Six Countries Selected for UN Country Support Mechanism on Critical Minerals

The United Nations has named six developing nations to receive the first round of assistance under its Country Support Mechanism on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. The selected states – Guinea, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe – will benefit from a package of technical, regulatory and institutional support designed to turn mineral wealth into jobs and industrial capacity.

Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres explained that the mechanism is intended to ensure that the countries rich in the minerals needed for clean‑energy technologies capture a fair share of the resulting economic upside.

The UN points to copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare‑earth elements as essential inputs for wind turbines, solar arrays, electric cars and battery storage solutions.

Demand for these critical minerals is projected to surge, potentially tripling by 2030 as renewable‑energy projects accelerate worldwide.

The programme will be administered by UNDP together with the UN Office for South‑South Cooperation, drawing on the expertise of various UN agencies to provide governance advice, support for domestic processing facilities, industrial development pathways and environmental and community safeguards.

Local UN teams will conduct on‑the‑ground assessments to tailor assistance to each country’s specific needs.

Zambia’s foreign minister Mulambo Hambi stressed the desire for the nation to reap greater domestic benefits from its copper deposits rather than remain a raw‑material exporter.

UNDP administrator Alexander de Croo warned that mineral riches can only drive sustainable growth when economic gains, environmental stewardship and good governance move forward hand‑in‑hand.

The United Nations Environment Programme will contribute its specialization in responsible mining practices, ecological protection and the promotion of circular‑economy approaches for critical minerals.