INTRODUCTION

On the sidelines of the Copperbelt Mining and Energy Indaba held in Zambia from 5–6 June 2025, Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW) convened a high-impact panel discussion under the theme “The Role of Youth in Critical Minerals.” This session formed part of broader conversations around ethical mining, environmental accountability, and sustainable resource governance in Zambia, aligning with the country’s recently adopted Critical Minerals Strategy and Three Million Metric Tonnes Copper Production Strategy.

Bringing together young professionals, tertiary learners, mining engineering and law students, development practitioners, community members, CSO representatives, academics, and government stakeholders, the discussion explored how youth can meaningfully engage in shaping a just and sustainable future for Zambia’s mineral sector.

WHY YOUTH INCLUSION MATTERS

The panel underscored that youth should not merely be passive beneficiaries in extractive governance but active agents driving transformation. Participants emphasised the need for structural and institutional reforms to create space for youth participation in mining governance. Without deliberate efforts to remove barriers such as skills gaps, limited access to information, and exclusion from decision-making spaces, young people remain relegated to the margins of the sector.

One youth participant posed a resonant question: “How do we benefit as youth?” sparking reflections on what meaningful inclusion truly looks like. Discussions explored how “benefit” is often narrowly defined in financial terms, whereas it should extend to job creation, decent work opportunities, participation in value addition processes, beneficiation, clean energy transitions, and equitable revenue sharing. There was a strong call for a shift from passive benefit to active value co-creation to ensure just and equitable distribution of mineral wealth.

SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND INDUSTRIAL PARTICIPATION

The urgent need to invest in youth skills pipelines was a recurring theme. Participants called upon tertiary institutions to align curricula with the skills needed in the green and just energy transition. Mining engineering students expressed keen interest in engaging with solar and renewable energy projects, advocating for stronger partnerships between academia and industry to bridge skills and information gaps and expand internship opportunities.

POLICY INCLUSION AND ADVOCACY

Discussions highlighted the continued underrepresentation of youth voices in mining policy formulation. Participants advocated for mechanisms to institutionalise youth participation in policymaking, support for youth-led organisations to amplify advocacy, and inclusive consultation processes that move beyond tokenism towards meaningful engagement.

INFORMAL MINING AND ECONOMIC EXCLUSION

An important conversation emerged around the growing involvement of youth in illegal or informal mining activities due to exclusion from formal employment pathways, lack of awareness of mining laws, and economic desperation. The panel called for targeted education and sensitisation campaigns on sustainable mining practices and laws, coupled with policy responses that address the root causes of youth vulnerability in mining zones.

STRATEGIC TAKEAWAYS

The panel concluded that youth are not simply “beneficiaries” of extractive governance but potential agents of transformation. Investing in their inclusion meets social justice imperatives and ensures long-term sector resilience and innovation. Key insights included:

Sustainable mining and energy policies must mainstream youth inclusion across legislation, implementation, and monitoring.
The critical minerals agenda must incorporate social indicators alongside economic targets to ensure inclusive development.
Engaging youth in value addition, clean energy transitions, and green technologies is essential for decarbonising the sector and building circular economies.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION

Recommendations proposed by participants, which were included in a declaration submitted to Zambia’s Ministry of Mines, included:

Policy Reform: Government should create youth-inclusive policies and frameworks to promote active participation in critical mineral governance.
Education and Training: Establish partnerships between government, mining companies, universities, and higher learning institutions to support internships, mentorships, and graduate programs aligned with the green energy transition.
Community Empowerment: CSOs should strengthen youth organising and advocacy platforms by facilitating training, technical support, and policy literacy programs to equip youth—especially in mining-affected areas—to engage meaningfully with local authorities, demand transparency, and participate in extractive decision-making.

CONCLUSION

The discussion closed with a collective call to action: unless deliberate and sustained efforts are made to create inclusive spaces for youth, the current critical minerals boom risks entrenching existing inequalities. As Zambia positions itself as a leader in Africa’s green energy transition, centring youth in governance, policy, and industrial frameworks will be crucial to ensuring a just, equitable, and sustainable mineral future.