Intergovernmental Forum on Mining/Minerals/Metals and Sustainable Development

André BourassaForum Secretariat

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Why this Forum?Development needed for poverty alleviation

Priority for developing countriesDevelopment needs to be sustainable

Must be competitiveComparative advantage: mineral endowmentNeed to maximize benefits

Lessons learned on miningMining can be sustainable

• Canada, Australia, Chile, etc..If it is done right, i.e.

• Good governance

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The ForumA partnership of the World Summit

Started through the Global DialoguePromoted by South Africa and Canada

A partnership of national governmentsExperts/stakeholders on gvt dels

Nature: voluntary, advisory and consultative36 member countries Aimed at Mines Ministries

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The Forum

Objective: Promote contribution of MMM to SDAimed at priorities of para 46 of JPOIHow? By enhancing capacity for governance

Sharing of lessons learnedIdentify opportunities and respond to challengesProviding recommendations on best practice in dealing with issues (social, environmental, economic)

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Examples of Issues ExaminedTemplate on national mineral policy frameworkEnvironmental impact assessment (process, issues)Mine closure and rehabilitation: financial suretyEmergency responseHost country perception of company risksFramework on investors perception of country risksDealing with local communitiesEquitable distribution of benefits from miningMaximizing benefits from mining investments

Downstream, sidestream, policies, data, etc.

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Examples of Issues ExaminedReview of developments in other MMM sector related activities and orgs

CASM on Small scale mining: health/safetyIFC performance guidelinesWork by UNCTAD, UN regional agenciesWorld BankEITIICMM: Communities, Resource Endowment

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Mining Related ChallengesMining: a different industrial sector

Environmental/social impacts: complex, extensiveSited away from major cities, capacity lackingDiffuse economic benefits: side and downstreamFew capital intensive jobs created Infrastructure requirements: opportunities?Private sector competes for local expertiseEnvironmental and social strategies: site specific

SD requires balanced gvt/industry capacity

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Advantages: Voluntary Initiatives

The ForumForum established in 2 years onlySovereignty issues: natural resourcesFlexibility: no legal or financial liabilitiesMore cooperation: not perceived as rival• Industry, other stakeholders• Multilateral and bilateral agencies (UNCTAD,

UNDESA, World Bank, DFID, etc.)• National governments

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Advantages: Voluntary Initiatives

Dealing with mining : need for a mix of voluntary and regulatory initiatives

Some environment issues: site specificSocial issues: Site specific, quasi political

Guidelines (e.g. IFC Performance standards)Role for market forces

Access to financing, insurance, etc.Corporate mgmt of reputational risk

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IFC Performance StandardsPerformance Standard 1: Social and Environmental Assessment and Management SystemsPerformance Standard 2: Labor and Working ConditionsPerformance Standard 3: Pollution Prevention and AbatementPerformance Standard 4: Community Health, Safety and SecurityPerformance Standard 5: Land Acquisition and Involuntary ResettlementPerformance Standard 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource ManagementPerformance Standard 7: Indigenous PeoplesPerformance Standard 8: Cultural Heritage

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Disadvantages:Voluntary Initiatives

Inability to enforce decisionsFunding Recognition of output but

influence by• Positioning the Forum within the UN system• Enhancing the policy influence of Mines

Ministries• Invite stakeholders

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www.globaldialogue.info

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