COMPACT National Conference
On 1-2 December 2025 COMPACT is holding a national conference under the theme “Reimagining Developmental Local Government: New Approaches to Legacy Challenges.”
The conference calls for submissions – in the form of papers or provocations – that address democratic, developmental, and participatory local governance. Both paper and provocations submissions should respond to the following sub-themes:
Sub-theme 1: Tools & Techniques for Enhanced Citizen Participation
Sub-theme 2: Performance Monitoring in Municipalities
Sub-theme 3: Gender & Youth Inclusive Decision-Making
Sub-theme 4: Case Studies of Innovative Practice in Cities & Towns
The conference seeks to explore the intersection of accountability, citizen participation, and effective development planning in local government, with a focus on:
- Reimagining accountability and transparency in local governance
- Innovations in citizen participation and co-production
- Strategies for overcoming persistent legacy challenges
- The future of developmental local government in a changing policy landscape
Please find the full Call for Papers and Provocations here. To participate, submit an abstract (up to 300 words) summarising your main arguments, methods, and how your work relates to the conference theme. Abstracts should be submitted using this link: https://forms.office.com/r/dBpcu0nE3S.
Submissions for abstracts are due by 10 November 2025, and notifications sent by 17 November 2025; selected authors will be invited to the conference in Johannesburg on 1- 2 December 2025. Full conference papers are due by 30 January 2026. For inquiries, please email research@salga.org.za.
