Industrial policy is once again central to global debates on economic growth and development. Governments worldwide are deploying new strategies to stay competitive amid geopolitical shifts, climate imperatives and rapid technological change. South Africa is no exception.

The International Economic Partnership (IEP) Programme invites you to a four-part webinar series on industrial policy. The fourth and final session, The Role of Development Finance in Industrial Policy, explores how development finance can catalyse investment, innovation, and inclusive economic growth, while aligning with broader macroeconomic and sustainability goals.

The discussion critically examines the effectiveness of South Africa’s development finance architecture in supporting industrial policy objectives, while also identifying forward-looking reforms, informed by international experiences and comparative best practices.

This webinar brings together policymakers, researchers, and private sector representatives to:

• assess the effectiveness of South Africa’s industrial policy using local and global insights.
• foster evidence-based dialogue among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.
• identify opportunities to refine policy and strengthen implementation capacity.
• support structural reform, inclusive growth, and macroeconomic coordination.
• promote equitable participation, especially by women, in industrial development.

Key questions:

1. How effectively has South Africa’s development finance system advanced industrial policy and inclusive growth?
2. What aspects of design and coordination are working well, and what needs improvement?
3. What international lessons can strengthen coherence and alignment across institutions?
4. Which key reforms should be prioritised to accelerate industrialisation and sustainable growth?

The webinar includes a Keynote Presentation by Antonio Andreoni (SOAS University of London) on research conducted with his co-author Dr Adria Rius, and is followed by a panel discussion between Michael Jacobs, Pamela Mondliwa, Annie Sugrue and Diana Smallridge. This is followed by Q&A from the audience.

Antonio Andreoni is Professor of Development Economics at the Department of Economics of SOAS University of London and Co-Director of the Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation (CSST). He is also Distinguished Visiting Professor at the South African Research Chair in Industrial Development at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His research has given particular emphasis to the role of the state, including regional governments, with a focus on industrial policy design and implementation.

Adria Rius is a PhD candidate at the SOAS Department of Economics, working under the supervision of Prof. Antonio Andreoni. His research focuses on the formation and evolution of place-based industrial ecosystems in the context of the green transition. He holds an MSc in Development Economics from SOAS and a BSc in Economics from the University of Barcelona. As part of his BSc, he also studied at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Michael Jacobs is Professor of Political Economy at the University of Sheffield. An environmental and macro-economist, his research and writing focus principally on post-financial crisis economic theory and policy, and on climate change and environmental politics. He works with governments and civil society organisations in both the global North and South to advance reforms aimed at increasing the quantity and quality of finance for sustainable development.

Pamela Mondliwa is the Head of Research and Information at the Industrial Development Corporation. Pamela is an experienced economist and has worked across consulting, academia, and various policy areas. Pamela’s combined experience in industrial development (research, policy design and implementation) and economic regulation (public and private clients) has afforded her a unique lens on firm level decision making and its interaction with policy interventions from the perspective of firms, regulators and policy makers. Her experience spans multiple industries and sectors and cuts across a range of countries.

Annie Sugrue is a Director at EcoSasa Developments. Annie is an established leader and innovator across the development sector in sustainable development, green economy, climate change, small business development, women economic empowerment and financial inclusion across a range of sectors. I can combine macro, scientific, business and social approaches in complex programs and projects with an understanding of, and commitment to, real life challenges and offerings across different stakeholder sectors. 

Diana Smallridge is the President of Momentus Global, an expert advisory consulting firm she founded in 2000. Her primary focal areas are institutional strategy, strategic reviews and evaluation, and governance in the development finance space. Having worked in some 80 countries, she has deep expertise in all forms of financing flows and instruments and has advised on complex issues related to development finance, trade finance, sustainable finance, blended finance, and the establishment and enhancement of public development banks across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. Diana has won recognition as a pioneering thinker and advisor on economic development and development finance issues and is a sought-after guest speaker, facilitator, and chair in workshops and conferences around the world. She is also a hands-on senior consultant and seasoned project leader.