African governments are exploring sustainability-linked bonds as a way to ensure mining investment delivers broader economic benefits. Currently, two proposed bond deals worth at least $100 million each are under discussion in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government plans to use the funds to finance shared infrastructure that will benefit both local communities and businesses, such as electricity networks. The initiative aligns with the Africa Mining Vision, which encourages using mineral wealth to drive long-term economic development. Similar financing is also being developed for a copper-cobalt project in Zambia, where part of the funding would strengthen legal artisanal mining and local businesses. Experts note that success will hinge less on bond structure than on strong regulatory frameworks governing shared infrastructure access and revenue-sharing terms.
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