Dr. Marit Kitaw

Interim Director African Union- African Minerals Development Center (AMDC)

Ms. Marit Kitaw, PhD is the Interim Director of the African Minerals Development Center (AMDC), a Specialized Agency of the African Union, and a panafrican Center dedicated to harnessing Africa’s mineral resources for Africa’s sustainable development and structural transformation through implementing the Africa Mining Vision (AMV). She was previously an Economist at UNECA where she became a strong advocate of developmental and sustainable mining. Marit was also Chief Technical Advisor on Extractives Industries for Sustainable Development at UNDP Mozambique where she actively supported the elaboration of an AMV aligned minerals policy and strategy, the formulation of a local content policy and contributed to the environmental governance of the extractives sector. As a founding member of the AMDC, she actively contributed to the development of major implementing tools. Dr. Marit previously worked in COMESA, at the African Development Bank, and at the Institute of World Affairs in Washington, DC. Dr. Marit Kitaw received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Nice/ Sophia-Antipolis in France, and an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability from the University of Cumbria, UK.

2024 Agenda Sessions

From aspiration to reality – promoting Africa’s Mining Vision on the global stage

Appraising the situation – what is the continents vision for mining and minerals? What does the current cross-continent supply chain look like?
What are governments doing to ensure their mining assets are being adequately exploited to maximise value capture?
How can African producers build alternative energy sources to support both local beneficiation as well as mining prospects? What can foreign partners do to support these ambitions?
Looking at future supply scenarios – Is there sufficient investment into innovation, infrastructure and secondary production capabilities to support producers?

Monday 05 February 13:20 - 14:00 Governments Stage

Intergovernmental Summit

Add to calendar 02/05/2024 13:20 02/05/2024 14:00 From aspiration to reality – promoting Africa’s Mining Vision on the global stage

Appraising the situation – what is the continents vision for mining and minerals? What does the current cross-continent supply chain look like?
What are governments doing to ensure their mining assets are being adequately exploited to maximise value capture?
How can African producers build alternative energy sources to support both local beneficiation as well as mining prospects? What can foreign partners do to support these ambitions?
Looking at future supply scenarios – Is there sufficient investment into innovation, infrastructure and secondary production capabilities to support producers?

Governments Stage Africa/Johannesburg

Tackling sustainability amongst a geopolitically divided world

•   What are the big-picture trends and developments that will shape how companies and governments in Africa tackle sustainability challenges in the year ahead?
•   West vs the rest.
•   Africa’s growing power in the quest for “critical minerals” and resources nationalism.
•   Is increased demand for resources a threat or opportunity for sustainability in Africa?
•   Demand for minerals and metals amid growing geopolitical conflict.

Tuesday 06 February 10:10 - 10:55 Stewards Stage

Sustainability Series

Add to calendar 02/06/2024 10:10 02/06/2024 10:55 Tackling sustainability amongst a geopolitically divided world •   What are the big-picture trends and developments that will shape how companies and governments in Africa tackle sustainability challenges in the year ahead?
•   West vs the rest.
•   Africa’s growing power in the quest for “critical minerals” and resources nationalism.
•   Is increased demand for resources a threat or opportunity for sustainability in Africa?
•   Demand for minerals and metals amid growing geopolitical conflict. Stewards Stage Africa/Johannesburg

DISRUPTIVE DISCUSSION-African Development Bank

Empowering African mining in an era of disruption: The role of development finance and support organisations

•   Gain insights into the current investment landscape in African mining, including opportunities, challenges, risk factors, and potential areas for growth and diversification.
•   Policy options for creating Africa’s demand for EV products.
•   Innovative ways of financing segments of the BEV (battery electric vehicle) value chain (for example, role of DFIs like the AfDB and the WB. Financial instruments available, funding mechanisms, risk mitigation strategies, etc.).
•   Understanding the impact of policies and regulatory frameworks on the African mining sector.
•   Available support from institutions to improve governance of the BEV value chain.

Tuesday 06 February 14:40 - 15:40 Disruptors Stage

Disruptive Discussions

Add to calendar 02/06/2024 14:40 02/06/2024 15:40 DISRUPTIVE DISCUSSION-African Development Bank

Empowering African mining in an era of disruption: The role of development finance and support organisations

Disruptors Stage Africa/Johannesburg