Africa’s economic transformation continues to face major structural challenges, including low industrialisation levels, dependence on raw commodity exports, financing constraints, weak industrial infrastructure, and limited domestic value addition. Despite strong economic growth in several African countries over the last two decades, industrial productivity and manufacturing contribution to global trade remain significantly low.

The Joint STC Meeting serves as a high-level continental platform to assess progress, strengthen policy coordination, and mobilise strategic financing mechanisms to accelerate industrialisation across Africa. Particular attention will be given to Africa’s strategic mineral resources, green industrialisation opportunities, regional value chains, and the implementation of Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Mining Vision, AIDA, and the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA IV).

The event will also provide an opportunity for African Union Member States and partners to develop coordinated approaches for sustainable industrial financing, domestic resource mobilisation, infrastructure development, and technological advancement.

Register now to participate in the STC: https://2026-stc.aucettim-events.org/stc-registration/

General objective: The Joint STC Meeting aims to strengthen policy coordination and mobilise sustainable financing strategies to accelerate Africa’s industrialisation, economic transformation, and regional integration in line with Agenda 2063.

Specific Objectives:

• Review progress in the implementation of continental industrialisation and financing frameworks
• Assess the impact of African Union initiatives supporting industrial development
• Share best practices and lessons learned among Member States
• Identify barriers affecting industrialisation, including financing and infrastructure gaps
• Highlight opportunities in strategic sectors such as green minerals, renewable energy technologies, and manufacturing
• Develop actionable policy recommendations to improve industrial financing and investment climates
• Strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and tax cooperation mechanisms
• Enhance coordination between finance, trade, industry, and mineral development policies
• Support the operationalisation of IDDA IV, AIDA, and AfCFTA industrial priorities

The Joint STC Meeting is expected to deliver the following outcomes:

• Adoption of a Ministerial Declaration on Financing Resource-Based Industrialisation
• Endorsement of a Joint STC Outcome Framework
• Adoption of a 12–24 month Action-Oriented Roadmap for implementation
• Strengthened coordination between macroeconomic, industrial, trade, and mineral development policies
• Enhanced domestic resource mobilisation and reduction of illicit financial flows
• Improved implementation of continental industrialisation frameworks
• Increased peer learning, knowledge sharing, and regional cooperation
• Reinforced alignment with Agenda 2063, AfCFTA, AIDA, and IDDA IV priorities

The African Union Commission invites Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), development partners, financial institutions, private sector organisations, academia, and civil society organisations to submit proposals for side events to be held on the margins of the Joint African Union Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) Meeting on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration, and on Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals.

Side events should align with the theme “Financing Africa’s Industrialisation for Sustainable Development” and contribute to discussions on industrial financing, domestic resource mobilisation, trade and investment, regional value chains, green industrialisation, infrastructure development, digital transformation, strategic minerals, and sustainable economic development.

The detailed Call for Side Event Proposals is attached. Applicants are encouraged to read it carefully to ensure their submissions meet the stated requirements.

Submit your side event proposal here: https://2026-stc.aucettim-events.org/submit-proposal

 8th Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration
Date: 29 September – 3 October 2025
Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa
Theme: Bridging Africa’s Health Financing Gap in a Changing Geo-Economic Context: Challenges and Potential Solutions.

The session examined sustainable financing solutions for Africa's health sector amidst evolving global economic conditions. Discussions focused on strengthening domestic resource mobilization, enhancing health financing systems, improving fiscal resilience, and promoting policy coordination to address growing development and financing challenges across the continent.

 4th Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals
Date: 13 – 17 May 2024
Venue: Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Theme: Boosting Africa’s Competitiveness through Sustainable Tourism, Industrialization, Trade and Mineral Resource Development.

The meeting reviewed progress in the implementation of continental trade and industrialization frameworks, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Participants discussed strategies to enhance industrial competitiveness, promote value addition, strengthen regional value chains, and leverage Africa’s mineral resources to support sustainable economic transformation.

The 2026 Joint STC Meeting builds on the outcomes and recommendations of these two sessions by bringing together finance, trade, industry, and mineral development stakeholders to advance coordinated approaches for financing Africa’s industrialization and sustainable development.

The Joint STC Meeting is expected to bring together:

• Ministers responsible for Finance, Economic Planning, Trade, Industry, and Minerals
• Central Bank Governors
• Senior Technical Experts
• Representatives of Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
• African Union specialised agencies and organs
• International and Technical Partners
• Development Finance Institutions
• Academia and Research Institutions
• Civil Society Organisations
• Private Sector Representatives

Dr. Patrick NDZANA OLOMO | Head, Economic Policy and Sustainable Development, African Union Commission | Email: OlomoP@africanunion.org

Ms. Rumbidzai MANHANDO | Economic Development, Integration and Trade Department, African Union Commission | E-mail: ManhandoR@africanunion.org

Joseph Mireku NTI | Economic Development, Integration and Trade Department, African Union Commission | E-mail: Mirekuj@africanunion.org