Over 400 participants convened at the ISID Forum, co-organized with the governments of Ethiopia and Senegal, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The Forum attracted one of the most impressive lists of high-level speakers and panelists in the history of the organization. Held at the historic Africa Hall, it was the most attended side event of the FfD3 conference and received the most coverage from local media, out of 180 side events.

UNIDO’s partnership approach and its role in promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development were recognized in the outcome document of the FfD3. The Addis Ababa action agenda welcomed "relevant cooperation within the United Nations system, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), to advance the linkages between infrastructure development, inclusive and sustainable industrialization and innovation."