The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) is calling for applications for the 2026 edition of the Abdoulaye FADIGA Prize (PAF) for the promotion of economic research within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Launched in March 2008, the Prize pays tribute to Mr. Abdoulaye FADIGA, the first African Governor of the BCEAO (1975-1988).
1. Objectives of the Prize
The PAF aims, among other things, to: (i) encourage excellence in economic research, (ii) promote theoretical and empirical approaches to address the challenges facing WAEMU economies, and (iii) stimulate innovation among young researchers and professional economists from WAEMU countries.
2. Themes for the 2026 edition
Submissions should focus on one of the following themes :
- Macroeconomic issues related to monetary, financial, and fiscal policies, public debt, and the coordination of monetary and fiscal policies ;
- Financial stability and micro- and macroprudential policies in the WAEMU ;
- Financing economies: private sector financing, green, inclusive, and sustainable finance, and the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) ;
- Regional economic integration, including monetary cooperation programs and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement ;
- Challenges of rising protectionism, economic fragmentation, and trade wars on the Union's economies and their economic policy implications ;
- Climate change and its associated risks: economic and financial impacts for WAEMU countries, greening monetary policy ;
- Financial inclusion and innovations, digitalization: opportunities and risks associated with cryptocurrencies, mobile money, central bank digital currencies, and Fintechs ;
- Impacts of exogenous shocks: commodity price volatility, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, insecurity, and terrorism ;
- Any other topic of scientific or political interest to the BCEAO and the WAEMU economies.
3. Eligibility
Any researcher or team of researchers in economics fulfilling jointly the following requirements is eligible for the Abdoulaye FADIGA Prize :
- Nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, or Togo, regardless of their country of residence ;
- Aged forty-five (45) years old or younger on December 31, 2026 ;
- Holders of at least a Master's degree in Economics.
4. Awards and Other Benefits
The PAF winner will receive the following awards and benefits :
- A financial package of ten (10) million CFA francs ;
- A paid research stay at the BCEAO for a one (1) year period ;
- Publication of winning paper in the Revue Economique et Monétaire (REM) of BCEAO.
In addition, an Incentive Prize worth five (5) million CFA francs will be awarded to the author of the second-best article, which will also be published in the REM. The latter also benefits from a research stay at the BCEAO on the same terms as Prize winner.
5. Application File
The application, that should be sent to the following address: prixabdoulayefadiga@bceao.int, must include:
- Duly completed and signed application form ;
- Complete, non-revisable version of the study, without any distinctive markings ;
- Candidate's up-to-date resume and copy(ies) of his(their) valid passport(s) or national identification card(s) ;
- Anti-plagiarism charter duly signed by the candidate(s) ;
- Databases and codes/programmes used in econometric analysis.
6. Authorized languages for submission
Studies to be submitted to the PAF may be written in English, French, or Portuguese. A 500-word abstract is required in the language in which the study was written. In addition, when the study is written in French or Portuguese, it must include an English version of the abstract.
7. Evaluation Criteria
An independent Review Committee comprising internationally renowned Economics Professors will evaluate the submitted papers according to scientific standards, with particular emphasis on the following criteria :
- Originality of the research ;
- Methodological rigor ;
- Relevance of the results and recommendations for WAEMU countries.
8. Submission timeframe
- Launch date: August 31, 2025
- Submission deadline: August 31, 2026
9. Information and Contact
The Prize Rules, application forms, and anti-plagiarism charter can be downloaded from the following websites: https://www.bceao.int/fr/content/prix-abdoulaye-fadiga or https://cofeb.bceao.int/abdoulaye-fadiga. These documents are also available at the National branches of the BCEAO. For further information, please write to: courrier.zdaji@bceao.int
All formalities related to applying for this Prize are free of charge.
