Webinar: How Science, Technology and Innovation Policies can Unleash Sustainable Industrialization in Africa

Sustainable Development Goals and Industrialization in Africa

Summary

Industrialization is critical for Africa to be able to move the needle in global value chains (GVC) while promoting value creation and wealth retention at national and regional levels. This can only be attained by enhancing the productivity of the workforce and introducing new technologies and innovation through the promotion of sound Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies. Inclusive and sustainable industrialization that is powered by STI can unleash dynamic and competitive economic forces that generate employment and income the continent desperately needs. Africa’s population has grown by more than 2 per cent annually since 2020 and is expected to continue growing at about 3 per cent per year. By 2100, two out of every five people on Earth are expected to be African. Given the current demographics, Africa will need about 18 million new jobs annually for that growth until 2035, and industrialization will address these needs, thus contributing to promoting peace and security on the continent.

At present, low levels of industrialization are among the biggest contributors to high unemployment rates, especially among the burgeoning youth population. This youth bulge can represent a demographic dividend with the right policies to situate STI at the heart of education systems and leverage Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and Intellectual Property (IP) rights as enablers. By also leveraging rapidly developing digital technology and research and development (R&D), African governments, in tandem with the private sector and universities, can effectively foster rapid, inclusive, and sustainable industrialization, including import substitution industrialization as a viable policy approach.

Against this backdrop, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) is organizing an online webinar on: “How Science, Technology and Innovation can unleash sustainable industrialization in Africa”. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, 25 June, 2024. A policy paper on the same theme will be published as an outcome document, reflecting deliberation at the webinar. The policy recommendations of the meeting will also feed into the ongoing work of OSAA in crafting key messages for the Summit of the Future, especially as it relates to strengthening digital cooperation and harnessing the potential STI in Africa to realize the 2030 Agenda.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization
   • Indicator 9.2.1: Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP and per capita
   • Indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all
   • Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age, and persons with disabilities
   • Indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate, by sex, age, and persons with disabilities

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills
   • Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill
   • Indicator 4.4.2: Percentage of youth/adults who have achieved at least a minimum proficiency level in digital literacy skills

Analysis

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their respective targets and indicators. The SDGs addressed in the article are SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 4: Quality Education.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The article emphasizes the importance of industrialization for Africa’s economic growth and job creation. It mentions that inclusive and sustainable industrialization can generate employment and income, addressing the continent’s need for new jobs. This aligns with SDG 9, which aims to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The article highlights the high unemployment rates in Africa, especially among the youth population. It suggests that with the right policies, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and Intellectual Property (IP) rights can enable job creation. This relates to SDG 8, which aims to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The article mentions the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in promoting industrialization. It suggests that leveraging digital technology and research and development (R&D) can foster rapid and sustainable industrialization. This aligns with SDG 4, which aims to increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills.

Based on the content of the article, specific targets under these SDGs can be identified:

• Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization
• Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Target 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills

The article also mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards these targets:

• Indicator 9.2.1: Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP and per capita
• Indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment
• Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age, and persons with disabilities
• Indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate, by sex, age, and persons with disabilities
• Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill
• Indicator 4.4.2: Percentage of youth/adults who have achieved at least a minimum proficiency level in digital literacy skills

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: un.org