25 of 42 African mineral nations struggle to attract adequate investment.
Root
Foundation
Design again
25 of 42 African mineral nations struggle to attract adequate investment.
30 of 42 countries lack essential processing infrastructure.
73% of communities see no meaningful benefits from mining operations.
Driving Sustainable, Long-Term Returns for Africa Mineral Endowment
Africa's Mineral Pulse
A functional prototype offers insights into the status of African minerals. By selecting any country, you can access key economic indicators, resource contracts, transition minerals, infrastructure projects, environmental assessments, and more—all crafted to provide actionable insights for making informed decisions toward sustainable mineral futures.
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Total population
89,455,452
57%
Debt-to-GDP Ratio
45%
Mineral Dependence
45%
Beyond GDP
Minerals for Low-Carbon Transition
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Minerals with High risk Stranded Assets
Copper
Copper
Copper
Copper
Resource Contracts: Legal frameworks governing mineral extraction
19 Documents
Post-Extractive Initiatives: Development projects beyond mining operations
120 Projects
Infrastructure Development: Essential foundations supporting mineral value chains
Roads, Ports, Energy
Environmental Wealth: Natural capital assessment beyond extraction value
Natural Capital Valuation
Artisanal Mining Impact: Community-level economic contribution
35% Workforce Contribution
- Mineral Dependence < 10%
- Mineral Dependence < 20%
- Mineral Dependence < 30%
- Mineral Dependence < 40%
Our Mission
We center community agency to facilitate design-driven transitions for Africa's mining communities in three key areas: reshaping investment models, enhancing local processing and technology capabilities, and promoting equitable community beneficiation to ensure optimal benefits and sustainment from their mineral assets.
Over the Years,
Minerals Have Shaped Our World
From ancient tools to modern technologies, minerals remain crucial to life— because of the materials they produce and the technologies they enable powering our devices, enabling green energy, and building our infrastructure.
0BC
Diamond
Cobalt
Coltan
Gold
Copper
Politicization
After Human Encounters
Mineral Journeys
Once discovered, minerals transform into powerful forces—shaping industries, nations, and global systems as they become commodities on their journey from extraction to disposal.
Extraction sites
Minerals are mined from the Earth, often disrupting ecosystems and communities in the process.Production sites
Raw materials are refined and transformed into components that power industries and technologies.Consumption sites
Minerals reach their peak utility in everyday products—from electronics to infrastructure.Disposal sites
Once discarded, minerals enter waste streams, some recyclable, others lost to landfills or pollution.
prosperity
devastated
Extracting minerals bringsprosperity to some,
while leaving ecosystems and
communities devastated
Privilege zones & bodies
For some, minerals bring prosperity. In cities and industries, they power economies, shape luxuries, and drive technology—often without a thought for their origins—far removed from the realities of their extraction.
Sacrifice zones & bodies
While wealth flows to privileged zones, sacrifice zones bear the cost—where land, labor, and lives are exploited to extract resources for global industries. Communities in the Global South endure environmental destruction, displacement, and unsafe labor conditions to fuel global economies.
Our Commitment
We are dedicated to transforming how African mining communities identify, manage, and benefit from their mineral assets, ensuring both environmental stewardship and socio-economic dividends.
De-risk investments for sustainable mining practices
Develop infrastructure for local value addition
30 of 42 countries lack essential processing infrastructure.
Shift mineral wealth back to local communities
73% of communities see no meaningful benefits from mining operations.
Our Process
We apply multi-scale, design-driven approach to reimagine how mineral economies work for people and the environment.
Micro scale
Minerals begin as neutral objects, but their discovery sparks economic, environmental, and social ripple effects. We prioritize mineral literacy to understand minerals as more than just commodities, exploring their roles in social, economic, and environmental systems.
Individual Scale
Miners are at the heart of the industry, where approximately 90% of the world's mining workers are ASM but face dangerous conditions, poverty, health challenges, and a lack of protection. We use design strategies to empower miners as agents of change rather than passive laborers in the current extractive system.
Environmental Scale
Mining disrupts landscapes, leading to deforestation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. We developed strategies to transition from destructive extraction to ecological restoration through design-led sustainability models.
Community Scale
Communities rely on mining for jobs and trade, yet often face inequality, child labor, and economic instability. Our strategies prioritize the needs of mining-dependent communities in building co-design centers into hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship, and local value creation.
National Scale
In many ways, policies determine whether mining benefits people or serves their external interests. Weak governance worsens inequality. We prioritize building shared solidarity in the local context to influence policy frameworks, successful implementation, and de-risk investment for the community.
Regional Scale
Cross-border policies and trade agreements shape how minerals are extracted and who profits. Moving beyond isolated policies to opportunities for regional trade and integration of mineral use and value addition model that prioritizes sustainability and equity as well as advocating for policies that promote the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Global Scale
International markets, consumer demand, and ethical sourcing efforts define the trajectories of the mineral economies. Holding global industries accountable for mineral supply chain transparency and ethical sourcing practices. We prioritize global equity & access for mining communities by promoting mine-to-market initiatives, connecting miners to direct access to consumers, and facilitating equitable collaborations between industry and citizens.
Collaborating with Premier Research Institutions
Our approach emerged from Carnegie Mellon University's Transition Design Program, combining applied research with local engagement and global collaboration. This pioneering research bridges academia, industry, and communities for real-world impact. We partner with MITGOVLAB, Njala University, the Kono Community, and Sierra Leone's Government of Mines to create ethical, transparent mineral economies through community-driven research, equitable policies, and sustainable design solutions prioritizing well-being and economic empowerment.
