The Development Studies Association welcomes the important contribution made by two of our student members, Luqman Ọpẹ́yẹmí Muraina and Aysha Valery in their recent blog, Why the next DSA and EADI conferences should be hosted in the Global South which were also raised by Student Reps at the November 2026 Council meeting. 

The points raise important questions about the accessibility, inclusivity and reach of development studies conferences, while making a case for the DSA to consider hosting a future annual conference in the global South.

The proposal prompted much discussion within the DSA Council and we recognise that the proposal is part of a wider conversation about how the DSA can ensure meaningful participation and engagement of our global South members, and how we can address existing inequalities in the spaces and structures through which development studies are produced and debated.

Given the breadth of these questions, Council agreed that they warrant consideration beyond a single meeting and we will establish a working group to explore these issues and the possibility of hosting a future DSA annual conference in the global South. We also recognise that, should this particular proposal prove unfeasible, that should not bring the conversation to an end, so the working group will consider alternative approaches and models that could support more equitable and meaningful participation, either alongside or in place of that specific proposal.

DSA members should note that conferences are planned three-years in advance with hosts from our members agreed for 2027 and 2028. Expressions of interest are also being received for 2029 from member institutes. More information on how we organise conferences can be found here. 

DSA members who wish to submit ideas to the working group, blogs on the topic, or proposals to Council can refer to the DSA membership engagement guidelines. 

We are grateful to our student members for bringing these questions to the fore as it has catalysed a timely and necessary conversation that the DSA is committed to pursuing. We will  share further developments as the working group’s remit and next steps are established.