On the sidelines of the Africa Industrialization Summit, held in Niamey from November 21 to 25, 2022, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with the support of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), has organized a conference on the theme “Fostering Economic Diversification in Africa through Water Management and Green Industries Development.”This side-event, in a hybrid format, was attended by experts from UNIDO, Nigerien industries as well as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).The event provided an opportunity to sensitize the participants, numbering around 100, on UNIDO’s work across Africa to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development with principles and practices of resource efficiency and circular economy. It was also an opportunity to share experiences and best practices among industrialists on water management, particularly through the TEST methodology currently deployed in the Niger Basin countries. Finally, several challenges related to the future of the industry in Africa were discussed, including the exploration of agricultural waste as an alternative material to single-use plastics.
