Time and location

When: 13 November 2024, 09:15 (UTC+2) - 14 November 2024, 16:30 (UTC+2) 

Where: Kitwe, Zambia and online 

Background

The Learning and Knowledge Development Facility (LKDF), a joint initiative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), convenes a Forum on the theme “Skills for Critical Raw Materials Supply Chains: Ensuring responsible and sustainable practices for the Green and Digital Transition”.  

The event will bring together a diverse array of stakeholders for discussions on skills for critical raw materials (CRM) supply chains, with a focus on responsible and sustainable practices for the green and digital transition. Under this theme, the Forum aims to facilitate an action oriented dialogue on the importance of providing skills to existing workers and to the future workforce for efficiently extracting, processing and utilizing CRM, with a special focus on industrializing countries. 

Focus and format

On Day 1, attendees can expect keynote speeches discussing the latest trends in CRM skills development, in-depth technical panels exploring ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) preparedness, and public-private partnerships aimed at enhancing sustainability and value addition in industrializing countries. The event will also provide opportunities for networking and engagement with industry experts. 

Day 2 will focus on a co-creation workshop and site visits to facilitate hands-on learning and collaborative project development. In this occasion, UNIDO will present its recently created sustainability curricula, a co-creation effort with private sector companies and academic institutions. 

The first day of the LKDF Forum 2024 will be held in person with the possibility to follow the event virtually, while the second day will be in person and by invitation only.