OACPS Urges Action to Unlock Africa’s Mineral Wealth at 3rd African Mining Forum

Anthony Brand, MSME Expert at the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), delivered a call to action at the opening of the 3rd African Mining Forum in Addis Ababa on behalf of H.E. Moussa S. Batraki, Secretary-General of the OACPS.

Addressing leaders from the African Union (AU), the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), commercial and artisanal mining industry experts and representatives from government, academia and civil society, the OACPS emphasized the critical importance of leveraging Africa’s mineral resources for sustainable development.

Hosted by the AU and AMDC with support from the EU and the Open Society Foundation, this year’s forum centered on critical discussion of the challenges and opportunities for the African Mining Vision (AMV) after 16 years of existence. The event, which was held from March 19 and 21,served as a vital platform for policy dialogue and partnership formation.

Anthony Brand articulated OACPS’s vision for the mining sector. In representing the organization which was established in 1975 under the Georgetown Agreement, with 79 Member States spanning Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, he underscored its steadfast dedication to development. He outlined the OACPS’ journey through the key OACPS – EU development partnership agreements – from Lomé and Cotonou to the Samoa Agreement signed in November 2023—all designed to transform Africa’s mineral resources into engines of advancement.

A key focus of his address was the OACPS Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Action Plan for 2025, developed from the OACPS CRM Position Paper which was presented at the May 2024 Ministerial Mining Meeting in Cameroon and endorsed by the OACPS Council of Ministers in July.
The action plan consists of several activities under four main pillars. Some of these activities include: creating an OACPS CRM Knowledge Hub to enchance institutional knowledge and frameworks, developing tools to support the strategic geo-positioning of OACPS Member States such as a Memorandum of Understanding template to facilitate trade negotiations, establishing trade and development policies that will leverage established partnerships with the European Investment Bank, African Development Bank, and other institutions to support CRM value chains. The plan also addresses sustainability issues through collaboration with development partners to strengthen environmental, social and governance capabilities.

Anthony Brand also highlighted the February 2025 launch of the ACP-EU Technical Assistance Facility on CRM, supported by €10 million in EU funding and implemented by the European Investment Bank. This initiative aims to strengthen investment, governance, and project development across OACPS member states.

Collaboration emerged as a central theme. Brand reiterated OACPS’s commitment to working with the AU to foster a mining sector aligned with the Africa Mining Vision. He referenced the third phase of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, which supports artisanal miners—particularly women and youth—through skill development and improved practices, complementing the OACPS Revised Private Sector Development Strategy to strengthen investor relationships.

In his conclusion, Anthony Brand issued a call for practical solutions, stating, “OACPS stands ready to work with stakeholders to transform Africa’s mineral wealth into prosperity.” He noted that the forum’s discussions would shape policies and partnerships essential to the sector’s development.

The event gathered prominent participants, including Mrs. Ron Osman from the African Union Commission, Mr. Gianluca Azzoni from the EU Delegation to the AU, Mr. Matthias Naab from the UNDP Regional Service Center, and Dr. Marit Kitaw, Interim Director of the AMDC, underscoring its significance to regional development.