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This research paper argues that the development relationship between Germany and Ghana has narrowed from a strategic industrial partnership to a limited, skills-focused donor model. The author contends that Germany's current emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is misaligned with Ghana's '24-Hour Economy' (24HE) initiative, which requires systemic industrial coordination rather than broad skills diffusion. The paper proposes a 'vanguardist' model based on selective value-chain acceleration and the creation of industrial corridors to drive large-scale youth employment.

This research paper examines Nigeria's natural gas sector and its potential to drive sustainable industrialization across Africa. It analyzes the 'Decade of Gas' (2021-2030) initiative, critical infrastructure projects, and the regulatory reforms needed to transition from a reliance on oil exports to a gas-powered economy that supports regional energy security and manufacturing.

The research paper analyzes South Africa's Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy for South Africa (CMMSSA), released on 20 May 2025. The strategy aims to leverage the country's mineral wealth to drive industrialization and economic growth during the global energy transition. While the paper acknowledges the strategy's ambitious vision and integrated approach, it highlights significant risks regarding institutional capacity, regulatory contradictions with the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA), and a lack of concrete justice frameworks for affected communities.

This report, co-published by the African Development Bank and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), examines how Africa can leverage its critical minerals to drive inclusive growth, industrialization, and regional integration by shifting from raw material exports to value-added production.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the intersection of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and climate sustainability. It argues that while industrialization is a socio-political imperative for Africa, the continent must adopt sustainable production and trade practices to maintain global market access and competitiveness. The document highlights significant financial gaps in trade and energy transition and proposes innovative financing mechanisms and policy frameworks to align Africa's economic growth with its climate goals ahead of COP28.

This policy brief examines how the war in Ukraine has disrupted global supply chains and increased fertilizer prices across Africa, threatening food security and crop yields. It argues that while short-term input subsidies are necessary, African nations must pursue long-term industrialization to build local fertilizer manufacturing capacity using the continent's own natural gas, coal, and phosphate rock reserves.

This research paper examines the challenges of institutionalizing industrial energy efficiency in Uganda, arguing that while targeted interventions have provided gains, a robust regulatory framework and broader consensus on trade-offs and benefits are needed to achieve systemic institutionalization.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute argues that Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) must leverage the global clean energy transition to drive industrialization and address severe energy deficits. The author proposes that the region utilize a combination of green industrial policies, strategic use of natural gas for baseload power, and the leveraging of critical mineral reserves to move up the global value chain, while insisting that the transition must account for the economic differences between developed and developing nations.

This Final Scoping Report details the environmental assessment for the southern site of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Limpopo, South Africa. The proposed development aims to establish a heavy industrial hub focused on energy and metallurgy, including plants for steel, ferrochrome, and thermal power generation. The report identifies significant environmental risks, particularly regarding water scarcity in a semi-arid region, potential biodiversity loss within the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, and the need for extensive bulk infrastructure. It outlines the regulatory framework, preliminary impact assessments, and a Plan of Study for the subsequent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) phase.

This technical report, authored by Dr. Ousmane Thioune in October 2021 and supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, analyzes the cumulative environmental and social impacts of four major industrial projects in the Bargny-Sendou area of Senegal: a coal-fired power plant, a mineral and bulk port, the Tosyali steel plant, and the SOCOCIM Industries cement plant. The study highlights critical air quality failures, where particulate matter (PM10) concentrations already exceed national limits by 193% to 540%, posing severe health risks to local populations. The report warns that the concentration of these heavy industries within a small radius threatens the local economy—particularly fishing and fish processing—and leads to significant land loss and water stress.

This policy brief examines the impact of Chinese investments in Tanzania's plastic recycling industry and the subsequent effects of China's 2018 import ban on waste materials. It highlights how Chinese firms have facilitated technology transfer and local business growth, while also noting significant environmental and health risks and a potential decline in local waste sourcing due to the import of cleaner waste from Europe and the US.