A Roadmap for Transformation
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has set out a four-step framework to help African countries move from raw extraction to real industrial transformation. The first step calls for a clear national vision: governments must define their role in the global critical-minerals value chain and establish policies that link mining to domestic manufacturing and clean-energy goals. Without such a roadmap, mineral-rich nations risk remaining suppliers of raw materials while others capture the technological and industrial gains.
Building Capacity Beyond the Mine
IISD’s second and third recommendations focus on strengthening infrastructure and financial incentives for value addition. Reliable electricity, efficient transport corridors, and transparent regulatory systems are essential to attract investment in refining and processing. At the same time, fiscal and trade instruments—such as royalty structures that reward downstream activities—can shift incentives from export of unprocessed ores to local transformation. These measures, coupled with workforce training and access to finance, would allow African economies to retain a greater share of the mineral value they generate.
Regional Integration as the Catalyst
The final step emphasizes that no single country can build a complete value chain alone. Regional industrial corridors, shared infrastructure, and harmonized investment policies are needed to achieve scale and competitiveness. By cooperating rather than competing, African nations can position themselves as an integrated supplier of critical-mineral products for the global energy transition. The IISD framework captures a strategic truth: the continent’s mineral wealth will only translate into prosperity if countries collaborate, industrialize, and move up the value chain together.