From Extraction to Transformation: Why Africa Needs Research to Power Its Mineral Policies

For decades, Africa has been known as a global supplier of raw minerals—from cobalt and copper to gold, graphite, lithium, and coltan. Yet, in this same period, the continent has seen limited socioeconomic transformation from its vast mineral wealth. The prevailing model of “dig and export” has enabled foreign economies to industrialize while leaving African states locked in low-value chains, vulnerable to price volatility, and heavily reliant on external markets.

Today, this dynamic is being challenged. A growing number of African governments are reclaiming policy space, renegotiating mining contracts, and asserting greater sovereignty over their mineral resources. But sovereignty alone isn’t enough. What’s urgently needed is research-powered mineral policy—one that transitions Africa from extractive dependence to transformative development.

At Inscend Consulting Limited, we argue that data, research, and evidence-based policy design are the foundational tools to achieve this shift. This article explores why, how, and where African countries can leverage research to fuel a just, inclusive, and strategic mineral future.

1. The High Stakes of Africa’s Mineral Economy

Africa holds over 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, including a significant share of the world’s cobalt, manganese, platinum, lithium, and rare earths—critical for the clean energy transition and global tech revolution.

Yet:

• Over 90% of minerals are exported raw without local processing

• The value-added share of Africa’s mining sector remains low

• Most mining communities experience limited benefit and severe environmental degradation

• Global players now compete fiercely for African resources, creating geopolitical vulnerabilities

2. The Shift: From Resource Extraction to Resource Transformation

Several African countries have begun charting a new path. For instance:

• Zimbabwe banned raw lithium exports in 2022

• DR Congo renegotiated its cobalt contracts with China in 2023

• South Africa and Namibia launched national green hydrogen and battery storage strategies

• Botswana continues to benefit from its model of diamond beneficiation and public revenue sharing

These steps reflect growing momentum toward value addition, strategic sovereignty, and industrialization.

But meaningful transformation requires more than political will—it requires rigorous, locally grounded research to guide:

• Resource governance

• Investment strategies

• Industrial policy

• Environmental regulation

• Skills development

3. The Role of Research: Why Evidence Must Drive Mineral Policy

A. Mapping the Opportunity

Research enables countries to identify high-potential mineral value chains (e.g., lithium-ion batteries, EV manufacturing) based on global demand forecasts and local comparative advantage.

B. Diagnosing Barriers

Data can uncover critical blockages:

• Lack of infrastructure (roads, power, water)

• Policy incoherence or regulatory gaps

• Investor distrust due to contract opacity

• Weak research-to-policy pipelines

C. Designing Better Policies

Sound research supports:

• Transparent mining codes

• Tax frameworks that incentivize local processing

• Environmental safeguards

• Skills development programs tailored to future value chains

D. Ensuring Equity & Inclusion

Research is crucial to capture community voices, assess social and gender impacts, and ensure distributional equity in mineral development.

4. Case in Point: Africa’s Green Minerals and the Clean Energy Race

The global transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs) has sparked a “critical minerals rush.” Demand for African lithium, cobalt, and graphite is skyrocketing.

But without data-driven policies, Africa risks:

• Becoming just a supplier of raw materials again

• Suffering new forms of resource dependency

• Facing environmental degradation and community displacement

Instead, African governments must invest in upstream research to:

• Understand environmental impacts

• Develop local processing capacity

• Build industrial strategies aligned with global trends

• Establish traceability systems and ethical sourcing frameworks

5. What’s Missing: The Mineral Research Gap

Despite Africa’s mineral wealth, there is a severe shortage of:

• Geo-scientific research institutions

• Publicly accessible mineral cadastres

• Local value chain research hubs

• Economists and policy specialists trained in mineral governance

• Collaboration between universities, ministries, and consulting firms

🔍 A 2023 Brookings report found that less than 15% of African countries conduct regular data audits of their mineral reserves and less than 10% include beneficiation planning in mining contracts.

6. Inscend’s Role: Building Evidence for Smart Mineral Policy

At Inscend Consulting Limited, we support mineral-rich countries to move from ambition to action by:

▪ Mineral Governance Research

• Auditing regulatory frameworks

• Reviewing tax and fiscal regimes

• Mapping investment risks and opportunities

▪ Data & Visualization

• Building interactive Power BI dashboards for mineral production and export data

• Integrating GIS mapping to locate hotspots for environmental risks or infrastructure needs

▪ Value Chain Assessments

• Conducting cost-benefit analysis for local processing options

• Identifying gaps in skills, logistics, and technology

▪ Strategic Communication

• Designing C4D campaigns to engage civil society, investors, and communities

• Translating complex data into policy briefs and public information kits

7. Pathways Forward: Research-Driven Policy in Action

✅ What Governments Can Do

Action	Outcome
Create national mineral research institutes	Builds local knowledge base
Invest in digital cadastres	Increases transparency for investors
Mandate research in mining licenses	Links revenue to insight
Partner with local consultants and universities	Ensures relevance and capacity

✅ What Donors Can Do

• Fund public-interest research grants

• Support open-access mineral databases

• Require beneficiation planning in funded projects

✅ What Private Sector Can Do

• Share exploration and ESG data

• Co-fund applied R&D projects in processing or remediation

• Engage in local supplier development based on research needs

Africa Must Own the Future of Its Minerals

Africa’s minerals are not a curse—they’re a strategic gift. But how they are used will determine the continent’s trajectory.

From extraction to transformation is not a slogan—it’s a research agenda.

At Inscend Consulting Limited, we believe that smart mineral policy must begin with evidence: local, transparent, and actionable.

Let’s help Africa not just export minerals, but export knowledge, value, and power.

✅ Want to design research-powered policies in extractives?

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