The UNCTAD Division of Investment and Enterprise and the Academy of International Business (AIB) have jointly established an award for the best young academic research work on international investment and development. The award is intended for PhD students or early career researchers with no more than five years of full-time work experience.
UNCTAD and AIB invite contributions that provide state-of-the-art knowledge and understanding of the activities conducted by, and the development impact of, multinational enterprises and other international investors, considering economic, institutional, social, environmental or cultural aspects. Contributions should draw clear policy conclusions from the research findings.
Reflecting the core value propositions of UNCTAD’s research mandate, the winning papers should meet the following criteria:
- Original and innovative research.
- Analysis of topical issues, including explicit policy implications and recommendation.
- Focus on investment and development (i.e., how to ensure that international investment and multinational enterprises contribute to sustainable development). Research areas may include topics shaping the future of investment, such as:
- Digital transformation
- Gender and inclusive investment
- Sustainable and resilient infrastructure
- Investment in climate change, notably adaptation and mitigation
- Global value chains and global geopolitical dynamics
- Other emerging drivers of global development
The paper must not have been previously published. Co-authorship is permitted provided all authors meet the stated conditions.
Submissions must include:
- Paper not exceeding 12,000 words (inclusive of appendices, references, and all material); and must follow the follow the JIBP formatting guidelines, available at: JIBP Formatting Guidelines,
- Author(s)’s CV, and
- Abstract (not longer than 300 words).
- A statement confirming that all authors of the paper are PhD students or early career researchers with no more than five years of full-time work experience.
Submissions must be sent to unctad@aib.world by 25 February 2026.
