United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
1. Responding to the multiple crises, has the governing body of your organization taken any decisions or adopted any new strategies to enhance effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions and to reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and poverty eradication?
In the period under review, and before the twentieth session of the UNIDO General Conference (27 November – 1 December 2023), there were two decisions taken by the Industrial Development Board to be mentioned here:
(1) In decision IDB.51/Dec.8, Member States endorsed the UNIDO Climate Change Strategy, which sees “a world without poverty and hunger, where industry drives low-emission economies, improves the living standards and preserves the livable environment for present and future generations, leaving no one behind” as the vision for 2050. Low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development are the guiding principles for UNIDO’s activities, to be well anchored in strategic documents and result metrics. The implementation of the Strategy will pursue alignment with other priority areas of UNIDO, such as energy, innovation, agribusiness development and food security, circular economy and biodiversity. UNIDO will seek to provide solutions to global challenges in a holistic and integrated manner, handle trade-offs and maximize co-benefits. In its decision IDB.51/Dec.8, the Board then requested the Director General to continue consultations with Member States to develop an action plan to implement the strategy within the mandate and available resources of UNIDO.
(2) The UNIDO strategic framework for partnering with middle-income countries and its related workplan highlight UNIDO’s added value for this important group of 104 UNIDO Member States, underlining the technical expertise of UNIDO in the context of the socio-economic and environmental recovery from global crises by supporting the formulation and implementation of sustainable industrial policies, strategies, visions and plans. Through this strategic approach, UNIDO identified thematic areas and functions with potential for strengthening engagement with middle-income countries beyond traditional technical cooperation, namely: providing analytical and policy inputs to national agendas in the area of sustainable industrial development; providing technical advice for the development and implementation of industrial norms and standards; and organizing and facilitating global forums and seminars to raise awareness among policymakers and the private sector. Through decision IDB.50/Dec.6, Member States requested UNIDO to operationalize the updated workplan presented in October 2022.
2. In the past year, has your organization organized any intergovernmentally mandated conferences, forums or events that contributed to the achievement of the SDGs, or in the process of planning and organizing any such mandated events to be held next year?
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Event Name: |
17th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Industrialization and Economic Diversification and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement |
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Event Dates: |
25 November 2022 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
Niger, Niamey |
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Relevant SDGs: |
SDG 9, SDG 17 |
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Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) |
UNIDO collaborated with the AfroChampions Initiative, the AUC, AUDA-NEPAD and UNECA to organize the 17th AU Extraordinary Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification and the AfCFTA. The overall objective of the Extraordinary Assembly was to position Africa’s renewed determination and commitment to industrialization as one of the central pillars in attaining the continent’s economic growth and development goals as articulated in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Summit gathered 28 African Heads of State/Government and attracted around 7,000 participants. Key outcomes included the adoption of the AU Heads of States and Government Assembly Declaration and Decisions, highlighting critical areas of action to be implemented in support of Africa’s industrialization. In line with the Decisions and Declaration of the AU Summit, UNIDO supported the development of a renewed results-based policy framework for Africa’s industrialization.
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Website (if applicable) |
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Event Name: |
Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum (MIPF) |
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Event Dates: |
20–21 March 2023 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
Vienna, Austria |
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Relevant SDGs: |
SDG 9 main focus, SDGs 5, 7, 8, and 17 |
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Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) |
UNIDO established the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum (MIPF) to spur debates over how to leverage industrial policies to accelerate progress towards the SDGs by (i) promoting productivity and growth; (ii) strengthening resilience and environmental sustainability, and (iii) addressing societal challenges. As a global platform, MIPF creates a space for Member States to engage in mutual learning, information exchange and knowledge sharing on crosscutting thematic issues, such as greening the economy, digitalization and technology transfer, and gender. It aims to foster stronger multilateral collaboration on industrial development and policy issues at the regional and global levels between policymakers and other stakeholders.
The three key takeaways of the 2023 MIPF were: (i) Industrial policies must be purpose-oriented: the SDGs must be actively embedded in industrial policies; (ii) Large-scale transformations can only be realized through inter-governmental coordination: countries must collaborate to achieve regional scale; and, (iii) Greater investments are crucial: strategies must be supported by corresponding financial resources.
More in the Outcome Document: https://downloads.unido.org/ot/31/38/31381329/MIPF_WEB_final.pdf |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Event Name: |
SDG 9 in middle-income countries: accelerating the achievement of the 2030 Agenda |
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Event Dates: |
17 July 2023 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
New York, USA |
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Relevant SDGs: |
SDG 9 |
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Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) |
Mandated by the Industrial Development Board (IDB.50/Dec.6), UNIDO organized a side event on the margins of the 2023 High-Level Political Forum to take stock of SDG 9 progress in middle-income countries, to discuss certain challenges, and identify best practices and innovative solutions to accelerate SDG 9 implementation.
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Website (if applicable) |
https://www.unido.org/events/high-level-political-forum-2023 |
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Event Name: |
International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF) |
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Event Dates: |
2–3 November 2023 |
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Event Location (City, Country): |
Vienna, Austria |
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Relevant SDGs: |
SDG 7 main focus, SDGs 2, 9, 13, 17 |
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Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) |
Convening just a few weeks before the United Nations Climate Conference COP 28, the Forum showcased innovative technologies and transformative solutions to accelerate low-emission, climate-resilient development. The IVECF provided insightful impulses and practical solutions to best support the Climate Conference, with a focus on: • Fostering innovative approaches to deploying renewable energy to reduce energy access gaps and accelerate decarbonization. • Promoting nature-based solutions to expand natural carbon sinks and ensure that developing countries are able to seize existing and new opportunities. • Advancing green industrialization and just and sustainable energy value chains. • Supporting agribusiness for more sustainable food production chains, to protect the environment and eliminate hunger. • Accelerating industrial decarbonization and energy efficiency.
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Website (if applicable) |
3. In the past year, has your organization published or planned to publish any analytical work or guidance note or toolkits to guide and support the implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels? Please select up to three to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs.
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Resource Name |
UNIDO SDG 9 Biennial Progress Report 2023 |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDG 9 |
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Publishing entity/entities |
UNIDO |
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Target audience |
Policymakers, development practitioners, statisticians, researchers |
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Description (max 150 words) |
This UNIDO report presents the strides different country groups have made towards achieving the industry-related Targets of SDG 9, and highlights areas where interventions are urgently needed to close disparities. It presents disaggregated progress assessments and outlook indicators towards achieving these targets, building on UNIDO’s statistical work as the custodian agency for the industry-related indicators of SDG 9.
This report includes a rotating thematic chapter. In the 2023 edition, this chapter focuses on data availability for industry-related indicators in the 2030 Agenda, identifying main data gaps by country groups, regions and thematic areas, highlighting areas where there is insufficient evidence for implementing and guiding policymaking. |
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Language(s) |
English |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Resource Name |
Industrial Development Report 2024 |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDGs 7, 8 and 9 |
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Publishing entity/entities |
UNIDO |
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Target audience |
Policymakers, general public, academics and students |
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Description (max 150 words) |
UNIDO’s Industrial Development Report 2024 calls for bold policy initiatives to channel investments into sustainable industry, which holds great potential for facilitating recovery and accelerating progress. When industry is aligned with the SDGs, it can ignite innovation, create decent jobs and contribute to the mitigation of climate change.
The strong resurgence of industrial policy worldwide highlights a renewed interest in the power of industry to solve today’s challenges. This resurgence is primarily driven by the world’s most industrialized countries. Developing countries must match these efforts to fully leverage industrial policy for the achievement of the SDGs.
Domestic efforts alone will not suffice. The report urges the international community to come together in solidarity to support the world’s most vulnerable countries. We need a New Deal for fair globalization and global solidarity with a renewed spirit of international partnership, enabling developing countries to design, finance and implement SDG-oriented industrial policies. The report puts forth actions to bolster modern industrial policy capable of addressing the trends of tomorrow. This calls for enhancing government capabilities, increasing access to finance and promoting regional and global coordination. |
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Language(s) |
English |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Resource Name |
Science, Technology and Innovation for Achieving the SDGs: Guidelines for Policy Formulation |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDGs 1 through SDG 15 |
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Publishing entity/entities |
Inter-Agency Task Team for STI for the SDGs (IATT) and UNIDO |
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Target audience |
Policymakers in UN Member States |
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Description (max 150 words) |
The booklet provides background material for those interested in the design and implementation of STI-oriented policies in the member states, with the SDGs as the basis to inform SDG targets. The content builds on the discussions at actual training sessions delivered by the IATT, with further detailed elaboration based on direct interaction with participants (more than 1200 since 2018).
The booklet discusses the SDGs and the role that STI plays in a country’s efforts to achieve them. It defines STI policy and presents various conceptual and methodological approaches to STI policy formulation. These are followed by sections devoted to the STI policy cycle and best practices to use in each stage of the cycle. Each stage of the STI policy cycle is discussed in greater detail, providing key information and examples to illustrate policymaking processes to leverage STI to achieve the SDGs. |
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Language(s) |
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Website (if applicable) |
https://sdgs.un.org/tfm/interagency-task-team/capacity#reports_and_resources |
Three examples of toolkits and guidelines
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Resource Name |
Guidelines for Planning, Development and Management of Integrated Agro-Food Parks (IAFPs) |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDGs 1, 2, 8, 9, 17 |
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Publishing entity/entities |
UNIDO, the African Development Bank, African Union Development Agency, African Export-Import Bank, ExportImport Bank of China and Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited. |
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Target audience |
Park regulators, park developers, park operators, park tenants, and stakeholders and partners, such as multilateral development agencies and development finance institutions. |
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Description (max 150 words) |
The Guidelines offer stakeholders specialized guidance on international best practices regarding sustainable agro-food park development, operation, promotion and regulation. They also support agro-industrial park stakeholders by providing practical tools to enhance performance and manage risks. The Guidelines have been designed to give its target audience clear guidance and considerations relevant to the development and scaling up of agro-based industrial cluster and agglomeration models. The publication can be used at all development stages of IAFPs, such as: industrial park planning and design, construction, park operations, marketing and investment promotion, environmental and social impact and energy management. The key message of the Guidelines is that carefully designed IAFPs need to be integrated with the rural economy, incorporate both soft and hard infrastructure, help to overcome the business constraints of agro-industrial firms, and facilitate entry into manufacturing and higher value-added activities. |
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Language(s) |
English |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Resource Name |
Sustainable Supply Chain Rapid Scan Toolbox |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDG 1, 8, 9, 13 |
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Publishing entity/entities |
UNIDO |
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Target audience |
Government stakeholders, business associations and industry groups, education and training institutions, accreditation and regulatory bodies, supplier firms in producer countries (including SMEs, smallholders and farmers) |
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Description (max 150 words) |
The Toolbox helps Member States to navigate the newly emerging landscape of global supply chain regulations, particularly in producer countries, addressing two main questions: “How do the new regulations impact producer countries? How do governments and firms have to adapt to remain/become competitive?”.
Objectives
Initial Components
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Language(s) |
English |
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Website (if applicable) |
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Resource Name |
Small Hydropower Technical Development Services |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDG6, 7, 9, 13 |
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Publishing entity/entities |
UNIDO, International Center on Small Hydropower (ICSHP) |
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Target audience |
Decision makers, technicians, developers, investors, students |
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Description (max 150 words) |
The Small Hydropower Service Package is a model that facilitates the mobilization of partners, investments and other resources and helps create synergies to achieve a more significant development impact. The approach comprises six modules, which enable UNIDO to develop projects that are best suited to a country-specific context and future climate change scenarios. |
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Language(s) |
English |
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Website (if applicable) |
https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/files/2023-10/Service%20package-final-digital-220.pdf |
4. In connection with the 2023 SDG Summit, the United Nations development system announced 12 High-Impact Initiatives where transformative progress is possible despite challenging global circumstances. Please share if your organization is contributing to any of these High Impact Initiatives and how various actors are being rallied behind them to mobilize further leadership and investment to bring progress to scale.
Energy Compacts (Scaling up ambition to deliver on SDG7)
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has played a significant role in promoting the “Energy Compacts” (scaling up ambition to deliver on SDG 7), one of the 2023 High-Impact Initiatives, which are voluntary commitments by countries, businesses, and other stakeholders to advance sustainable energy goals.
UNIDO has contributed to Energy Compacts in several ways:
(1) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy (ENERGIA) and Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) have formed a coalition with now over 90 signatory countries and developed the “Gender and Energy Compact” (https://genderenergycompact.org) to catalyze action towards gender equality and women’s empowerment to accelerate a just, inclusive and sustainable energy transition. Currently, the Governments of Canada, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Iceland, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Sweden, and the USA are supporting the Gender Energy Compact. The last Energy Compact Annual Progress Report 2023 indicated that the signatories created 36,176 green jobs, of which 14,100 or 39% were women. Signatories also indicated difficulties in obtaining gender-disaggregated data on parameters such as energy access and climate finance. A critical challenge in bridging SDG 7 and SDG 5 would be improving the monitoring and evaluation processes.
(2) UNIDO is a signatory to the Energy Compacts. The UNIDO compact can be found on the “Compact registry”. UNIDO reports on an annual basis its contributions against key performance indicators and relevant initiatives, this feeds into the “Energy Compacts Annual Progress Report” which in 2023 was created in support of the SDG Summit.
(3) “Green Hydrogen Compact Catalogue”: a coalition to mobilize Energy Compacts on green hydrogen technologies as viable solutions for a net-zero future has come together, led by the Governments of Denmark, Chile and Germany as Global Champions for energy transition, in collaboration with IRENA and the World Economic Forum among others. Businesses, countries and other stakeholders are encouraged to establish Energy Compacts that can help deliver 25 GW of green hydrogen capacity by 2026, towards 500-1000 GW required by 2030, in line with the UN Marrakech Partnership’s Climate Action Pathway on Green Hydrogen for a 1.5-degree compatible energy sector by 2050.
In this context, UNIDO has subscribed to the “Green Hydrogen Compact Catalogue” through its Global Programme for Hydrogen in Industry, which aims to accelerate the uptake of green hydrogen and its application in hard-to-abate industries of developing countries and transition economies. Promoting tangible projects to accelerate the local application of green hydrogen in industries is a key element of the Programme and will commit to the objectives of the Green Hydrogen Compact Catalogue.
Food Systems Transformation (Transforming food systems for a sustainable world without hunger)
UNIDO is core partner in the High-Impact Initiative on Food Systems Transformation which builds on the outcomes of the Food Systems Summit 2021, the means of implementation that had been operating, and the UNFSS +2 Stocktaking Moment 2023, in consideration of remaining time to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The goal is to strengthen and further develop national capacities for country-led and country-owned agrifood systems transformation that are adapted to local contexts and tailored to specific needs.
The partners of this High-Impact Initiative are jointly leveraging investment, innovation, science, data and technology, including better access to tools and geospatial platforms, as well as building on the outcome of the work by the Scientific Group, the youth and Indigenous Groups to better inform the strategy of this HII.
Transforming4Trade (Paradigm shift to boost economic development)
UNIDO is a collaborating agency on this High-Impact Initiative on Food Systems Transformation and works closely with UNCTAD on framing the discussion and addressing the needs of participating countries, especially of (African) LDCs. The following UNIDO contributions are currently being considered:
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Strengthen ongoing joint statistical capacity building activities for LDCs
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Establish and expand coordination on Industrial Policy advisory services to LDCs
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Engage in dedicated research and publications on Industrial Policy for LDCs
5. In addition to the above, has your organization been part of any other initiatives or multi-stakeholder partnerships that enhance effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions and reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially in the areas of poverty eradication (SDG1), food systems transformation (SDG2), climate action (SDG13), governance (SDG16), partnerships (SDG17), which will go under in-depth review at the HLPF in 2024, or related to the Secretary-General’s proposals in Our Common Agenda.
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
UNIDO and FAO (at the global level) with ILO and UNFPA (at the country-level) |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDGs 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 13 and 17 |
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Member States benefiting from it |
Bangladesh, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, Suriname, Tanzania, Zambia, |
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Description (max 150 words) |
ASTA is a global systems-based program led by UNIDO and FAO to assist countries in transforming their agri-food systems by facilitating innovative partnerships and SDG-compliant investments in selected value chains. ASTA designs and implements catalytic systems-based projects that create new opportunities and partnerships at the interface between the public, private and civil society sectors. Implementation is human-centered and stakeholder-driven from the start and is based on continuous learning and adaptation by both project and stakeholders to achieve sustainable socio-economic, environmental and resilience impacts at scale. ASTA uses its own sophisticated and fully field-tested methodology to create solutions within the food system that are self-sustaining, adaptive and resilient. The launch of ASTA took place in March 2023 during a meeting between FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and UNIDO Director General, Gerd Müller, on the sidelines of the Fifth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries in Doha, Qatar. |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
World Cotton Day (WCD) |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
It was jointly hosted by Secretariats of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and is organized in cooperation with Secretariats of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Trade Center (ITC), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDGs 1, 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17 |
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Member States benefiting from it |
The WCD 2023 programme includes a high-level plenary session, a ‘partnership for progress’ session and two thematic panels. WCD offers an all-day exhibition featuring booths showcasing cotton-related activities, programmes and products, and a fashion show displaying cotton fashion and designers from different parts of the world with a special focus on Africa. |
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Description (max 150 words) |
The World Cotton Day (WCD) was established in 2019 when four cotton producers in sub-Saharan Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, known as the Cotton Four/C4) proposed a World Cotton Day to raise awareness on the need for value addition and market access for cotton and cotton-based products from Least Developed Countries. The United Nations officially recognized WCD as an international day to commemorate annually on 7 October (A/Res/75/318). Over the past years, the date offered an opportunity to share knowledge and showcase cotton-related activities. Events take place worldwide, but the main event is being organized by one of the principal development partners, on a rotating basis. This year the WCD is held under the theme “Making cotton fair and sustainable for all, from farm to fashion”. It aims to bring together heads of international organizations, country representatives, development partners, the private sector and industry experts to review trade and production trends, discuss development options, mobilize resources and promote technical expertise with a view to enhancing fairness and sustainability in the cotton sector. |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
Skills for Sustainable Industrial Transformation in Africa (concept) |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
ILO, UNIDO |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDGs 4, 5, 8, 9 and 17 |
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Member States benefiting from it |
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Description (max 150 words) |
Most African Governments have identified skills development as a strategic instrument to improve the employability of workers, increase the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and facilitate their transition to more inclusive and sustainable economies. However, the quality of existing education and training programs and their relevance to market needs often remain low, resulting in important skills gaps and hindering industrial development across the continent. The ILO and UNIDO aim to boost industrial transformation and a Just Transition in Africa through inclusive lifelong learning programs that are responsive to market needs as well as learners’ aspirations and reflect the need for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The main anticipated outcome of this joint initiative is to strengthen the capacities of African national and sectorial lifelong learning systems to design and deliver industry-relevant, climate responsive and inclusive training, and reskilling and upskilling programs. |
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Website |
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Initiative/Partnership Name |
The Council on Ethanol Clean Cooking (CECC) |
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Partners (please list all partners) |
UNIDO |
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Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) |
SDGs 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 13 |
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Member States benefiting from it |
Since its launch, 15 countries confirmed membership (Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lao PDR, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Sri Lanka). Furthermore, Benin, Guinea, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, and the Philippines are in the process of joining the Council. |
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Description (max 150 words) |
The Council’s primary aim is to establish a comprehensive platform for the exchange of information regarding best practices, experiences, technical assistance, and cutting-edge technologies. This platform is designed to play a pivotal role in nurturing the growth of a sustainable ethanol industry and its interconnected value chains in developing countries. |
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Website |
6. In the Political Declaration adopted at the 2023 SDG Summit, Member States committed to using the review of the high-level political forum at the 78th session of the General Assembly to further strengthen the follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, harnessing data to track progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, strengthening analysis of the interlinkages across the Goals and targets, including policy implications of their synergies and trade-offs. Please provide your organization’s recommendations, if any, in this regard.
Strengthen follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda at HLPF
Some countries may not have required financial resources and capacities for a regular review of the 2030 Agenda implementation. It is important for the international community to provide targeted support for countries in need so that all Member States will be able to properly review the implementation of progress towards the SDGs.
Harnessing data to track progress in implementation
Many sources of information, including UNIDO’s SDG 9 Progress Report 2023, have identified SDG targets, regions and thematic areas with limited data availability. This lack of information hampers evidence-based policymaking and resource allocation to areas with the most urgent needs. Bridging these data gaps should be prioritized, both by ensuring appropriate funding of country-level statistical activities and by ensuring technical capacities in data collection, processing and dissemination are in place.
The LNOB priority should also be considered at the firm level. SDG target 9.3 on small-firms in the manufacturing sector, an important source of employment and innovation, is one of the SDG 9 targets with more limited information. Too little is known about the performance of SMEs, particularly in a period of multiple crises. The limited evidence available points to a relative underperformance of these firms and an insufficient access to resources.
Beyond data availability, data access and data use are equally important. Bridging data gaps will not be sufficient if the information is not utilized for informing policy and guiding interventions. Technical capacities for evidence-informed policymaking should also be prioritized.
Strengthening analysis of the interlinkages across Goals and targets, including policy implications of their synergies and trade-offs
UNIDO has analyzed the interlinkages across Goals and identified those that have significant synergies with others. To draw concrete policy recommendations for action, further analysis is needed at the level of individual indicators. With a better understanding of specific indicators that drive the progress across multiple SDGs, countries can allocate their scarce resources to the areas that are likely to yield the maximum benefits.
Other suggestions
Industrial policy is experiencing a resurgence, as the number of policies implemented globally has grown more than twofold over the past decade. Countries at all stages of development are increasingly turning to industrial policy to guide their sustainable development efforts.
Modern industrial policies that are driven by the SDGs are a powerful tool to accelerate progress towards sustainable development. These policies align development efforts with broader social and environmental objectives, including poverty eradication, food security, decent job creation and the urgent need to fight climate change and resource depletion. Framed this way, industrial policies can help turbocharge the SDGs.
An entry point for industrial policies to succeed in driving the 2030 Agenda, is to build policy-making capacities for effective policy design that establish clear objectives and strategies. This is especially important in developing countries where challenges like lack of proper design, ill-defined costs, insufficient government capacity, and lack of long-term commitment may result in failed implementation of policies. The challenge is also to balance the competing demands of economic growth, financial and fiscal stability, and focused support to specific industrial sectors.
Advancing progress on financing for the SDGs is a necessary but not sufficient condition to achieve sustainable development. Modern industrial strategies and policies are also needed to direct financing into concrete investments and sectors that can spur SDG progress, or to align tax systems and fiscal, capital and labour market policies as well as demand-side instruments (such as public procurement) with the SDGs. Without effective industrial strategies in place, emerging calls for filling financing gaps are unlikely to make a difference.