BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a8cecb37f3e3 DTSTART:20250327T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20250327T093000Z LOCATION:Addis Ababa and Geneva\, SUMMARY:Webinar on unlocking value: Opportunities and challenges in Africa& #039\;s critical energy transition minerals sector CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:As climate change accelerates\, the global demand for low-carbo n technologies and the critical minerals required to produce them will sur ge. This presents a unique opportunity for developing countries rich in th ese critical minerals to capitalize on the transition to a low-carbon and digital economy. Africa holds over a fifth of the world’s reserves of es sential minerals used in electric vehicles\, solar panels\, and batteries. Despite this vast potential\, the continent currently captures only 40 pe r cent of the revenue it could from these resources.The critical minerals sector offers significant opportunities to capture local value. However\, these opportunities are often inaccessible or inadequately tailored to mee t the needs of local businesses\, workers\, Indigenous Peoples\, and local communities in developing countries. Additionally\, the lack of responsib le investment and fair trade prevents the sustainable and inclusive develo pment of the sector. There is a $225 billion investment shortfall in criti cal mineral mining projects in the Global South\, particularly pronounced in downstream activities where high infrastructure costs impede value addi tion.Most value-added activities in value chains are still concentrated ou tside the Global South\, leaving many African countries reliant on raw com modity exports. Over the past 15 years\, the number of commodity-dependent countries has increased by 15\, underlining the challenge of relying on m ineral exports without adding value locally. To harness the full potential of critical minerals\, developing countries must focus on moving up globa l value chains\, adding value to their resources\, and diversifying their economies to foster sustainable development. Commodity-dependent developin g countries should identify sector-specific diversification opportunities and develop complementary policy instruments to support those identified s ectors\, enabling them to fully leverage the potential of critical mineral s.Navigating the complexities of critical mineral supply chains requires g overnments to balance competing priorities such as trade\, climate action\ , sustainable development\, and energy security. As demand for these miner als continues to rise\, there is a significant opportunity for resource-ri ch nations to stimulate economic growth\, reduce poverty and inequality\, and foster sustainable development. However\, realizing these opportunitie s requires strategic and coordinated policies\, as well as international c ollaboration\, to ensure benefits are maximized while mitigating risks lik e environmental degradation and social inequality.ObjectiveThe webinar aim ed to help developing countries\, particularly in Africa\, assess their st rategic positioning in critical energy transition mineral value chains. It identified opportunities for value addition and economic diversification and propose targeted policy instruments in areas such as trade\, investmen t\, industry\, logistics\, technology\, and innovation. It also addressed critical challenges\, including financing\, investment\, and capacity-buil ding\, with a focus on enabling countries to capture more value from the g lobal demand for CETMs. The goal is to help African countries move up valu e chains\, add value to their resources\, and foster sustainable economic development.PanellistsMs Diane Sayinzoga\, Chief\, Regional Office for Afr ica\, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)Ms. Luz Ma de la Mora\, Director\, Division on International Trade and Commodities (DITC)\, UNCTADMr. Clovis Freire\, Chief a.i.\, Commodities Branch\, DITC\, UNCTADMr. Fred Kabanda\, Manager\, Extractives Division\, African Natural Resources Management and Investment Centre\, African Development Bank (AfDB)Mr. Oliver Maponga\, E conomic Affairs Officer\, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (U NECA)Ms. Anabel Marin\, Research Fellow\, Institute of Development Studies (IDS)Mr. Maurice Miema\, Director\, Ministry of Mining\, Democratic Repub lic of the CongoMr. Rolf Traeger\, Chief\, Least Developed Countries Secti on\, Division for Africa\, Least Developed Countries and Special Programme s\, UNCTADModerator: Mr. Rachid Amui\, Economic Affairs Officer\, Commodit ies Branch\, DITC\, UNCTADParticipantsKey stakeholders with an interest in critical minerals and the energy transition in Africa. Target participant s include Policymakers\, Representatives of international organizations an d development partners\, Government officials (Ministry of Mines\, Policym akers and regulatory bodies)\, Industry leaders\, academic and research in stitutions\, and Civil society organizations.Logistics\, language and regi strationThe event was held virtually\, enabling broad participation from a cross the continent and beyond\, in English without interpretation. <\; p>\;As climate change accelerates\, the global demand for low-carbon tec hnologies and the critical minerals required to produce them will surge. T his presents a unique opportunity for developing countries rich in these c ritical minerals to capitalize on the transition to a low-carbon and digit al economy. Africa holds over a fifth of the world’s reserves of essenti al minerals used in electric vehicles\, solar panels\, and batteries. Desp ite this vast potential\, the continent currently captures only 40 per cen t of the revenue it could from these resources.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The critical minerals sector offers significant opportunities to capture local value. However\, these opportunities are often inaccessible or inadequate ly tailored to meet the needs of local businesses\, workers\, Indigenous P eoples\, and local communities in developing countries. Additionally\, the lack of responsible investment and fair trade prevents the sustainable an d inclusive development of the sector. There is a $225 billion investment shortfall in critical mineral mining projects in the Global South\, partic ularly pronounced in downstream activities where high infrastructure costs impede value addition.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Most value-added activities in value chains are still concentrated outside the Global South\, leaving many African countries reliant on raw commodity exports. Over the past 15 years\, the number of commodity-dependent countries has increased by 15\, underlining the challenge of relying on mineral exports without adding val ue locally. To harness the full potential of critical minerals\, developin g countries must focus on moving up global value chains\, adding value to their resources\, and diversifying their economies to foster sustainable d evelopment. Commodity-dependent developing countries should identify secto r-specific diversification opportunities and develop complementary policy instruments to support those identified sectors\, enabling them to fully l everage the potential of critical minerals.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Navigati ng the complexities of critical mineral supply chains requires governments to balance competing priorities such as trade\, climate action\, sustaina ble development\, and energy security. As demand for these minerals contin ues to rise\, there is a significant opportunity for resource-rich nations to stimulate economic growth\, reduce poverty and inequality\, and foster sustainable development. However\, realizing these opportunities requires strategic and coordinated policies\, as well as international collaborati on\, to ensure benefits are maximized while mitigating risks like environm ental degradation and social inequality.<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Objective& lt\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;The webinar aimed to help developing countries\, pa rticularly in Africa\, assess their strategic positioning in critical ener gy transition mineral value chains. It identified opportunities for value addition and economic diversification and propose targeted policy instrume nts in areas such as trade\, investment\, industry\, logistics\, technolog y\, and innovation. It also addressed critical challenges\, including fina ncing\, investment\, and capacity-building\, with a focus on enabling coun tries to capture more value from the global demand for CETMs. The goal is to help African countries move up value chains\, add value to their resour ces\, and foster sustainable economic development.<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\; Panellists<\;/h4>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li>\;Ms Diane Sayinzoga\, Chief\ , Regional Office for Africa\, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)<\;/li&g t\;<\;li>\;Ms. Luz Ma de la Mora\, Director\, Division on Internationa l Trade and Commodities (DITC)\, UNCTAD<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Mr. Clovis Freire\, Chief a.i.\, Commodities Branch\, DITC\, UNCTAD<\;/li>\;<\ ;li>\;Mr. Fred Kabanda\, Manager\, Extractives Division\, African Natura l Resources Management and Investment Centre\, African Development Bank (A fDB)<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Mr. Oliver Maponga\, Economic Affairs Officer \, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)<\;/li>\;<\; li>\;Ms. Anabel Marin\, Research Fellow\, Institute of Development Studi es (IDS)<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Mr. Maurice Miema\, Director\, Ministry o f Mining\, Democratic Republic of the Congo<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Mr. Ro lf Traeger\, Chief\, Least Developed Countries Section\, Division for Afri ca\, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes\, UNCTAD<\;/li>\ ;<\;li>\;Moderator: Mr. Rachid Amui\, Economic Affairs Officer\, Commo dities Branch\, DITC\, UNCTAD<\;/li>\;<\;/ul>\;<\;h4>\;Partici pants<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;Key stakeholders with an interest in critical minerals and the energy transition in Africa. Target participants include Policymakers\, Representatives of international organizations and develop ment partners\, Government officials (Ministry of Mines\, Policymakers and regulatory bodies)\, Industry leaders\, academic and research institution s\, and Civil society organizations.<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Logistics\, la nguage and registration<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;The event was held virtuall y\, enabling broad participation from across the continent and beyond\, in English without interpretation.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;\n\nView meeting o n unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/webinar-unlocking-value-opportuni ties-and-challenges-africas-critical-energy-transition DTSTAMP:20260825T011531Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR