AMEPPA International Conference 2026

The contemporary global landscape is increasingly defined by uncertainty, complex crises and interconnected challenges. Geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, climate change, forced displacement, technological disruption, public health challenges and widening social inequalities are placing unprecedented pressures on governments and public institutions. These developments interact in ways that create new governance challenges.

In this rapidly changing environment, traditional approaches to public policy and administration are being tested. Governments are expected to respond to immediate crises while simultaneously addressing long-term challenges related to sustainable development, social inclusion, institutional resilience and economic transformation. This requires public institutions to operate under conditions of uncertainty, adapt to changing circumstances and develop new forms of collaboration across governmental, private, civil society and international actors.

This year's Association for Middle Eastern Public Policy and Administration Annual Conference, held in partnership with the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration and the China-Arab Network of Schools of Public Policy and Administration, brings together scholars, policymakers, practitioners and international partners to examine how public policy and administration can respond to these emerging challenges and how governance itself needs to be rethought in an uncertain world.

The conference will explore how states and public institutions can strengthen their capacity to anticipate and respond to crises, maintain effective public services, promote sustainable and inclusive development and build institutional resilience. Particular attention will be given to the experiences of the Middle East and other regions of the Global South, while recognizing the global dimensions of these challenges.

At the core of the conference is the recognition that global uncertainty is not simply a challenge for governments; it also creates an opportunity to rethink how governance is designed, implemented and evaluated. This includes reconsidering the role of the state, strengthening administrative capacity, improving policy coordination, fostering institutional innovation and developing more adaptive and resilient governance arrangements.

The conference will examine key questions:

• How can governments govern effectively in an increasingly uncertain world?

• What forms of institutional capacity and leadership are required to manage complex and interconnected crises?

• How can public policy and administration become more adaptive while maintaining accountability and legitimacy?

• What new approaches to governance are needed to address climate change, technological transformation, inequality, displacement and other transnational challenges?

In addition, the conference will consider how emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and digital government, are transforming public administration and creating both opportunities and new governance risks.