Africa's mineral sector requires urgent, homegrown skills development

Abstract

As Africa’s minerals sector continues to grow in leaps and bounds, there is a dire need to match this growth with essential skills that meet the demands of the industry, according to Treasure Maphanga, Director of Trade and Industry at the African Union Commission. The Roundtable underscored that the sustainable management of Africa’s abundant natural resources provides African countries the opportunity to drive transformative development. However, as the Africa Mining Vision (AMV) notes, institutions supporting mineral development in Africa are generally weak and are often not suited to meeting the AMV’s objectives of broad-based, sustainable and equitable development. These gaps are found in government departments as well as in the trades needed to sustainably grow the minerals and related sectors. The African Minerals Development Centre’s interim coordinator, Mr. Wilfred Lombe stressed the need for an ongoing dialogue that takes stock of the implementation of the Africa Mining Vision. He also noted the need to improve coordination of skills development through establishing a virtual network for the exchange of experiences and collective learning. This, said, Lombe, could help in keeping the dialogue alive.