This episode is part of our series Bridging Continents: The Africa-Europe Partnerships for Critical Raw Materials. In this episode of Pardon My Planet, we turn the spotlight on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) in Africa, a sector that provides millions of jobs but still operates largely informally and faces significant challenges.

We explore a training programme held in Zimbabwe, part of broader efforts to foster responsible and sustainable practices in ASM through knowledge exchange and capacity-building.

From participants’ needs to the surprises encountered during the workshops, Shahrzad Manoochehri, Programme Director at the World Resources Forum, and Robin Gili, Project Manager at WRF, reflect on the lessons learned and what it takes to ensure long-term impact.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

Fostering responsible extraction in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining sector

Mining often conjures up negative imagery: environmental damage, pollution, and disruption to local communities. Yet, as we’ve explored in previous episodes of Pardon My Planet, critical raw materials are essential to modern life. They power solar panels and wind turbines, are at the core of smartphones and electric vehicles, and even play a crucial role in medical technologies, from MRI machines to lithium batteries used in mental health treatments. And these are just a few examples.

So, how can we meet this growing demand while ensuring mineral exploration and mining are more responsible and sustainable?

To explore this question, we’re joined by Jamie Newall, CEO of Quest Critical Metals and involved in EIS, an EU-funded project focused on making mineral exploration more precise and less disruptive, and Stéphane Bourg, president of PROMETIA, an association promoting innovation in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Stéphane is also involved in SCRREEN3, a Horizon Europe project working to strengthen Europe’s critical raw materials strategy.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

From mineral exploration to sustainable mining: the future of critical raw materials

The fashion industry has a huge impact on our planet, from the waste it generates to the resources it consumes. Fortunately, change is happening. Recycling, innovation, and collaboration across the supply chain are key to transforming the way we produce, manage textiles. Today our guest is Jyotsna Gopinath, innovation analyst at Fashion For Good, a global initiative dedicated to transforming the fashion industry into a more sustainable and circular system.

Transforming recycling for a sustainable textile industry

This last episode of the AfricaMaVal series illustrate the tangible impact AfricaMaVal can have through the selection of 100 project opportunities.

How to finance CRM projects in Africa

The introduction episode features the project coordinator and offers an overview of the series and the key issues at hand.

Introduction to the AfricaMaVal project

This episode provides us with essential background information on the geopolitics of critical minerals and highlight the importance of the EU developing partnerships with resource-rich countries.

Geopolitics in critical minerals in africa

This episode is focusing on ESG conditions along the CRM value chain in Africa, placing special emphasis on women in mining in Africa.

ESG conditions and women in mining in Africa

In this episode of Pardon My Planet, we explore how climate services, genetic research, and collaboration with local farmers are helping communities in Mozambique adapt to climate change.

Our guests, Valentina D’Amico, a socio-economic researcher, and Marta Da Graca Eugenio Solemanegy, a Mozambican PhD student specialising in agronomy and genetics, share their on-the-ground experiences. They discuss the challenges faced by farmers, from limited access to climate information to the need for better crop varieties, and explain how tailored climate services are shaping a more resilient future.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

Adapting to climate challenges: insights from Mozambique's farmers

We are joined by Sigfried Tivana, assistant director at the Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa and co-coordinator of LEAP-RE. Sigfried discusses the pressing energy challenges facing South Africa, from access issues to the sustainability of current energy practices. He also shares the challenges of piloting such a large program as LEAP-RE and what the future holds for this initiative.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

From crisis to innovation: Exploring renewable solutions with LEAP-RE

This episode explores the critical issues of sustainability and equity in electricity access. Marine Cornelis, an expert in energy policy and public affairs, discusses her work on the EURICA project in Madagascar and Burkina Faso, two regions facing significant yet different energy challenges. Marine’s insights into the practicalities of providing quality electricity access offer a sobering look at the hurdles that remain in the quest for energy equity.

More information on: lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]

Quality & equity in electricity access across Africa

Highlighting innovative, ambitious and sustainable projects for Europe and beyond through interviews, and speeches from experts in several fields: Nuclear, circular economy, energy, and more!

Find out more on lgi.earth/podcast [https://lgi.earth/podcast/]