The current geopolitical situation in Africa shows that conflicts, climate and social problems are hampering economic growth and blocking foreign investment. Africa, with its rich reserves of natural resources, including highly demanded and strategically critical metals, has a high potential to play a leading role in the global green transformation. The key to success in the sustainable use of its own resources lies in unlocking economic performance through the implementation and application of new guidelines for clean and fair trade in natural resources.
The key to success factor for using these resources is to unlock economic output through the application of excellent regulatory compliance practices which provide ethical methods and guidance for clean and fair trade of natural resources. Japan and the United Arab Emirates have shown how this can be handled successfully when they utilize oil resources for the benefit of the population. Also, the lessons learned with the “Kimberley Process Conflict Diamonds Certification Scheme” exposed, how minerals can be used for the benefit of the producing countries. With reference to the experience gained from these two successful initiatives the “Kinshasa Process” was initiated in 2021 by the founder of the UNGSII Foundation, Roland Schatz, and the former US Ambassador James D. Bindenagel and US negotiator for the Kimberley Process.
At the SDG Lab 2024 in Davos, which takes place annually as part of the World Economic Forum and is organized by the UNGSII Foundation, new ways of successfully supporting the sustainable development of African countries in the raw materials sector with the Kinshasa Process were discussed. One key vehicle to accelerate the implementation of the Kinshasa Process is the set-up of the “SDG Technology Transfer University”. There, local experts on academic and vocational level will be qualified for managing the natural resources along the entire value chain for key technologies such as green hydrogen and electrical vehicles. In line with the integrated “Kinshasa Certification Institute” materials and components will be certified according to the standards defined by the Kinshasa expert team.
The Export-Akademie Baden-Württemberg is part of the SDG Technology Transfer Alliance to establish this new SDG Technology Transfer University together with UNGSII Foundation and UnASDG IGO.