UN unveils critical minerals support mechanism for developing countries

The United Nations launched a new Country Support Mechanism on Sept. 23 to help resource-rich developing nations build sustainable critical-minerals industries and secure a greater share of the benefits from the global energy transition.

The initiative will provide coordinated technical and capacity-building assistance to countries seeking to strengthen governance, expand mineral processing and industrial development, and improve environmental and social safeguards across their critical minerals sectors.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the mechanism is designed to ensure that countries supplying the minerals needed for clean energy technologies benefit more directly from rising global demand.

"The countries that hold the critical minerals powering the energy transition must be the first to benefit from them," Guterres said in a statement. "The Country Support Mechanism puts equity and justice into practice, to turn mineral wealth into jobs and prosperity at home."

Guinea, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe will be the first countries to receive dedicated support under the program, which will be led by the UN Development Programme and the UN Development Coordination Office.

According to the UN, the mechanism will work through UN resident offices to help participating countries identify priorities and develop policies that support value addition, industrialization and investment while ensuring responsible resource development.

The initiative forms part of broader UN efforts to promote equity, sustainability and responsible sourcing in global critical minerals supply chains. The UN aims to help developing countries move beyond their traditional role as exporters of raw materials and become greater participants in the clean energy economy.