Dr. Oliver Maponga
Economic Affairs Officer UNECA
Oliver Maponga is an Economic Affairs Officer based at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Sub Regional Office for Southern Africa in Lusaka, Zambia. He has extensive experience in the minerals sector and has supported regional member States on policy development in the sector. He was part of the ECA team which anchored the development of the Africa Mining Vision and is actively involved in the continental approach to critical energy transition minerals exploitation. His current work also focuses on supporting inclusive industrialization in Southern Africa through industrial policy development and implementation, the development of regional value chains, strengthening regional economic integration, supporting the establishment of resource-based national and transboundary special economic zones and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement by regional member States. Oliver holds a PhD in Mineral economics and has held research and teaching posts at the Western Australian School of Mines and the University of Zimbabwe’s Institute of Mining Research (IMR). While with IMR, Oliver was part of a team of mineral experts supporting analytical work in the sector and his special focus was on artisanal and small-scale mining, mineral economics, mining investment, socio-economic and environmental assessment of mining activities. He is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe, McGill University (Canada) and the Western Australian School of Mines at Curtin University of Technology (Australia).
2025 Agenda Sessions
Critical for who – how producers can flip the script on critical minerals
- As global powers work to define and execute their own critical minerals strategies, how is Africa being positioned in these conversations?
- How critical are critical minerals to Africa’s own energy security? Is the global energy transition leaving Africa behind?
- Competition and collaboration – how can greater strategic diplomacy ensure partnerships yield long-term benefits for the continent without perpetuating dependency?
Monday 03 February 14:15 - 15:00 CTICC2
Intergovernmental Summit
- As global powers work to define and execute their own critical minerals strategies, how is Africa being positioned in these conversations?
- How critical are critical minerals to Africa’s own energy security? Is the global energy transition leaving Africa behind?
- Competition and collaboration – how can greater strategic diplomacy ensure partnerships yield long-term benefits for the continent without perpetuating dependency?
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