5 November 2014: The second forum on inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) convened under the theme ‘Partnerships to scale up investment for inclusive and sustainable industrial development.’ ISID Forum 2 aimed to extend the impact and outreach of ISID goals by strengthening the partnership dialogue between the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), recipient governments, development finance institutions, development agencies, the private sector and donors in order to scale up investment for ISID in developing countries.

A key focus of the proceedings was on UNIDO’S partnership-based pilot approach to ISID. The Forum showcased UNIDO’s ISID Programme for Country Partnerships (PCP) through two pilot countries – Ethiopia and Senegal.

Participants then considered the way forward for ISID, focusing on confidence and trust building in public-private partnerships (PPPs) for ISID, and on benefits of partnerships in terms of reaching economies of scale.

During the Forum, Li Yong, Director-General, UNIDO, noted several new requests to join the pilot programme, and said implementing ISID PCPs will be a challenge. He also called for moving “from multi-stakeholder attendance to multi-stakeholder partners” in promoting ISID, and noted that industrialization is not a one-country show, and mobilization of partners and their resources helps accelerate recipient countries’ industrial development.

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, identified four areas for common action on ISID: economic transition through job creation and greater social inclusion; jobs for young people; climate change, highlighting green technologies to achieve economic growth; and responsible business practices, including companies’ engagement through the UN Global Compact initiative. [IISD RS Meeting Coverage][ISID Forum 2 webpage]