Critical Minerals Governance and Management Course

Africa is central to the global supply of critical minerals required for clean energy technologies, battery storage systems, digital infrastructure, and defence industries. Yet the governance of these minerals remains contested, with challenges including weak regulatory systems, corruption risks, environmental degradation, geopolitics and conflict-affected supply chains, illicit financial flows, and limited domestic value addition.

This course equips African leaders and practitioners with the strategic, governance, compliance, and development tools needed to manage critical minerals responsibly and ensure these resources support sustainable industrialization and inclusive development.

Participants further gain knowledge and understanding of the contemporary debates, the political economy, geopolitical risks and how to interact with different stakeholders, develop and manage the prerequisite regulatory landscape to drive investment into the sector in a just and sustainable development manner.

1.0 Course Curriculum & Flow at a Glance

Module

/ Topic

Core Focus

Output

1

Critical Minerals and Africa’s Strategic Opportunity.

What are Critical Minerals, Mapping of Critical Minerals and their strategic nexus in the energy transition and development.

Contextual Mapping and strategic opportunity positioning paper

2

Political Economy, Geopolitics and Security Aspects of Critical Minerals

Geopolitical interests and competition, resource nationalism vs global policy debates, Minerals for Security deals, role of critical minerals in driving insecurity, SGBV and regional conflicts, trade

Political economy and Security Reflection paper

3

African Governance Architecture & Policy Framework

Africa Mining Vision and green industrialization strategy, Regional Approaches and Standards, Governance Model, tools and Mineral strategy

Governance and Policy gap analysis paper

5

Legal, Fiscal Regulation and Licensing systems

Licensing regimes and contract governance, Mining fiscal instruments (royalties, windfall taxes state participation, production, processing export and local regulations

Legal regulatory gap analysis reflection paper

6

Revenue Management, illicit financial flows and Development

Revenue Sharing, Fiscal Policy, Sovereign Wealth Funds and Stabilisation Mechanisms, Local Content and Community Development Agreements, Tax Avoidance and Illicit flows

Fiscal and management gap reflection paper

7

Governance institutions and accountability

Transparency, Accountability and Anticorruption, Roles of regulatory agencies, citizen oversight and cso participation, Parliamentary oversight, EITI, Open Contracting, Beneficial Ownership etc

Hidden ownership in Mineral concession

8

Environmental, Social Governance and Climate Smart Mining

Environmental impacts, tailing dams, water, biodiversity, community rights, FPIC, Resettlement, Gender and social inclusion, climate smart mining, regulatory enforcement and Monitoring systems.

Environmental and HR Safeguard reflection paper

 

 

 

 

9

ASM Governance and Livelihood Fomalisation,

ASM’s role, formalization strategies and social protection, child labour, safety and traceability

ASM Dev’t & reflection paper

8

Critical Minerals Value Addition & Regional Cooperation

Mineral smelting, Lithium batteries value chains, two and three wheelers, Regional Value Chains and AfcTA opportunities

Draft Value addition strategy

10

Responsible Sourcing, Due Diligence and Certification

Domestic & international regulatory Frameworks, Certification mechanisms (KPI, ICGLR), Mining Contracts

Responsible Sourcing & Certification reflection paper

11

Social License, Communities, Rights and Gender 

Community Consent and social license to operate, resettlement, compensation and human rights, Gender Dimension in critical minerals, FPIC

Community engagement Reflection paper

12

Communication, Advocacy, Accountability

Communication, information, advocacy and engagement tools.

Draft Press Releases/policy briefs

13

Emerging issues, Trends, innovative leadership + Capstone Project

Prerequisite transformational leadership for critical minerals and the green transition in Africa Case studies, applied project designs and challenge papers and briefs.

Policy challenge briefs /proposals + presentation

1.2 Delivery Methods

The course will employ a Virtual learning approach, integrating:

  • Expert-led lectures and interactive discussions
  • Practical case studies and simulations
  • Group work and peer-to-peer learning
  • Policy labs and project design sessions
  • Guest lectures from leading practitioners and global experts
  • Participants will receive reading materials, and toolkits to support post-course application of skills in their professional contexts and a professional certificate in Critical Minerals Governance and Management.

2.0 Course Content and Curriculum Overview

The Critical Minerals Governance and Management Course is designed to provide participants with both conceptual understanding and practical tools for influencing, designing, and implementing sustainable solutions. The course content is structured into 13 interlinked topics, each addressing a critical dimension of critical minerals governance, management and leadership in Africa.

Duration: 8-12 Weeks (1-2 live instructional days per week, 2-3 hours per day)
Structure: Online self-paced learning – lectures, workshops, simulations, guest speakers, field visit (resources permitting)

Target Audience:

  • Policy Makers, Government officials in mining, environment, energy, trade and finance
  • Legislators and regulators
  • Civil society actors working on extractives governance
  • Private sector, Supply chain and compliance officers
  • Academia, Researchers and graduate students
  • Development partners and regional institutions

Course Format

  • 1-2 Weekly live lecture session (2-3 hours per day)
  • Case study discussions & Practical assignments
  • Group project work, reflection papers & policy briefs
  • Guest speakers

Course Goal

To equip participants with the knowledge and practical tools needed to design, manage, and oversee governance systems for critical minerals that are transparent, sustainable, and development-oriented.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Define and classify critical minerals in global and African contexts
  • Understand governance challenges in upstream and downstream mineral value chains
  • Apply ESG, transparency, and responsible sourcing frameworks
  • Design policy and regulatory responses for sustainable critical minerals management
  • Assess supply chain risks including conflict financing and illicit trade
  • Promote local value addition and inclusive development outcomes

Diversity and Inclusion:
GEPC encourages participation from women, youth, and professionals from underrepresented groups to promote inclusivity and diverse perspectives in the sustainable energy transition discourse.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should meet the following minimum requirements:

  1. Educational Background:
    • At least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field such as Mining, Geology, social sciences, political science, public policy, economics, law, international relations & diplomacy, environmental studies, engineering, communication, finance, or related disciplines.
    • Applicants with significant professional experience in the Mining, Geology, policy or governance sector will be considered in lieu of academic qualifications.
  2. Professional Experience:
    • At least one year of relevant work experience in government, civil society, academia, or the private sector, preferably in areas related to extractive sector, mining, geology, geo engineering, energy, public policy, climate & environment, media or economic development, banking and green financing
  3. Language Proficiency:
    • Proficiency in English (both written and spoken) is required, as the course will be conducted in English.
  4. Motivation Statement and CV:
    • Applicants must submit a brief statement (300–500 words) explaining their motivation for joining the course and how they plan to apply the knowledge gained in their professional setting. They must attach a short CV or resume plus a Headshot portrait photo
  5. Recommendation:
    • A letter of support from an employer, supervisor, work colleague or institutional head is encouraged but not mandatory.

Course Delivery Period:  8-13 Weeks (September- November)

The course is designed with flexible delivery options to accommodate the varying needs of participants. The 8-13-week program is structured into weekly modules, allowing participants to combine professional responsibilities with learning.

Course Management:  Virtual & Online

Virtual delivery will be managed through GEPC’s Moodle and Google Classroom digital learning platform.

Assessment and Certification

  • Weekly Reflections and Quizzes — 20%
  • Case Study Assignment — 30%
  • Final Capstone Leadership Project — 50%

 Certification

Upon successful completion of the course requirements, participants will receive a Professional Certificate of Completion in Critical Minerals Governance, Leadership and Management from the Governance and Economic Policy Centre (GEPC), jointly endorsed by partnering academic or professional institutions where applicable.

 

Course Fees: A Subsidized rate of USD 250. Limited scholarships will be available to exceptional and early bird applicants

Essential Timelines

Months / Dates

Activity

May- July

Course Application window

July- August

Selection and Notification of selected participants

August / September

Course Commencement

November

End of Course and Graduation

 

How to apply:

Applications and support documents (Motivation letter, CV and Headshot photo) must be sent as a single PDF or word file to:  training@gepc.ortz

 

 

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