THE 3RD AFRICAN FORUM ON MINING

Under the theme

“The Africa Mining Vision at 16:  Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities”

Dates: 19^th -21^st of March 2025
Venue: Medium Conference Hall, African Union’s Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

1. ABOUT THE AFRICAN FORUM ON MINING (AFM)

The African Forum on Mining (AFM) is a bi- annual event, organized by the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), a specialized agency of the African Union (AU). Established to implement the Africa Mining Vision (AMV) adopted in 2009, the AMDC aims to ensure that Africa's mineral resources contribute to sustainable development and inclusive growth across the continent.

The inaugural African Forum on Mining took place  in 2019, under the theme "Africa Mining Vision at 10: Looking Back, Moving Forward," Marking the 10th anniversary of the Africa Mining Vision (AMV). Building on the success of the first forum, the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) launched Phase II of its program in 2022 and hosted the second African Forum on Mining. This forum continued the dialogue on AMV implementation, focusing on aligning mining practices with sustainable development goals and optimizing the benefits of Africa's mineral wealth for its people.

The 3rd African Forum on Mining will take place from March 19 to 21, 2025, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “The Africa Mining Vision at 16: Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunities.”

2. WHY THE FORUM MATTERS

Africa’s mineral wealth—home to 30% of global reserves, including platinum, cobalt, and lithium—remains a cornerstone of economic growth, industrialization, and green energy transitions. Yet, persistent challenges like inequitable benefit-sharing, environmental degradation, and youth underrepresentation demand urgent collaboration.

The AFM provides a strategic space to:

• Catalyze Dialogue: Address systemic barriers and opportunities in mining governance, value addition, and sustainability.
• Drive Innovation: Spotlight cutting-edge solutions for artisanal mining formalization, decarbonization, and digital transformation.
• Strengthen Partnerships: Align regional and global stakeholders with Africa’s priorities under the AfCFTA and Agenda 2063.
• Empower Communities: Amplify voices of women, youth, and marginalized groups in resource-driven development.

1. SCOPE OF THE 2025 FORUM

While celebrating the AMV’s role in reshaping Africa’s mining narrative, the 2025 AFM expands its focus to:

• Green Minerals: Leveraging Africa’s critical minerals for global energy transitions and local industrialization.
• Climate Resilience: Integrating mining into climate adaptation and low-carbon development strategies.
• Technological Leapfrogging: Harnessing AI, blockchain, and renewable energy to modernize the sector.
• Regional Integration: Boosting intra-African trade and value chains under the AfCFTA.

7. Expected Outcomes

• Policy Recommendations: Actionable strategies for AMV domestication.
• Partnership Frameworks: Commitments to boost intra-African mineral trade and value chains.
• Youth & Gender Pledges: Initiatives to empower women and youth in mining.
• Climate Action Roadmap: Guidelines for decarbonizing Africa’s mining sector.

3. REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

• AMV – Africa Mining Vision
• African Minerals and Energy  Resources Classification and Management System (AMREC)
• The Pan African Public Reporting Standard for Minerals and Energy Resources (PARC)
• African Union Commodity strategy 
• African Green Minerals Observatory
• African Green Minerals Strategy 
• Agenda 2063: The Africa we want (Popular version)
• African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement
• Action Plan for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA)
• The Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community, the Abuja Treaty

4. CONTACT INFORMATION
5. Dr. Marit Kitaw, Interim Director | African Minerals Development Centre | Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals | African Union Commission, at E-Mail: maritk@africa-union.org  and
2. Mkhululi Nkosilamandla Ncube | Programmes Officer| African Minerals Development Centre | Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals | African Union Commission, at E-mail; Mkhululin@africa-union.org