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).

Day 1 – February 16
08:30-09:00	Registration and Welcome Coffee
09:00 – 09:15	Opening Remarks
09:15 - 10:00	Productivity, Structural Transformation, and the Case for Industrial Policy in Africa Margaret McMillan, Neary Family Professor of International Relations and a Professor of Economics at Tufts University
10:00 - 10:30	Tea Break
10:30 – 12:30	Session 1 - Industrial Policy and Structural Transformation Are there industrial policy ‘successes’ in Africa? A review of recent industrial policy interventions in African countries - Rexford Asiama Agricultural Innovation as Industrial Policy: Trade Regulation, Value Chains, and Structural Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa - Ndam Nji Nfout Assana; Nourou Mohamadou Services-Led Structural Transformation in East Africa - Calumn Hamilton; Emmanuel Mensah; Edward Sennoga
12:30 –13:30	Lunch Break
13:30 - 14:30	Ethiopia’s Industrial Transformation and the Future of Industrial Policy in Africa
14:30 – 15:00	Tea Break
15:00- 17:00	Session 2 – Markets and Local Impacts 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
Day 2 – February 17
09:00-10:00	Industrial Policy in Action
10:00 – 10:30	Tea Break
10:30-12:30	Session 3 - Industrial Policy and Sustainability The in(un)intended consequences of tax incentives in greening Kenya - Judy Kaaria 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 Critical Minerals and Green Transition in Africa: Policy Trade-Offs Between Industrial Growth and Environmental Sustainability - Matthew Rivi
12:30-13:30	Lunch Break
13:30-15:30	Session 4 - Technology, Innovation, and Industrial Upgrading 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 Taking Stock of Africa’s Economic Transformation: Rethinking Sources of Productivity Growth- Douglas Gollin; Margaret McMillan; Emmanuel Mensah; Gideon Ndubuisi; Solomon Owusu
15:30-16:00	Tea Break
16:00-17:00	Industrial Policy for Development Report Introduction by: Indermit Gill, Chief Economist, World Bank Presenters: Ana Margarida Fernandes and Tristan Reed, World Bank
17:00 – 18:00	Panel Discussion
Day 3 – February 18
09:30-09:45	Opening Remarks
09:45-12:00	Policy and Research Matchmaking
12:00 – 12:30	Closing Remarks