Strategic Minerals and Energy Transition in Southern Africa (SMETSA) Project

Under this project, SARW focuses on six resource-rich countries in critical minerals: DRC, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It seeks to provide data on the existing energy transition ecosystem by documenting existing initiatives and actors to ensure alignment by identifying opportunities for a sustainable and inclusive REN supply chain that contributes to the structural economic transformation of the region. The project will also promote dialogue and engagement amongst critical stakeholders identified in the mapping exercise to engage the research findings on opportunities. The engagement will create a roadmap for an enhanced REN supply chain. The identified opportunities and roadmap will be shared with potential philanthropies and key countries like  China that can support (financial and technical and create space for engagement to exchange experiences) the initiatives and actors identified.

The project’s long-term impact is to ensure secured, sustainable and inclusive green energy access for all of Southern Africa, predominantly rural, marginalised and vulnerable communities and the strategic value proposition of Southern Africa in the global REN value chain.