Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo [email protected]
THE United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Subregional Office for Southern Africa (ECA SRO-SA) has concluded a two-day national validation workshop in South Africa that endorsed regional studies on how innovative climate action can accelerate green industrialisation across Southern Africa.
Hosted by South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the workshop formed part of the United Nations Development Account 17th Tranche Project, which is supporting Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe to integrate climate action into industrial development strategies.
The initiative seeks to promote sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic transformation while strengthening regional cooperation in the transition to green economies.
The workshop brought together representatives from government, the private sector, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), academia, research institutions, civil society, development partners and the United Nations system.
Participants reviewed and validated four regional studies focusing on green industrialisation, technology transfer and innovation, the circular economy and renewable energy transition. They also identified national priorities aimed at strengthening policy coherence and regional collaboration.
Opening the workshop, Senior Policy Advisor in South Africa’s Directorate of Sustainability Programmes and Projects within the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Jenitha Badul, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to advancing green industrialisation through collaboration.
She emphasised that partnerships remain critical to building an inclusive and climate-resilient industrial future.
United Nations Resident Coordinator for South Africa, Mr Nelson Muffah, said green industrialisation should be viewed not only as a climate agenda but also as a broader development strategy capable of driving technological advancement, economic diversification, job creation, regional integration and inclusive growth while helping to address poverty and inequality.
Representing the private sector, Project Manager for Climate, Energy and Water at the National Business Initiative, Ms Ayabulela Manjezi, said a just transition would only be achieved through strong partnerships involving government, business, civil society and research institutions.
She said women, youth, persons with disabilities and vulnerable communities must be placed at the centre of climate action and industrial transformation to ensure they benefit from opportunities created by the green economy.
Speaking on behalf of ECA SRO-SA Director Ms Eunice Kamwendo, Economic Affairs Officer Mr Oliver Maponga said green industrialisation presents Southern Africa with an opportunity to enhance competitiveness, strengthen regional value chains and improve access to emerging global markets.
He underscored the importance of coordinated industrial, trade, innovation and climate policies that build productive capabilities, facilitate technology transfer and enable the region to capture greater value from the global green transition.
Participants observed strong synergies across the studies and agreed that successful green industrialisation requires an integrated approach linking industrial development, climate action, environmental sustainability, regional cooperation, private sector development, research, skills development, finance and investment.
Among the key recommendations were strengthening governance and institutional coordination across industrial policy, innovation, trade, climate action and investment promotion; investing in productive capabilities and industrial ecosystems; accelerating industrial upgrading in strategic green value chains; promoting technology transfer that builds domestic capabilities; and sequencing policies to place capability development at the centre of industrial transformation.
The workshop also called for a stronger private sector and MSME-centred approach to accelerate the commercialisation and adoption of green technologies, improve access to finance, strengthen skills development, promote coherent regulatory frameworks and deepen regional trade and cross-border collaboration.
Delegates concluded that sustainable industrial transformation depends on strong institutions, innovation, productive capabilities and coordinated policymaking. They urged countries across Southern Africa to strengthen these foundations to seize opportunities emerging from the global green economy rather than remaining exporters of raw materials.
The recommendations from the validated studies will inform country-specific policy briefs and contribute to strengthening national and regional policy frameworks that support green, inclusive and resilient industrialisation across Southern Africa.
Bongani Ndlovu