Sustainable development and Africa’s critical minerals: A multi-framework approach

Abstract

The global demand for critical minerals presents Africa with a strategic opportunity for structural economic transformation. Yet this potential is undermined by deep social and ecological externalities that mirror historical patterns of extraction. This study examines the disconnect between continental governance frameworks and the lived realities of resource extraction, investigating how “top-down” industrial policies often marginalize local communities and the artisanal sector. Employing a multi-method qualitative approach, the research integrates a comparative analysis of mining impacts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and Zambia with primary stakeholder interviews along the cobalt value chain. The findings reveal systemic governance failures that perpetuate exclusion, environmental degradation, and limited value addition. In response, the study proposes a Six-Pillar Governance Framework encompassing economic diversification, environmental stewardship, inclusive development, international reciprocity, just energy transitions, and peacebuilding. Unlike other policy models, this framework is empirically derived from documented implementation gaps in African mining contexts. By aligning localized priorities with international standards such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Mining Vision (AMV), the study argues that a truly just transition requires governance systems that are inclusive, participatory, and grounded in the lived experience of extraction.