African Union Commission and UNIDO Champion Africa’s Quality Infrastructure Agenda at African Union High-Level Meetings
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 12 December 2025 - In a decisive move to accelerate Africa’s industrial transformation, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the African Union Commission (AUC) reaffirmed their commitment in shaping the continent’s Quality Infrastructure (QI) agenda during two high-level African Union Commission (AUC) meetings in Addis Ababa. These strategic gatherings—the 5th Africa Quality Policy Council (AQPC) Meeting and the inaugural Quality Infrastructure Development Partners Meeting—marked an important juncture for Africa’s trade competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Africa Quality Policy (AQP), endorsed by the African Union Member States in February 2022, aims to establish a robust continental QI system to enhance the quality of African goods and services, boost intra-African trade, and advance Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. As a global leader in industrial development, UNIDO brings decades of expertise in Quality Infrastructure, supporting regions and countries to establish robust systems that underpin competitiveness, consumer protection, and sustainable development.
Through its collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), Pan African Quality Infrastructure Institutions (PAQI), African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Regional Economic Communities, private sector, donors and other development stakeholders, UNIDO is helping to create an enabling environment for African industries to thrive in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.
“Agenda 2063’s flagship projects can only succeed if Quality Infrastructure plays a central role,” emphasized Ron Osman, Director for Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship and Tourism at the AUC, speaking on behalf of Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, AUC Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM).
Henry Rotich, PAQI Chair remarked “Quality Infrastructure is a key element to the foundation for Africa’s industrial growth and competitiveness. By strengthening metrology, standardization, conformity assessment and accreditation systems, we enable African businesses to meet global standards, boost intra-African trade, and realize the vision of the AfCFTA. Our collective commitment to QI is not just technical—it is a strategic investment in Africa’s prosperity.”
UNIDO experts Aka Kouassi and Catherine Mwangi presented UNIDO’s ongoing technical assistance continental programmes supporting African regions and countries in QI development, including the EUR 7 million ACP Quality Infrastructure Programme as well as new initiatives such as the EUR 200 million European Union funded Pan-African Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme jointly implemented with ITC. This Programme has an important output supporting QI development where UNIDO is implementing QI technical activities under the ATCMA Continental, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Components. These programmes are designed to unlock market access, strengthen industrial capacity, and empower women and youth-led businesses.
During the QI Development Partners Meeting, UNIDO welcomed the proposal to establish a systematic coordination mechanism including all partners interventions in support of the Africa Quality Policy Action Plan (AQPAP). UNIDO is ready to Chair the Coordination Taskforce under the guidance of AUC and PAQI.
By driving coherence and harmonization in QI systems, UNIDO is contributing towards positioning Africa to compete globally, safeguard consumers, and fast-track sustainable economic growth.
For more information, please contact Alejandro Rivera-Rojas , A.RIVERA-ROJAS [at] unido.org
