The ultimate result is an agreed and operational African Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Framework and Compact, aligned with the African Mining Vision (AMV) and the Africa Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS), enabling African countries to adopt and implement coherent, African-led ESG standards.

Home based

8 months

Background Africa’s growing role in global green critical minerals value chains has intensified scrutiny on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in the minerals sector. While international ESG standards are proliferating, African countries and firms often face fragmented requirements, inconsistent metrics, and limited influence in shaping the frameworks that govern their mineral sectors. In line with the Africa Mining Vision (AMV) and the African Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS) , there is a need for a coherent, Africa-led ESG framework that aligns sustainability, industrialization, value addition, climate resilience, and inclusive development objectives. The AMV Private Sector Compact provides a useful reference model for structured engagement among governments, private-sector actors, and other stakeholders. An African ESG Compact would establish a shared set of principles, commitments, and implementation mechanisms between governments, firms, investors, and civil society, anchored in Africa’s development priorities and green industrialization agenda. It would support responsible resource governance, improve investment predictability, strengthen social license to operate, and enhance Africa’s negotiating position and bargaining power in global minerals markets. Within this context, UNECA seeks to recruit an Expert Consultant to draft the African ESG Framework and Compact, facilitate stakeholder consultations toward initial agreement, and develop an accompanying training curriculum and advocacy materials to support uptake and enactment by African countries towards an African standard. Scope of Work Under the overall supervision of UNECA’s Climate Change, Food Security and Natural Resources Division (CFND), and in collaboration with relevant partners, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks: Phase I: Inception and Analytical Framework (Month 1) • Conduct an inception review clarifying scope, methodology, and stakeholder mapping. • Review relevant continental and global frameworks, including: o Africa Mining Vision (AMV) o African Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS) o AMV Private Sector Compact o Selected international ESG standards and reporting frameworks (benchmarking exercise) • Define guiding principles for an African ESG Compact anchored in: o Value addition and industrialization o Climate and environmental stewardship o Social inclusion (women, youth, ASM communities) o Governance transparency and accountability o Regional integration under the AfCFTA Deliverable: Inception Report including conceptual framework and consultation roadmap. Phase II: Drafting the African ESG Framework and Compact (Months 2–3) • Develop a structured African ESG Framework, including: o Core principles o ESG performance pillars and indicators o Governance architecture o Monitoring and reporting mechanisms • Draft the African ESG Compact, outlining: o Roles and commitments of governments, including local governments o Responsibilities and commitments of firms (including local and multinational companies) o Expectations and commitments for investors and financial institutions o Engagement mechanisms for civil society o Alignment with AMV and AGMS objectives • Ensure coherence with regional industrial policy, local content frameworks, and green value chain development. Deliverable: Draft African ESG Framework and Compact (Version 1). Phase III: Stakeholder Consultations and Consensus Building (Months 4–6) • Design and facilitate structured consultations (virtual and/or in-person) with: o Government representatives (mining, industry, trade, finance, environment ministries) o Private sector actors (large-scale mining companies, SMEs, ASM representatives, Association of Chambers of Mines, AWIMA) o Investors and development finance institutions o Civil society organizations o AUC, AfCFTA Secretariat, and other relevant continental institutions o Regional economic communities • Integrate feedback and address areas of divergence. • Develop a revised draft reflecting negotiated areas of agreement. Deliverable: • Consultation Summary Report • Revised African ESG Framework and Compact (Version 2 – Consensus Draft) Phase IV: Training Curriculum and Advocacy Toolkit (Months 6–7) • Develop a structured training curriculum for: o Government officials o Corporate sustainability officers o Civil society monitors • Prepare modular training materials, including: o Facilitator guides o Slide decks o Case studies (Africa-focused) o Monitoring templates • Develop an advocacy toolkit to support country-level enactment, including: o Policy briefs o Executive summaries o Communication materials for high-level endorsement Deliverable: • ESG Training Curriculum and Training Materials • Advocacy and Communication Toolkit Phase V: Finalization and Roadmap for Enactment (Month 8) • Produce the Final African ESG Compact incorporating final comments. • Develop an implementation and adoption roadmap, outlining: o Steps for voluntary endorsement o Pathways toward formal adoption at continental or regional level o Suggested pilot countries or early adopters o Monitoring and reporting framework Deliverable: • Final African ESG Framework and Compact • Implementation and Adoption Roadmap • Final Consultancy Report The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Director of CFND and the Section Chief at UNECA. The Consultant will report directly to the designated Economic Affairs Officer coordinating the assignment. Technical guidance will be provided by UNECA specialists in mineral policy, governance, sustainable finance, and regional integration.

Advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in Environmental Policy, Development Economics, Sustainable Finance, Law, Mineral Economics, Public Policy, Governance, or a related field is required. A Minimum 10–15 years of experience in ESG, governance, mineral governance, sustainable finance, development economics, or mining policy is required. Demonstrated experience drafting policy frameworks, compacts, or multi-stakeholder agreements is desirable. Strong knowledge of African mineral governance frameworks, particularly the Africa Mining Vision and the African Green Minerals Strategy is an advantage.

English and French are the working language of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post English is required, and knowledge of French is an asset.

• Strong analytical and drafting skills • High-level facilitation and negotiation skills • Ability to translate global ESG norms into Africa-specific policy frameworks • Excellent communication and presentation skills • Ability to work independently and in politically sensitive, multi-stakeholder environments • Demonstrated integrity and adherence to UN values

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.