UNCTAD is coordinating a virtual side event on the margins of the 9th Africa Think Tank Summit, which will take place in Lusaka, Zambia under the theme, “Linking Evidence, Policies and Practice to Contribute to the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement”. The side event is based on the Economic Development in Africa Report 2023 (EDAR 2023), “The Potential of Africa to Capture Technology-Intensive Global Supply Chains”.
The intensity of multiple global crises, including geopolitical events, natural disasters and economic uncertainty have resulted in disrupted supply chains. These crises have affected Africa disproportionately compared to other regions. Notwithstanding the low level of integration of African economies into global supply chains, the EDAR 2023 analyzes the possible dual opportunity for African countries to engage in supply chains, thereby creating employment opportunities, while at the same time providing a solution to supply chain disruptions through their diversification.
The aim of the side event is to disseminate the findings and policy guidance contained in the EDAR 2023. It will take the format of an online panel discussion and provide an opportunity for African policy makers, private sector representatives, development partners and other stakeholders to share insights on the state of global supply chain participation in Africa.
The webinar will focus on the following issues:
- The role of financing as a key enabler for African countries’ entry into supply chains, especially in the four sectors of focus discussed in the EDAR 2023
- Identifying key constraints for existing firms in the African supply chains
- Areas of priority for policy adoption by African countries
- Opportunities for entry into supply chains for the four sectors of focus for African countries
