Ensuring fair and just participation of land- connected communities in critical minerals governance in Africa

Abstract Africa holds significant proportions of deposits and reserves of critical minerals- such as lithium, bauxite, cobalt, manganese and chromium- required for the global energy transition. These minerals are essential in the production of low-carbon technologies and energy sources (such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, and electric vehicles). Mapping of the distribution of critical minerals on the continent indicates that most of the critical mineral deposits intersect with territories and estates of land connected peoples’- including Indigenous people, peasants, hunter-gatherers and pastoralists. These land connected people are found in different ecosystem settings across the continent and their livelihoods and cultural practices depend heavily on the local landscapes and natural resources. Critical minerals extraction is characterized by social and environmental risks and impacts that can have a bearing on land connected communities located on, or near, resource frontiers. This perspective has three broad objectives: (a) showing the intersections of critical minerals with land connected peoples’ lands; (b) discuss the potential socio-ecological impacts that land connected communities and their environments can experience; (c) propose different ways through which land connected people can be involved fairly in critical minerals supply chains. In achieving the third objective, the perspective assesses the Africa’s Green Minerals Strategy identifying its strengths and weaknesses when it comes to ensuring fair and just participation of land connected communities in critical minerals governance across the continent. From this assessment, the perspective provides policy recommendations and sketch some directions for future research.