Scaling Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Industrial Development: A2D Facility Annual Event 2026

Apply here!

Participation

Nationals from developing countries (defined as countries that are eligible to receive Official Development Assistance (ODA)) who currently work in a developing country may be eligible to receive funding to attend this event. Please note that this is a competitive process, and funded participants will be selected by UNIDO based on alignment with the selection criteria: potential impact of participation and contributions to developing, implementing, financing or scaling demonstration projects in developing countries.

The Event

Building on the success of the A2D Facility Annual Event that took place in Kenya in May 2025, the event offers a global platform that brings together key stakeholders, such as project developers, financiers, industry associations, government officials and other key stakeholders to accelerate the development and implementation of demonstration projects in developing countries. Guided by the principle of “progress by innovation”, the event aims at facilitating match-making for developing and accelerating scalable projects, sharing approaches and case studies of successful projects, advancing collaboration, partnership-building and knowledge exchange, and facilitating site visits to see the positive impacts of demonstration projects in action.

The 2026 event will focus on building and strengthening an internationally recognized community of stakeholders engaged in implementing, financing, operating and scaling demonstration projects in developing countries. By convening partners across sectors and countries, the event contributes to UNIDO’s role in facilitating knowledge and technology transfer, fostering partnerships and promoting and mobilizing investments in developing countries. The event will also highlight opportunities for collaboration with UNIDO.

Draft Agenda

The Annual Event is a 3-day-event with a variety of formats to maximize match-making and knowledge-sharing, such as plenary sessions, interactive workshops, evening receptions and activities, site visits to demonstration projects and numerous opportunities for networking.

Day 1 – Monday, 13 April

• Arrival and registration (afternoon)
• Welcome reception and networking

Day 2 – Tuesday, 14 April

• Opening Plenary
• Impacts Session 1: Monitoring and Reporting – Data for Scalability
• Finance Session 1: Aligning Finance for Demonstration and Scalability of Innovative Climate Solutions in Developing Countries
• Thematic Session 1 Part A: Scaling Smart Energy Ecosystems: Innovation, Value Chains and Investment Pathways
• Thematic Session 1 Part B: Scaling Smart Energy Ecosystems: Innovation, Value Chains and Investment Pathways (workshop)
• Thematic Session 2 Part A: Evolution of Clean Hydrogen Innovation Landscape since 2024 - Evidence based presentations: Multistakeholder Panel Discussion on Risk Management and Project Implementation
• Thematic Session 2 Part B: Regional Barrier-Solution Mapping: The Hydrogen Pro-Forma (workshop)
• Impacts Session 2 Part A: Safeguards in Action: Driving Impact and Funding for Scalable Demonstration Projects 
• Impacts Session 2 Part B: From Risk to Resilience: Leveraging Data & GIS to Mitigate Environmental & Social Risks in Demonstration Projects
• Evening Reception

Day 3 – Wednesday, 15 April

• Thematic Session 3 Part A: Leveraging Critical Minerals for Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals 
• Thematic Session 3 Part B: Theory of Change – Leveraging Critical Minerals for Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (workshop)
• Thematic Session 4 Part A: Industrial Decarbonization in Action: Circular Economy, Industrial Clusters and New Business Models for Green Industrial Transition
• Thematic Session 4 Part B: Industrial Decarbonization in Action: Circular Economy, Industrial Clusters and New Business Models for Green Industrial Transition (workshop)
• Impacts Session 3: Investing in Equality: Bridging the Financing Gap for Women-Led and Inclusive Demonstration Projects
• Impact Session 4: Impactful Storytelling – Translating Data into Human Impact 
• Finance Session 2
• Closing Plenary
• Evening Activity (dinner and live music)

Day 4 – Thursday, 16 April

o    Site visits (all day)

The following guiding questions will steer the event’s discussions and workshops:

• Which innovative financing instruments can be deployed to advance demonstration projects in developing countries? How have existing demonstration projects ensured longer-term commercial viability?
• How can the implementation and scaling of demonstration projects in developing countries be accelerated? What is needed to facilitate scalability and replication?
• How are the main challenges being overcome in areas such as critical minerals, clean hydrogen, smart energy and industrial decarbonization projects?
• What distinguishes a “lighthouse” demonstration project from a standard demonstration project and how can the on-the-ground impacts of projects be communicated in a compelling and engaging way?
• How can gender equality, social inclusion and safeguards be embedded in the implementation and operation of demonstration projects in developing countries? How can community engagement in the design and implementation of demonstration projects be facilitated?
• What is the role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), UN agencies and international organizations in facilitating the implementation of demonstration projects in developing countries?

Language

The working language of the A2D Facility Annual Event 2026 will be English. Attendees are expected to have a proficiency level of at least C1 or equivalent. Please note that interpretation and translation services will not be provided.

Apply now: here