Reenergizing UNIDO Revitalizing Development

Dr. Arkebe Oqubay
For the last 30 years, Dr. Arkebe Oqubay has placed bold leadership and ambitious transformation at the center of his work, establishing an impressive track record across the African continent that has delivered lasting change. As founding Chair of the Board of the Industrial Parks Development Corporation, Dr. Arkebe led the development of a national network of green industrial parks. As Mayor of Addis Ababa, he transformed the city into a vibrant, investment-friendly, political and diplomatic hub.
If elected as the new Director General of UNIDO, Dr. Arkebe will lead and deliver a programme of revitalisation that instils fresh purpose to the agency and spurs on a new spirit of green industrial growth with tangible, meaningful results across the developing world.

Please download to read my vision for UNIDO here

UNIDO in Context

The next decade presents the last chance to overcome one of humanity’s greatest challenges on our own terms

  • Experience :

    Dr. Arkebe would bring to UNIDO a track record of leading, formulating, and delivering impactful policies in the developing world. As Director General of UNIDO, he will not only renew the Organization’s position in global development, but place the revival of industry, job creation, inclusive growth, sustainability and gender equality at its heart

  • Transformation :

    In this context, it is vital that UNIDO vigorously pursues its core mission as an enabler of transformational economic growth. That is why accelerating progress towards the SDGs is not an option but an absolute imperative during this Decade of Action.

  • Recovery :

    The global health crisis and its ripple effects have shattered economies and the sad reality is that this crisis threatens to reverse the gains of past decades and is pushing millions of people back into poverty. Any approach to calming the aftershocks of the pandemic must also resolve urgent shortcomings in our overall sustainable development agenda.

Reenergizing UNIDO Revitalizing Development

A New Vision Themes and Pillars Vision Document

A NEW VISION FOR A NEW DECADE

Revitalizing the role of UNIDO against the backdrop of these changing global dynamics will be a major responsibility awaiting the new leadership. The situation we will be facing in the wake of the pandemic means that there is even greater need for concerted global action that puts inclusive and sustainable development, job creation, the enhancement of productive capacities to attain economic transformation, and industrialization at its core. That is why the incoming Director General needs to formulate a new vision for the Decade of Action. I believe this new vision should be guided by the following five important premises.

1 It should be in line with the mission and mandate of UNIDO as defined by the relevant policy documents and should envisage a revitalized UNIDO, fit for purpose in a new era and a changing world.
2 It should accelerate technological transformation to promote inclusive growth and sustainable industrial development, and enhance technological learning, technology transfer, and innovation, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women, and young people.
3 It should anticipate a greatly enhanced role for UNIDO in fast-tracking the implementation of the SDGs during this Decade of Action, as the lead UN Specialized Agency for building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation within the UN system.
4 It should contribute to the global effort to ensure a rapid recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting adaptation and resilience as part of concerted global efforts to build a better future.
5 It should support in particular the countries with the lowest levels of development, notably African, to help reduce international inequalities and their effects.

THEMES AND PILLARS

Within the framework of the above five major premises, I believe the following three broader themes and ten pillars should be further explored to redefine the vision for UNIDO over the coming decade. This vision will consolidate UNIDO’s achievements and enhance its prominent contribution in a new decade.

I. SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE INDUSTRIALIZATION

UNIDO is well positioned to continue playing a lead role in promoting industrial development in a manner that not only ensures the full and effective participation of all relevant stakeholders but also offers equal opportunities and benefits for all. This means accelerating economic growth through transformation, job creation, income generation, and social inclusion, including achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women as well as addressing the concerns of young people. It also means reducing the international inequalities that contribute to the high levels of poverty in low-income countries. These are critical issues in our effort to ensure that no one is left behind, particularly at a time when we are doing everything possible to recover and build a better future. Therefore, job creation, and full and productive employment will be paramount for UNIDO.

UNIDO’s industrialization agenda should certainly be green and sustainable, learning lessons from past industrialization models, addressing climate change, and safeguarding the environment. This is in line with Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. The green path to industrialization has been gaining momentum in recent years as the only viable option for ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth. Hence, UNIDO will foster green energy, accelerate the growth of the circular economy, and promote a carbon-neutral industrialization pathway.

Today, industrial development and structural transformation are driven by frontier technologies such as digitalization, machine learning tools, artificial intelligence, and robotics. The technological revolution is beginning to change the rules of the game for latecomer countries embarking on the industrialization path. In the coming decade, UNIDO needs to intensify international cooperation to build the capacities of developing countries to harness new technologies for inclusive and sustainable industrialization, to support technological learning, technology transfer, and innovation, and to build resilient productive capability.

II. PRODUCTIVE CAPABILITY AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the importance of building productive industrial capabilities. The post-COVID-19 response must also focus on creating resilience to future shocks by building the productive capacities member states need to produce a wide range of goods and services. Industrialization is central to job creation, global competitiveness, exports, and economic transformation. Promoting productive investment that can be leveraged to develop domestic capability and linkages is essential. UNIDO is well placed to facilitate and promote the sharing of industrial development experience among developing countries.

A dynamic private sector is the engine of industrialization and technological catch-up, and building competitive domestic firms is crucial. Developing SMEs to build the foundations for domestic productive capacity is paramount and necessitates targeted government support and building partnerships and dialogue with the private sector. UNIDO has an important role to play in helping developing countries break the binding constraints that prevent SMEs from upgrading and acquiring the technological and production scale required to be effective players in regional and international markets.

The development of productive capacity requires an industrial eco-system that enhances inter-firm production linkages and an environment conducive to learning and innovation. Industrial clusters and value chains providing business services, urban and municipal infrastructure and utilities, and one-stop government services are required if firms are to thrive. Industrial hubs are symbiotic with urban systems and promote environmental sustainability. Cities are centers of innovation and productive activities, and complement industrial eco-systems. Hence, well-managed, competitive, smart and sustainable cities are critical for promoting industrialization. Based on global research and experience, UNIDO will strengthen its support to member countries in expanding new generations of industrial hubs.

III. TRANSFORMED UNIDO AND ENHANCED PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS

UNIDO should continue providing support to developing-country member states based on their specific needs and challenges, with a strong focus on low-income countries. Support to develop policymaking capabilities requires policy research and learning through the sharing of experiences in policy design and execution. UNIDO should scale up its policy dialogue and country programmes to enhance capacity building for policymakers, together with institutional development in inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

The global challenges that we face today can only be addressed through collective and concerted global action. That is why, more than ever, multilateralism is indispensable to provide global solutions to global problems. This should remain the guiding principle of UNIDO as it strives to respond to the current crisis and contribute to global economic recovery.  It is in this spirit that it should mobilize international cooperation and seek to strengthen productive dialogue in support of developing countries.

UNIDO will build on its achievements and reinvigorate itself with new competencies that match the new era. Productive partnership with development partners (international, regional, and bilateral agencies); synergy with national governments and country programmes; productive partnership with the private sector; and collaboration with knowledge and research hubs are essential for UNIDO to promote productive and sustainable industrialization. A stronger UNIDO should scale up and steer global research on critical challenges and emerging industrial development issues, and expand its research collaboration with knowledge hubs and think-tanks.

UNIDO can only effectively deliver on its core mandate and operational activities if it has mobilized the necessary resources. Securing adequate funding for the organization to implement its new priorities will be extremely critical. This requires reinvigorated efforts to expand UNIDO’s resource base through increased contributions by
member countries; new members and the return of former members; and the raising of voluntary contributions from member states (including from emerging economies). UNIDO will need to apply innovative funding models involving other partners, including the private sector and international philanthropic institutions.


Download Vision


A NEW VISION FOR A NEW DECADE

Revitalizing the role of UNIDO against the backdrop of these changing global dynamics will be a major responsibility awaiting the new leadership. The situation we will be facing in the wake of the pandemic means that there is even greater need for concerted global action that puts inclusive and sustainable development, job creation, the enhancement of productive capacities to attain economic transformation, and industrialization at its core. That is why the incoming Director General needs to formulate a new vision for the Decade of Action. I believe this new vision should be guided by the following five important premises.

1 It should be in line with the mission and mandate of UNIDO as defined by the relevant policy documents and should envisage a revitalized UNIDO, fit for purpose in a new era and a changing world.
2 It should accelerate technological transformation to promote inclusive growth and sustainable industrial development, and enhance technological learning, technology transfer, and innovation, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women, and young people.
3 It should anticipate a greatly enhanced role for UNIDO in fast-tracking the implementation of the SDGs during this Decade of Action, as the lead UN Specialized Agency for building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation within the UN system.
4 It should contribute to the global effort to ensure a rapid recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting adaptation and resilience as part of concerted global efforts to build a better future.
5 It should support in particular the countries with the lowest levels of development, notably African, to help reduce international inequalities and their effects.

THEMES AND PILLARS

Within the framework of the above five major premises, I believe the following three broader themes and ten pillars should be further explored to redefine the vision for UNIDO over the coming decade. This vision will consolidate UNIDO’s achievements and enhance its prominent contribution in a new decade.

I. SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE INDUSTRIALIZATION

UNIDO is well positioned to continue playing a lead role in promoting industrial development in a manner that not only ensures the full and effective participation of all relevant stakeholders but also offers equal opportunities and benefits for all. This means accelerating economic growth through transformation, job creation, income generation, and social inclusion, including achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women as well as addressing the concerns of young people. It also means reducing the international inequalities that contribute to the high levels of poverty in low-income countries. These are critical issues in our effort to ensure that no one is left behind, particularly at a time when we are doing everything possible to recover and build a better future. Therefore, job creation, and full and productive employment will be paramount for UNIDO.

UNIDO’s industrialization agenda should certainly be green and sustainable, learning lessons from past industrialization models, addressing climate change, and safeguarding the environment. This is in line with Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. The green path to industrialization has been gaining momentum in recent years as the only viable option for ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth. Hence, UNIDO will foster green energy, accelerate the growth of the circular economy, and promote a carbon-neutral industrialization pathway.

Today, industrial development and structural transformation are driven by frontier technologies such as digitalization, machine learning tools, artificial intelligence, and robotics. The technological revolution is beginning to change the rules of the game for latecomer countries embarking on the industrialization path. In the coming decade, UNIDO needs to intensify international cooperation to build the capacities of developing countries to harness new technologies for inclusive and sustainable industrialization, to support technological learning, technology transfer, and innovation, and to build resilient productive capability.

II. PRODUCTIVE CAPABILITY AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the importance of building productive industrial capabilities. The post-COVID-19 response must also focus on creating resilience to future shocks by building the productive capacities member states need to produce a wide range of goods and services. Industrialization is central to job creation, global competitiveness, exports, and economic transformation. Promoting productive investment that can be leveraged to develop domestic capability and linkages is essential. UNIDO is well placed to facilitate and promote the sharing of industrial development experience among developing countries.

A dynamic private sector is the engine of industrialization and technological catch-up, and building competitive domestic firms is crucial. Developing SMEs to build the foundations for domestic productive capacity is paramount and necessitates targeted government support and building partnerships and dialogue with the private sector. UNIDO has an important role to play in helping developing countries break the binding constraints that prevent SMEs from upgrading and acquiring the technological and production scale required to be effective players in regional and international markets.

The development of productive capacity requires an industrial eco-system that enhances inter-firm production linkages and an environment conducive to learning and innovation. Industrial clusters and value chains providing business services, urban and municipal infrastructure and utilities, and one-stop government services are required if firms are to thrive. Industrial hubs are symbiotic with urban systems and promote environmental sustainability. Cities are centers of innovation and productive activities, and complement industrial eco-systems. Hence, well-managed, competitive, smart and sustainable cities are critical for promoting industrialization. Based on global research and experience, UNIDO will strengthen its support to member countries in expanding new generations of industrial hubs.

III. TRANSFORMED UNIDO AND ENHANCED PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS

UNIDO should continue providing support to developing-country member states based on their specific needs and challenges, with a strong focus on low-income countries. Support to develop policymaking capabilities requires policy research and learning through the sharing of experiences in policy design and execution. UNIDO should scale up its policy dialogue and country programmes to enhance capacity building for policymakers, together with institutional development in inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

The global challenges that we face today can only be addressed through collective and concerted global action. That is why, more than ever, multilateralism is indispensable to provide global solutions to global problems. This should remain the guiding principle of UNIDO as it strives to respond to the current crisis and contribute to global economic recovery.  It is in this spirit that it should mobilize international cooperation and seek to strengthen productive dialogue in support of developing countries.

UNIDO will build on its achievements and reinvigorate itself with new competencies that match the new era. Productive partnership with development partners (international, regional, and bilateral agencies); synergy with national governments and country programmes; productive partnership with the private sector; and collaboration with knowledge and research hubs are essential for UNIDO to promote productive and sustainable industrialization. A stronger UNIDO should scale up and steer global research on critical challenges and emerging industrial development issues, and expand its research collaboration with knowledge hubs and think-tanks.

UNIDO can only effectively deliver on its core mandate and operational activities if it has mobilized the necessary resources. Securing adequate funding for the organization to implement its new priorities will be extremely critical. This requires reinvigorated efforts to expand UNIDO’s resource base through increased contributions by
member countries; new members and the return of former members; and the raising of voluntary contributions from member states (including from emerging economies). UNIDO will need to apply innovative funding models involving other partners, including the private sector and international philanthropic institutions.


Download Vision