Date: 21 to 22 July, 2026
Venue: Pretoria, South Africa
About the Event
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and in close partnership with the Governments of Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe is implementing the United Nations Development Account (UNDA) 17th Tranche Project entitled “Innovative Climate Action to Accelerate Green and Inclusive Industrialization in the Southern Africa.”
As part of the project, ECA is convening a review of the findings and recommendations of four regional studies currently being prepared:
- Advancing Green Industrialization in Southern Africa for Inclusive Development and Transformation: Policy Options and Strategies.
- Exploring Pathways to Achieve a Green Energy Transition and Promote Green Growth in Southern Africa."
- Evaluating Sequencing Approaches for Upgrading Industries, Fostering Innovation, and Facilitating Technology Transfer in Southern Africa.
- The Role of the Private Sector and MSMEs in Advancing the Circular Economy.
The overall purpose of the national workshops is to strengthen the methodology, content and recommendations of the studies and the attendant policy frameworks for green, inclusive, and resilient industrialization while promoting synergies across trade, innovation, industry, and climate action.
The broader project aims to strengthen the capacity of Southern African countries to design and implement innovative green economy policies and strategies that foster sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient industrial development. Working closely with the Governments of Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the initiative supports the integration of climate action into industrial policies while promoting trade, innovation, technology transfer, and regional value chain development.
Four strategic entry points have been identified to support this transformation:
- Agriculture value chains
- Green minerals and energy extractives, including electric vehicle value chains
- Renewable energy, including green hydrogen and carbon credit markets
- Circular economy and sustainable waste management
Cross-cutting themes on climate action, innovation, sustainable trade, green finance and a just transition will be explored in this project.
To support evidence-based policymaking, ECA commissioned four regional analytical studies examining issues around these thematic areas. National consultants have complemented the regional analysis with country-specific evidence and stakeholder perspectives. The studies will be validated through a series of national workshops in four of the six member States.
Expected Outputs
The workshops are expected to produce:
- Validated findings and recommendations from the four regional analytical studies.
- National recommendations to strengthen green industrialization policies and strategies.
- Enhanced evidence for the preparation of country-specific policy briefs.
- Comprehensive reports documenting discussions, recommendations and agreed follow-up actions from each national workshop.
Expected Outcomes
The national workshops are expected to contribute to:
- Improved awareness and capacity on green industrialisation among the member States.
- Strengthened dialogue across sectors linking climate, trade and industry.
- Enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.
Participants
The national workshops will be attended by representatives of the private sector, government ministries and their institutions, academic and research institutions, civil society organizations, the United Nations System and other development partners.
Venue and Dates
This workshop will be conducted in the four participating Member States. The first workshop will be organized in Pretoria, South Africa on July 21-22 2026 and will be hosted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Dates and venues for the other countries will be announced once consultation with the host country has been concluded.
Contact Information
For further information regarding the workshops, please contact:
Mundia Hangubo
Programme Management Assistant
ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa
Lusaka, Zambia
Email: mundia.hangubo@un.org
Tel: +260 977 989 644
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Malick Kane
Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch
Division of International Trade and Commodities
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Geneva, Switzerland
Email: malick.kane@unctad.org
Oliver Maponga
Economic Affairs Officer
ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa
Lusaka,
Email: mapongao@un.org
For media inquiries:
Bryll Mulangala
Communications
ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa,
Lusaka, Zambia
Email: bryll.mulangala@un.org
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