This is an open call for organizing and hosting the Annual WAU Anthropology Congress. Proposals are welcome at any time, but the WAU Steering Committee prefers to receive them at least 12 months in advance of the proposed congress dates. Please consult all details of this call for proposals and write to the WAU Steering Committee at org@waunet.org. Additionally, please send a copy to Isaac Nyamongo (org@iuaes.org), WAU co-Chair and IUAES President, and Gordon Mathews (org@wcaanet.org), WAU co-Chair and WCAA Chair.

Annual Congresses

WAU Congresses (previously known as IUAES Inter-Congresses) are held in the years between World Congresses. There may be more than one WAU Congress in a year, but the WAU Steering Committee will oversee coordination of dates and themes. If a proposed conference only partially fulfills the conditions for a WAU Annual Congress, the WAU Steering Committee may approve it as another type of meeting. The WAU Steering Committee will make all decisions on the host, location, and other matters concerning WAU Congresses.

Host

Annual Congresses are hosted or organized by national/regional anthropology associations, universities, institutions, WCAA Task Forces, or IUAES Commissions. We welcome proposals from anthropology or ethnology associations, organizations, or institutions, as well as WCAA Task Force chairs and IUAES Commission chairs. The WAU Steering Committee values the participation of all anthropologists in the intellectual activities of the WAU. Proposals will be prioritized based on demonstrated commitment to anthropology, academic quality, and adequate rotation of venues between continents.

Proposal

All proposals must include a formal letter of proposal according to the guidelines provided below. Proposals will be carefully examined and assessed, and the WAU Steering Committee will contact proposers for any necessary clarification. Before approval, organizers will be expected to present their proposal to the WAU Steering Committee, either in person or online.

IUAES Inter-Congresses (in the past)

• Amsterdam, Netherlands (1981)
• Lisbon, Portugal (1990)
• Florence, Italy (1995)
• Linkoping, Sweden (1996)
• Perth, Australia (1997)
• Beijing, China (2000)
• Gottingen, Germany (2001)
• Tokyo, Japan (2002)
• Calcutta and Ranchi, India (2004)
• Pardubice, Czech Republic (2005)
• Cape Town, South Africa (2006)
• Antalya, Turkey (2010)
• Perth, Australia (2011)
• Bhubaneswar, India (2012)
• Chiba, Japan (2014)
• Bangkok, Thailand (2015)
• Dubrovnik, Croatia (2016)
• Ottawa, Canada (2017)
• Poznan, Poland (2019)
• Šibenik, Croatia (2020)
• Yucatán, Mexico (2021)

WAU Congresses

• Johannesburg, South Africa (2024)
• Antigua, Guatemala (2025)

Submission Guidelines

Please submit your proposal with information on the following items. There is no submission form. If inadequate information is provided, the WAU Steering Committee may not consider the proposal.

General Information

• Month and year of the proposed congress.
• City and country.

Information About the Proposer

• Names of the responsible persons and the proposed congress convenor.
• Titles/positions and institutional affiliations.
• Office addresses, phone numbers (with country codes), and email addresses.

Organization of the Congress

• Name of the host organization (national organization and/or academic institution).
• Name(s) of the WCAA Task Force(s) or IUAES Commission(s) involved.
• Names of supporting or cooperating anthropological associations or institutions, with evidence of support.
• Names of the local organizing committee members, in close collaboration with the WAU Steering Committee.

Academic Plans

• Conference theme/topic.
• Objectives for holding the proposed congress.
• Plans for calls for panels/papers.
• Plans for publication of proceedings, books, etc., if already committed.

Details of the Proposed Congress

• Proposed date of the congress.
• Type of congress (hybrid or online only).
• Proposed venue (for hybrid congresses).
• Expected number of participants.
• Reasons why the proposed location is suitable for a WAU congress, with a focus on invigorating local anthropological scholarship.

Finance

• Names of potential financial supporters.
• Availability of grants, subventions, and other financial resources.
• Availability of travel subsidies for colleagues from low-income regions.
• Expected registration fees.
• Statement of commitment that all congress participants will be individual members of the IUAES or members of WCAA member associations, with the organizers responsible for collecting and remitting membership fees.
• Statement about responsibility in case of financial loss or surplus. WAU will not be liable for financial losses, and an MoU will be signed once the proposal is approved (a template MoU is available on the WAU website).

Local Information

• Weather and climate.
• Information on tours and planned excursions, if any.
• Types of available accommodation and their costs.
• Visa requirements.

Other

• Related events.
• Experience in organizing large-scale (inter)national conferences.
• Current state of preparation for the proposed congress.
• Any other relevant information.

If you have any questions, need further clarifications, or have other requests, please write to the WAU Steering Committee at org@waunet.org.