U.S. Industrial Policy: Challenges and Opportunities for Africa

Industrial policy can present challenges and opportunities for African public and private stakeholders to leverage the continent’s resources and develop African value chains for sustainable development. In partnership with and supported by the African Climate Foundation (ACF), CCSI hosted a series of three online strategic dialogues among stakeholders with experience and expertise in industrial policy and development in Africa.

Participants’ contributions centered on five points:

1. African stakeholders face challenges posed by U.S. industrial policy.
2. African stakeholders may explore how to benefit from U.S. industrial policy.
3. African stakeholders stand to benefit from designing and implementing industrial policy in Africa and in line with African needs and goals.
4. Industrial policy in and for Africa requires African-built policy roadmaps and governance frameworks, stakeholder engagement, research, and capacity building.
5. Designing and implementing industrial policy in and for Africa requires a collaborative and inclusive partnership of African stakeholders.

The series gathered nearly 50 participants, most of them African or based in Africa, representing a broad range of stakeholder groups. The three dialogues focused on the following topics and relied on the facilitation and contributions by the following experts:

1. March 20, 2024 – What is the IRA and what are its possible challenges and opportunities for African governments and companies?

• Facilitator: Africa Kiiza
• Panelists: Andrew Kamau, Lily Odarno, and Martin Luther Munu

2. March 27, 2024 – What is the CHIPS and Science Act and what are its possible challenges and opportunities for African governments and companies?

• Facilitator: Africa Kiiza
• Keynote: Joseph Stiglitz

3. April 3, 2024 – Building on the learning from the two first sessions, how can African public and private stakeholders most effectively respond to those challenges and opportunities by designing and implementing a trade and industrialization policy package that serves Africa’s interests and goals?

• Facilitator: Glory Oguegbu
• Panelists: Africa Kiiza, Rebekah Shirley, Kaleb G. Abreha, Johansein Rutaihwa, and Olawale Ogunkola