Report on the High-Level Consultation for Sustainable Industrial Development in Zambia

Introduction

A high-level consultation, titled “Unlocking Value across Critical Energy Transition Minerals and Beyond: Strategic Opportunities and Policy Directions,” is being convened through a strategic partnership between UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Government of Zambia. This collaboration exemplifies the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by bringing together public and private sector leaders to foster sustainable development.

Objectives and SDG Alignment

The primary objective of the consultation is to identify and shape policy directions that drive inclusive and sustainable industrial development. The key goals are directly aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals:

• Promoting Sustainable Economic Growth (SDG 8): The consultation focuses on domestic value addition, export growth, and import substitution to create decent work and foster economic resilience.
• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Fostering Innovation (SDG 9): By exploring strategic industrial opportunities in sectors related to clean energy, the initiative aims to upgrade industrial capabilities and promote sustainable industrialization.
• Ensuring Access to Clean Energy (SDG 7): The event centers on leveraging Critical Energy Transition Minerals (CETMs) to support the global shift towards affordable and clean energy.
• Advancing Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12): The initiative seeks to ensure the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources like copper, lithium, and cobalt.

Consultation Structure and Key Activities

The consultation is structured to facilitate comprehensive dialogue and strategic planning through two distinct modules: an initial phase of technical discussions and a subsequent phase focused on policy-oriented, long-term planning. Key activities include:

1. Welcome remarks from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Zambia, and UNCTAD.
2. In-depth, sector-specific sessions covering over 100 potential industrial products critical to the energy transition.
3. Interactive workshops including stakeholder interviews, product scoring exercises, and strategy development sessions on industrial policy.

Broader Initiative and Regional Impact

This consultation represents a significant milestone within a broader initiative aimed at supporting Namibia, Zambia, and Madagascar. The overarching goal is to harness the potential of CETMs to build resilient, future-oriented economies. By fostering regional cooperation and strategic industrial policy, the initiative contributes to long-term sustainable development, reinforcing the interconnected nature of the SDGs and the importance of international partnerships in achieving them.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its focus on the strategic use of critical minerals for sustainable economic growth and energy transition.

   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The core topic is “Critical Energy Transition Minerals” (CETMs) like copper, lithium, and cobalt, which are essential components for clean energy technologies. The consultation’s focus on these minerals directly supports the global shift towards clean energy.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The initiative aims to build “resilient, future-oriented economies” by promoting “domestic value addition, export growth, and import substitution.” This strategy is designed to foster sustainable economic growth beyond the simple extraction of raw materials.
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The event explicitly focuses on identifying “strategic industrial opportunities” and shaping “policy directions to drive inclusive and sustainable industrial development.” This aligns directly with the goal of building resilient infrastructure and fostering sustainable industrialization.
   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: By aiming to “Unlock Value” from CETMs and promote “domestic value addition,” the initiative implies a move towards more sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, rather than just exporting them in their raw form.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The event itself is a prime example of this goal. It is a partnership between “UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)” and the “Government of Zambia,” bringing together “public and private sector leaders” to achieve common development objectives.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   The article’s content points to several specific SDG targets:

   • Target 8.2: “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…” This is directly addressed by the consultation’s focus on “industrial diversification” and moving up the value chain from raw mineral extraction.
   • Target 9.2: “Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization…” The article states that a key goal is to “drive inclusive and sustainable industrial development,” which is a direct reflection of this target.
   • Target 9.b: “Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries…” The emphasis on “domestic value addition” and identifying “high-potential industrial products” supports the development of local industrial capabilities rather than relying on exporting raw materials.
   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The initiative to “harness the potential” of critical minerals to build “resilient, future-oriented economies” is centered on the strategic and sustainable use of these natural resources.
   • Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…” The consultation is a multi-stakeholder partnership involving UNCTAD, the Government of Zambia, and public and private sector leaders, perfectly illustrating this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   While the article does not mention official SDG indicators, it implies several metrics that could be used to measure progress towards the goals of the initiative:

   • Indicator for Domestic Value Addition (Targets 8.2, 9.b): Progress could be measured by the increase in the value of processed minerals as a percentage of total mineral exports. The article’s focus on “domestic value addition” makes this a key implied metric.
   • Indicator for Economic Diversification (Target 8.2): The “number of high-potential industrial products” identified and subsequently developed, as mentioned in the workshop highlights, can serve as a direct indicator of successful industrial diversification.
   • Indicator for Export Growth and Import Substitution (Target 8.2): The article explicitly mentions “export growth, and import substitution” as focus areas. Therefore, tracking the change in export revenues from manufactured goods and the reduction in imports of equivalent products would be relevant indicators.
   • Indicator for Policy Development (Target 9.2): The development and implementation of “policy directions” and “long-term strategic planning” resulting from the consultation would be a qualitative indicator of progress towards creating an enabling environment for sustainable industrialization.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Implied from the article)
   SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	Focus on “Critical Energy Transition Minerals” to support the clean energy sector.	Increased production and strategic use of minerals (copper, lithium, cobalt) for clean energy technologies.
   SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification.	Metrics on “export growth” and “import substitution”; increase in economic value from processed minerals.
   SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization. Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development.	Number of “high-potential industrial products” developed; implementation of new “industrial policy” directions.
   SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.	Shift from raw material export to “domestic value addition,” indicating more efficient resource use.
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	Target 17.16: Enhance multi-stakeholder partnerships.	The existence of the partnership between UNCTAD, the Government of Zambia, and public/private sector leaders.

Source: unctad.org