development conferences give you the opportunity to discuss some of the world's most challenging issues, network with like-minded pros, and raise awareness on some of the toughest challenges facing our world today. They’ll leave you with eye-opening experiences to inspire your positive impact—something we imagine is at the top of your list as a humanitarian.

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So, book your tickets, pack your bags, and off you go to help improve this planet we all call home.

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The top 12 global development conferences to attend in 2024