Call for Expression of Interest in Policymaker and Researcher Matchmaking
Context
Industrial policy is gaining increased momentum in the current geopolitical and economic landscape. Advocates see it as a tool for achieving diverse goals ranging from national security and climate change mitigation, to innovation, job creation and economic transformation. However, despite its growing policy relevance, the actual economic impacts of industrial policy remain less well understood, especially in African contexts, due to a lack of rigorous evidence. Most existing evidence comes from contemporary China or historic Asia, with policy debates predominantly focus on large economies such as the U.S., China, and Europe. As a result, there is limited evidence tailored to the realities of African economies to guide sound industrial policymaking in the region.
Aim of the Conference
To help fill this gap and produce new rigorous evidence on industrial policy for Africa, the World Bank Institute for Economic Development, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) Initiative, and the International Growth Center (IGC) are convening a research conference in Nairobi, Kenya on February 16-18, 2026.
A key feature of the conference will be a matchmaking event connecting policymakers interested in evaluating industrial policies in African countries with qualified researchers, with the goal of initiating rigorous, collaborative and policy-relevant research projects.
Examples of industrial policies of interest include:
- Subsidies for specific firms or industries, including tax exemptions, concessional credit, and direct subsidies
- Innovation and R&D grants or tax incentives
- Foreign and domestic investment promotion
- Export promotion programs
- Import protection, including tariff, quotas, and other non-tariff measures
- Local content requirements
- Technology transfer regulations
- Export control or taxes
- Public inputs tailored to specific industries, including infrastructure, skills development programs
- Quality infrastructure and certification schemes
Expression of Interest Details
Express your interest by filling out this form.
Interested parties should describe the policy they wish to evaluate in an African country, indicating whether the policy has already been implemented or is planned. For retrospective policy evaluation, ideally, the policy would have been implemented several years in the past, and data is available to evaluate the impacts. For forward-looking analyses, please provide information on the planned timeline, targeted sectors and number of firms, and implementing partners, In all cases, submissions should specify the primary outcomes of interests, the potential data sources, and any access considerations.
The expression of interest deadline is October 30th, 2025. Those selected to participate in the policymaker-researcher matchmaking session will be notified by December 5th, 2025.
Limited financial support will be available to assist with travel and accommodation costs for a select number of participants, with priority given to African policymakers.
