The United Nations(UN)’s Africa Industrialization Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th November to highlight the critical importance of Industrial development for sustained and inclusive economic growth in African countries.
Background:
i.During the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia conducted by the Organization of African Unity (O.A.U.) in 1989.
- The Africa Industrialization Day was announced on 20th November during this session.
ii.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/44/237 in December 1989, within the framework of the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa 1991-2000, and proclaimed the 20th November of every year as the ‘Africa Industrialization Day’.
Note: The resolution also proclaimed the period 1991 – 2000 as the “Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa”
Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (2016-2025):
On 25th July 2016, the UNGA proclaimed 2016-2025 as the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III).
- UN has tasked the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to lead the implementation of the Decade, in collaboration with a range of partners.
Vision of IDDA III: To firmly anchor Africa on a path towards inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
Agenda 2063:
i.Agenda 2063 was adopted in 2015 by the African Union Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
ii.This is a framework formulated for the purpose of guiding Africa’s development in the next fifty years.
- Its First Ten Year Implementation Plan (FTYIP) was adopted in June 2015.
iii.The framework with 7 aspirations, 20 goals, and 39 priority areas along with targets and indicators aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development.
The Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) are the 2 intertwined programmes that aim to create a sustainable common future on a healthy planet.
Africa Industrialization Week 2022 – 20th to 25th November 2022:
Africa Industrialization Day (20th November 2022) marks the beginning of the Africa Industrialization Week, a week-long observation from 20th to 25th November 2022 to unite several African governments and trade partners to discuss initiatives and opportunities that can advance industrialization efforts across Africa.
African Union Summit – 20th to 25th November 2022:
As a part of the Africa Industrialization Week’s annual commemorative activities, the African Union Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification is organised from 20th to 25th November 2022 in Niamey, Niger.
The theme of the summit is “Industrializing Africa: Renewed Commitment Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization and Economic Diversification”.
