The United Nations (UN)’s Africa Industrialization Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th November to raise awareness about the importance of Africa’s industrialization and the challenges faced by the continent.
- 20th November 2024 marks the 35th Africa Industrialization Day.
Theme:
The theme of Africa Industrialization Day 2024 is “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Green Industrialization to Accelerate Africa’s Structural Transformation”.
- The theme focuses on harnessing emerging technologies like AI and innovations in green manufacturing to drive Africa’s industrialization sustainably.
Background:
i.In July 1989, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) conducted its 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- During this session, 20th November was declared as the “Africa Industrialization Day”.
ii.In December 1989, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/44/237, declaring November 20th of each year as ‘Africa Industrialization Day’.
- The resolution also proclaimed the period 1991 – 2000 as the “Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa”
iii.The first ever Africa Industrialization Day was observed on 20th November 1990.
Africa Industrialization Week:
Since 2018, Africa Industrialization Day has been observed through week-long celebrations known as “Africa Industrialization Week.”
- This year, Africa Industrialization Week is set to take place in Kampala, Uganda, from the 25th to the 29th of November 2024.
- Consequently, the 3rd African Women in Processing Summit (AWIP) will be held on the margins of the Africa Industrialization Week to focus on empowering women entrepreneurs in Africa’s processing industries.
Events 2024:
i.The events in 2024 will be virtually organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the African Union Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETTIM), the African Union (AU) Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in UN headquarters at New York, the United States of America(USA).
Agenda 2063:
i.Agenda 2063 was adopted in January 2015 by the Heads of State and Governments of the African Union in Addis Ababa.
- It is a blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into a global powerhouse in 50 years from 2013 to 2063.
- The launch of the Second 10-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, referred to as the decade of acceleration (2024-2033), marks a significant milestone for the African Union, its Member States, and the people of Africa.
- With 7 aspirations and 20 priorities, the framework aims to deliver on the goal for inclusive and sustainable development across Africa.
Note: Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) are intertwined as the two programs aim at a more sustainable common future on a healthy planet.
