No More Raw Exports - A progressive account of how Africa is Re-writing its Mining Story
A New Chapter For Africa Mining
On the 11th February, on the margins of the African Mining Indaba, attended by government representatives, investors, mining companies, and development partners from across the world, the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) took a major step towards transforming Africa’s extractive industries with the official launch of the Continental Extractive Industries Programme (CEIP).
The programme is designed to reduce risk, improve the way mining projects are managed, and attract more investment into Africa’s mining sector. It aims to help African countries and businesses use their mineral resources effectively, create more jobs, and compete from a stronger footing in global markets.
Speaking at the launch, Kossi Toulassi, Head of Industrialisation, Trade & Markets and Economic analysis at AUDA-NEPAD, delivered a clear message to stakeholders:
“𝘊𝘌𝘐𝘗 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢’𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮.”
He further emphasised the programme’s long-term vision, noting that with strong standards, reliable data, and blended finance, AUDA-NEPAD, jointly with partners, are building a mining sector that creates jobs, protects the environment, and attracts serious long-term investments.
Turning Risks into Opportunities
Africa is home to some of the world’s richest mineral resources, and the continent plays a critical role in global supply chains. Yet, for many years, African mining projects have struggled to attract financing due to weak systems, informal operations, and limited access to credible data.
CEIP is designed to change this reality!
By supporting mining enterprises to improve governance, strengthen environmental, social, and governance (ESG) safeguards, and generate reliable project information, the programme reduces uncertainty and increases transparency. This makes projects more predictable, more attractive, and easier to finance.
For investors, this translates into lower risk, greater assurance, and more sustainable long-term returns.
Partner Perspectives: Building Integrated Approaches
The launch also featured strong backing from CEIP’s strategic partners, including Change Lab, which is working closely with AUDA-NEPAD and the Agency’s other partners in executing this Programme.
Speaking at the event, Dean Bhebhe Bhekumuzi, Executive Director of Change Lab, highlighted the programme’s transformative ambition:
“𝘊𝘌𝘐𝘗 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥-𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢’𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥. 𝘉𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘴, 𝘊𝘌𝘐𝘗 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦.”
He further highlighted the importance of linking mining with clean energy and industrial development to ensure that Africa’s minerals are processed, beneficiated, and transformed on the continent using clean, reliable, and competitively priced energy.
This integrated approach strengthens Africa’s position in emerging green and industrial markets.
Building Strong Foundations for Growth
CEIP will work across the mining sector to strengthen institutions, build technical skills, formalise artisanal and small-scale miners, promote local processing, develop a pipeline of projects ready for investment, and support research, innovation, and new technologies.
These efforts help transform small and medium mining operators into competitive, professional, and globally compliant businesses.
The Finance Warehouse Facility: De-risking at Scale
At the centre of CEIP is the Finance Warehouse Facility, a dedicated blended finance mechanism designed to support mining enterprises and portfolio companies.
Through this facility, qualified projects can access flexible financial solutions including working capital, equipment and infrastructure financing, revolving credit, as well as equity and mezzanine funding, enabling them to grow operations, improve productivity, and meet international standards.
All supported projects must meet strict requirements on governance, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance, and performance. This disciplined approach protects investors while accelerating business growth and strengthening confidence in Africa’s mining sector.
Promoting Responsible and Clean Mining
CEIP also integrates renewable energy solutions into mining and industrial hubs. By improving power reliability and reducing carbon emissions, the programme supports cleaner, more efficient, and more competitive operations.
This strengthens Africa’s position in global markets where responsible sourcing and low-carbon production are becoming essential requirements.