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What Does It Take to Implement Africa-Europe Critical Minerals Partnerships?

Follow Up to The Africa Roundtable N°9

What Does It Take to Implement Africa-Europe Critical Minerals Partnerships?

March 26, 2026

Berlin

At the ninth edition of The Africa Roundtable on raw material partnerships, discussions made clear that Europe’s ambitions to secure access to critical minerals in Africa will remain difficult to achieve without stronger private sector engagement. In this follow-up Circle, participants worked to further refine and operationalize the resulting recommendations.

With around 30% of the world’s critical minerals located on the African continent, Africa is a key partner for Europe’s green and digital transition. While other actors, such as China, recognized this strategic importance early and invested accordingly, European engagement in energy and infrastructure projects has so far remained limited.

The focus now is on translating strategic interest into viable business cases. This will require greater private investment, reduced bureaucratic barriers, effective risk-sharing instruments, and a clear commitment to local value creation and sustainable standards.

Contact Persons

Stephanie Igunbor, s.igunbor@globalperspectives.org

Supported by

McKinsey & Company

Circle

We believe in proximity building trust. Our most personal format therefore offers the opportunity to deepen the knowledge of our high-ranking guests in a small circle, together with an exchange of experiences, in dialogue.

Program Archive

Conference
The Africa Roundtable N°10
Building Shared Health Security: An Investment Agenda for Africa and Europe

Health security in Europe and Africa is closely interconnected. We discussed stronger collaboration through investment in local production, health equity biotechnology, research, and innovation.

Salon
AI’s Next Chapter is African
TEDxBerlin AI Business Day

Africa is emerging as a major hub for innovation and artificial intelligence. With leading African voices from Big Tech, academia, and innovation, we highlighted AI innovation across the continent.

Circle
Climate Finance as a Strategic Pillar of Integrated Security
Innovative Approaches to Europe's Global Climate Action

Climate policy is security policy. We discussed how Europe can work with countries in the Global South to implement concrete measures that benefit both sides.

Circle
Between Disorder and a Shift in Power
Europe's Geopolitical Security in a Multipolar World

At the launch of the Alliance for Integrated Security, we discussed the current geopolitical challenges and identified potential areas of cooperation between Germany and the Global South.

Alliance for Integrated Security
Europe's Geopolitical Security in a Multipolar World

As global conflicts increase and uncertainty rises, Europe and Germany must take greater responsibility for their future and adopt a broader approach to security.

Circle
Multilateral Finance Mechanisms
How to Deliver Development Impact in a Changing World?

In times of limited resources and geopolitical tension, multilateral institutions can maximize the impact of existing development funding.

Circle
Breaking Point or Turning Point
What Role Can Europe Play in Africa’s Reproductive Health Future?

Funding cuts are putting health systems across Africa under pressure. Collaboration with Germany and Europe can help strengthen healthcare in the long term.

Publications
Reproductive Health at a Turning Point
Perspectives on Innovation, Financing, and Partnerships in a Changing World

This interview publication reviews the effects of recent cuts in reproductive health, presents practical options for funding and service delivery, and offers guidance for policymakers and investors.

Publications
The Africa Roundtable N°9
Follow-Up

Africa’s critical minerals are essential to Europe’s future, playing a significant role in the green transition and industrial competitiveness. The Follow-Up to the 9th edition of the Roundtable.

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Global Perspectives Initiative is a non-profit and independent dialogue platform based in Berlin, Germany. Global Perspectives works towards enhanced engagement and responsibility for sustainable development by German and European decision-makers and aims to strengthen African perspectives in policy making. To this end, Global Perspectives regularly brings together decision-makers from business, academia, politics, media, and civil society to discuss new approaches, provide new impulses and raise awareness on the common opportunities and challenges the two neighboring continents are facing.

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