Industrial Policy for Africa Conference

February 16, 2026 - February 18, 2026
Nairobi, Kenya

What role should industrial policy play in Africa’s transformation agenda? From national security to climate action and job creation, industrial policy is being hailed as a tool for tackling today’s most pressing challenges. But much of the evidence comes from Asia and the policy discussions predominantly focus on large economies—like the U.S., China, and Europe.

Addressing Africa's industrial policy challenges requires acknowledging the continent's evolving economic landscape. Traditional industrial models may no longer fit Africa’s unique socio-economic realities. Instead, growth is increasingly driven by dynamic service sectors such as ICT, tourism, and food processing. This shift raises critical questions regarding the role of industrial policy in Africa’s economic transformation. How can it address the complexities of informal labor markets? Can it be a catalyst for poverty alleviation, job creation, and food security?

To explore these questions, the World Bank Institute for Economic Development, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) Program, and the International Growth Center (IGC) are hosting a research conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

This conference will bring together leading researchers from the region to share fresh insights and diverse perspectives on industrial policy—both from within Africa and beyond.

All times listed below are in East Africa Time (EAT). Presenters of multi-author papers are in bold.

Day 1 – February 16
08:00-08:30	Registration and Welcome Coffee
08:30 – 09:00	Opening Remarks Anne Margreth Bakilana, Operations Manager, Nairobi, World Bank Victor Murinde, Executive Director, AERC Juma Mukhwana, CBS, PS, State Department of Industry, MITI, Kenya
09:00 - 10:00	Productivity & Structural Transformation: The Case of Industrial Policy in Africa Keynote speech by Margaret McMillan, Neary Family Professor of International Relations and a Professor of Economics at Tufts University Watch it here
10:00 - 10:30	Tea Break
10:30 – 12:30	Session 1 - Industrial Policy and Structural Transformation Chair: Daniel Njiwa, Director for Inclusive Markets, Trade and Finance, AGRA Are there industrial policy ‘successes’ in Africa? A review of recent industrial policy interventions in African countries - Rexford Asiama \| See the presentation Agricultural Innovation as Industrial Policy: Trade Regulation, Value Chains, and Structural Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa - Ndam Nji Nfout Assana; Nourou Mohamadou \| See the presentation Services-Led Structural Transformation in East Africa - Calumn Hamilton; Emmanuel Mensah; Edward Sennoga \| See the presentation Discussants: Woubet Kassa, Economist, World Bank Group
12:30 –13:30	Lunch Break
13:30 - 14:30	Industrial Policy in Action: Morocco’s Path toward Green Competitiveness Keynote speech by Dr. Abdelaaziz Ait Ali, Principal Economist and Head of the Economics Research Department, Policy Center for the New South Watch it here
14:30 – 15:00	Tea Break
15:00- 17:00	Session 2 – Markets and Local Impacts Chair: Abbi M. Kedir, Director of Research, AERC The Local (Informal) Multiplier of Industrial Jobs – Francesco Amodio; Elia Benveniste; Hoang Pham; Marco Sanfilippo What Do Market-Access Subsidies Do? Experimental Evidence from Tunisia - Nadia Ali; Giacomo De Giorgi; Aminur Rahman; Eric Verhoogen The Impact of Industrial Parks on Local Labour Markets: Evidence from Ethiopia – Tevin Tafese; Alisha Weber \| See the presentation Discussant: Doug Gollin, Jason P. and Chloe Epstein Professor of Economics, Tufts University and Research Director, Structural Transformation and Economic Growth
17:00-19:00	Poster Session
Day 2 – February 17
8:45 - 9:00	Introductory Remarks Ndiame Diop, Vice President, Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank Group
09:00-10:00	From Trade Integration to Industrial Transformation: The AfCFTA Agenda Presenters: Emeritus Professor Faizel Ismail, Nelson Mandela University and AfCFTA Trade and Industrial Development Advisory Council, and Dr. Noncedo Vutula, AfCFTA and Regional Integration Watch it here
10:00 – 10:30	Tea Break
10:30-12:30	Session 3 - Industrial Policy and Sustainability Chair: Jonathan Leape, IGC Executive Director The in(un)intended consequences of tax incentives in greening Kenya - Judy Kaaria \| See the presentation Spatial agglomeration of foreign direct investment and green productivity in African manufacturing: A policy dilemma between leverage and ecological trap - Glede Djinhea Paterne Gonhi; Felix Houphouet; Morie Guy – Roland N’Drin \| See the presentation Critical Minerals and Green Transition in Africa: Policy Trade-Offs Between Industrial Growth and Environmental Sustainability - Matthew Rivi \| See the presentation Discussant: Richard Newfarmer, IGC Country Director for Rwanda and Uganda \| See the presentation
12:30-13:30	Lunch Break
13:30-15:30	Session 4 - Technology, Innovation, and Industrial Upgrading Chair: Kenneth Amaeshi, Chair in Sustainable Finance, European University Institute In Search of Demand Engines: Evidence from South Africa’s Automotive Industrial Policy - Matteo Filippi Reimagining Industrial Policy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Sectoral Assessment of Smart Manufacturing Readiness and Policy Gaps in Tanzania - Enock Mwakalila \| See the presentation Taking Stock of Africa’s Economic Transformation: Rethinking Sources of Productivity Growth - Douglas Gollin; Margaret McMillan; Emmanuel Mensah; Gideon Ndubuisi; Solomon Owusu \| See the presentation Discussants: Socrates Kraido Majune, Lecturer, Department of Economics and Development Studies, University of Nairobi \| See the presentation
15:30-16:00	Tea Break
16:00-17:00	Industrial Policy for Development Introduction by: Doug Gollin, Jason P. and Chloe Epstein Professor of Economics, Tufts University and Research Director, Structural Transformation and Economic Growth Presenters: Ana Margarida Fernandes, Lead Economist, Development Research Group; and Tristan Reed, Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank
17:00 – 18:00	Panel Discussion Moderated by: Doug Gollin, Jason P. and Chloe Epstein Professor of Economics, Tufts University and Research Director, Structural Transformation and Economic Growth Panelists: Victor Murinde, Executive Director, AERC Dennis Novy, Chief Economist FCDO Margaret McMillan, Neary Family Professor of International Relations and a Professor of Economics at Tufts University Jonathan Leape, IGC Executive Director Juma Mukhwana, CBS, PS, State Department of Industry, MITI, Kenya
Day 3 – February 18
09:30-09:45	Introductory Remarks Ethiopis Tafara, Regional Vice President for Africa, IFC (video message) Watch it here
09:45-12:00	Policy and Research Matchmaking Chair and moderator: R. Mukami Kariuki, World Bank Group Regional Hub Manager Evaluating Nigeria’s Rice Import Protection Policy: Implications for Agricultural Transformation, Food Security, and Welfare Outcomes; Oluwayemisi A. Salufu, University of Ibadan \| See the presentation Policies and Strategies for Strengthening Agro-Processing in Zambia – Wisdom Mgomezulu, AGRA – Specialist - Data Analytics SEZ Policies in Kenya - David Kambo, Director for Land and Infrastructure at the Special Economic Zones Authority \| See the presentation South Africa SEZ program; Itumeleng Mokoena, Senior Economist, National Treasury, South Africa
12:00 – 12:30	Closing Remarks

Productivity & Structural Transformation: The Case of Industrial Policy in Africa
Margaret McMillan, Neary Family Professor of International Relations and a Professor of Economics at Tufts University

Industrial Policy in Action: Morocco’s Path toward Green Competitiveness
Dr. Abdelaaziz Ait Ali, Principal Economist and Head of the Economics Research Department at the Policy Center for the New South

From Trade Integration to Industrial Transformation: The AfCFTA Agenda
Emeritus Professor Faizel Ismail, Nelson Mandela University and AfCFTA Trade and Industrial Development Advisory Council; and Dr. Noncedo Vutula, AfCFTA and Regional Integration