Zambia selected for UN critical minerals support mechanism

Zambia has been selected as one of six countries to receive support under a new United Nations mechanism aimed at helping resource-rich developing countries capture more value from critical minerals used in the global energy transition.

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, announced the Country Support Mechanism on Critical Energy Transition Minerals on Sept. 23 during the Climate Summit 2026 in New York, on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The other initial partner countries are Guinea, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, according to a statement issued by Namatama Njekwa, First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at Zambia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

The mechanism is part of the UN Task Force on Critical Energy Transition Minerals and is intended to help countries strengthen governance, expand value addition and develop sustainable mineral value chains. The task force is chaired by the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, said the initiative could support the country’s efforts to move beyond exporting raw materials and create greater value domestically.

“Zambia has been a copper nation for decades, contributing to global industrial development and, increasingly, the clean energy and digital transitions,” Haimbe said.

Haimbe is representing President Hakainde Hichilema at the General Assembly.

“As demand for critical minerals grows, our ambition under the Grow Zambia Agenda is not simply to produce more, but to create greater value at home through investment, value addition, industrialisation and jobs,” he said.

The UN said the mechanism would provide coordinated support to resource-rich developing countries to build sustainable, responsible and resilient mineral value chains and ensure greater benefits reach countries and communities where the resources are located.

Haimbe said the mechanism was designed to help resource-rich countries move up the global value chain and ensure mineral wealth contributed to sustainable development.

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“We want Zambians to be full participants in, not simply suppliers to, the global clean energy and technology transition,” he stated.

He said achieving that goal would require strong governance, investment and partnerships that enable resource-rich countries to move up the value chain.

“We therefore welcome the Country Support Mechanism as an important initiative designed to support that ambition,” he said.

Haimbe said a just transition should protect livelihoods while supporting agricultural transformation, energy security, industrialisation and job creation.

He said this was in line with the Grow Zambia Agenda’s goal of translating global commitments into financing, jobs and improved services for households.

“This recognition affirms that Zambia is not just a supplier of raw materials but a rising industrial partner in the global economy,” Haimbe said.

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