The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa through the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning and the Urbanization Section at the Social Development Policy Division, are convening a High Level Policy Dialogue on “Urbanization and Industrialization for Africa’s Structural Transformation” in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 11-12 December, 2017. Despite undergoing reasonable economic growth in the past decade, Africa has to a large degree not seen its economic dividends translate into meaningful social and employment benefits. In this backdrop, industrial development has become a key priority for the continent, especially in light of rapid urbanization that is ongoing and which can be a key driver for both industrialization and employment rich economic and social development. This high level policy dialogue will review the key issues and approaches to harnessing urbanization as a driver of industrial development in Africa drawing upon lessons from within and outside the continent of countries that have been successful in linking urbanization to industrial development, and by extension structural transformation as well as inclusive development. The participants include national experts from various African countries and representatives of the UN system in Africa, including UN-Habitat and UNCTAD.