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MESSAGE FROM MR. V. GNASSOUNOU, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL, ACP GROUP OF STATES
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 Welcome to Bulletin n°5 of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme.
In June, I was delighted to represent the ACP Group of States at the European Development Days (EDDs), where the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme organised the high-level panel, “Small businesses giant players in pursuit of SDGs.” The discussions were a tremendous opportunity to mobilise the development community to take seriously the opportunities that exist in the small-scale private sector, particularly in previously neglected sectors such as the mining of Development Minerals.
At the EDDs I also witnessed the signing of an MOU between the African Guarantee Fund and the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme to provide $US12 million in guarantees for African banks to lend to small scale miners of Development Minerals without the need for collateral. Efforts like this make finance more affordable and help SMEs to thrive. Read more about this, and our other achievements in this 5th edition of the bulletin.
Mr. Viwanou Gnassounou
Assistant Secretary General for Sustainable Economic Development and Trade, ACP Group of States
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MESSAGE FROM THE PROGRAMME MANAGER
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 We continue to be amazed by the achievements of our training alumni. Now two years after the programme launch, more than 2100 people have participated in 53 training and knowledge sharing events, and scores of alumni are implementing Return to Work Projects. Our collective efforts are beginning to make a difference at a global scale.
Since the last bulletin, I am pleased to report the completion of our Regional Training Workshop series on Environment, Community, Health and Safety. The series was capped by a curriculum sprint with 20 academics and vocational trainers from across the ACP who have adapted our curricula into their own teaching and training curricula. In this bulletin we also report back on the latest activities in Uganda, Jamaica, Zambia, Cameroon, Tanzania, Guinea and introduce two alumni from Ghana and Niger who have delivered incredible results from their Return to Work projects.
Dr. Daniel Franks
Chief Technical Advisor & Programme Manager, ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, United Nations Development Programme
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GET INVOLVED: TRAINING & CONSULTING
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APPLY FOR TRAINING
Regional and Country-level Training Workshops on Geo-data Digitization and Mapping of Development Minerals
The Development Minerals sector commonly operates with a lack of publicly available and easily accessible geological data which inhibits informed decision making for businesses, development planning, permitting, urbanization and even disaster management. The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme is partnering with the African Minerals and Geosciences Centre (AMGC), CARICOM and The Pacific Community, to co-host a series of regional level training workshops in East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific, as well as country-level training workshops for Zambia, Guinea-Conakry, Uganda, Cameroon, Jamaica and Fiji.
Applications close soon!
Apply now: English / French
A Portuguese application form will be made available soon here. |
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CONSULTING OPPORTUNITIES
RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS: Are you an innovative researcher capable of communicating your research into practical guidance? Applications are now open for research and knowledge products on Development Minerals. Applications close 30 October, 2017. Apply here.
GEO-DATA TRAINER: Two trainers are needed for our upcoming Pacific Regional and Country-level Training Workshops on Geo-data Digitization and Mapping of Development Minerals. Are you the right person for the role? Applications close October 5, 2017. Apply here.
COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT: We are looking for a communicator to join our team and put the spotlight on small-scale miners. Applications close October 2, 2017. Apply here.
ASM EXTENSION SERVICES - GUINEA: Trainers with expertise in environment, geology, business and value addition are needed to support artisanal and small scale miners of Development Minerals in Guinea. Applications close October 5, 2017. Apply here (in French).
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DEVELOPMENT MINERALS. MATTER FOR THE SDGS. HIGH-LEVEL PANEL AT THE EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT DAYS 2017
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The panel members (from left to right): Marjeta Jager, Deputy Director General, European Commission - DG DEVCO (moderator of the session); Barbara Pesce-Monteiro, Director, United Nations Representation Office in Brussels; Jeffrey Sachs, Sustainable Development Goals Advocate and Professor at Columbia University; Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Tasneem Ava, EDD Young Leader; Felix A. Bikpo, Chief Executive Officer, African Guarantee Fund; and Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary General of the ACP Secretariat.
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It was full house in the 540 seat Auditorium on Thursday 8 June when the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme hosted the high-level panel on 'Small businesses giant players in pursuit of SDGs'. This was on the occasion of the 2017 edition of the European Development Days that drew participation from 8000 global thought-leaders and development practitioners.
Marjeta Jager set the stage for the panel session that highlighted the important role of the small scale-private sector in realizing the SDGs, while supporting employment and
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sustainable growth in developing countries. Jeffrey Sachs, Viwanou Gnassounou, Felix Bikpo, Tasneem Ava, Muhammad Yunus and Barbara Pesce-Monteiro each brought their perspectives on what it would take for small businesses to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.
A short video played during the session amplified the voices of four women artisans who shared key challenges that women-led small businesses of Development Minerals face in contributing to employment creation and improved livelihoods (find the video here or below).
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Sharmila Sanehi - Fiji, Josephine Aguttu - Uganda, Michelle Shaw - Jamaica and Dousou Nabé - Guinea (Conakry) provide a glimpse of the lived reality of inaccessible finance and market barriers that confront millions of small business owners.
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The results of an in-session poll on the EDD App mirrored those of a Twitter poll that ran in the 7 days prior to the EDDs. The poll question: #Smallbiz are giant players in pursuit of the SDGs. Share what you think small business needs to
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thrive indicated that affordable finance was a significant challenge. Muhammad Yunus’ metaphor rang true that: ''finance is the economic oxygen for people. If we provide that oxygen, they will be able to contribute to society''.
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A full replay of the panel is on our YouTube channel or here ➡️
You will also find an interview with Daniel Franks on why Development Minerals matter for the SDGs. Photos of the event can be viewed here while more information about the session is available here.
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US$12M IN LOAN GUARANTEES TO SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES QUARRYING "DEVELOPMENT MINERALS' IN AFRICA
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A US$12 million partnership between the African Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Ltd (AGF) and the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme was announced during the EDDs.
AGF will make available US$12 million in credit guarantee facilities to financial institutions in Cameroon, Guinea (Conakry), Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia in connection with loans provided by these institutions to small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) operating in the ‘Development Minerals’ sector.
In addition, AGF and the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme will also invest US$200,000 in training financial institutions and SMEs to ensure funds are disbursed and spent effectively.
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Access to loans for small businesses that quarry, manufacture and trade Development Minerals (such as clay, granite, gypsum and other local materials) is critical for domestic development.
By providing SMEs with steady access to finance, these small businesses will play their rightful role as key drivers of growth and job creation in Africa particularly for women and youth.
Thanks to this partnership, up to five thousand micro, small and medium scale ‘Development Minerals’ operators will have access to more affordable finance, that will help their businesses thrive, and boosting the livelihoods of approximately 25,000 people across some of Africa’s most impoverished communities.
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Read the full press release here.
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Signing of MOU by Barbara Pesce-Monteiro - UNDP on behalf of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme (middle) and Felix A. Bikpo - AGF (second from right), accompanied (from left to right) by Daniel Franks - UNDP, Marjeta Jager - European Commission and Viwanou Gnassounou - ACP. (Photo credit European Union)
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LAST STOP MAPUTO: REGIONAL TRAINING ON ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY, HEALTH & SAFETY CONCLUDES
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Maputo, Mozambique, welcomed 46 participants from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sudan, Swaziland and Zimbabwe to the last Regional Training Workshop on Environment, Community, Health and Safety on 3-6 April, 2017. Among them were six self-sponsored participants from Botswana, Sudan and Swaziland who attended the training event.
The workshop was organized in partnership with the Southern African Development Community, the African Union Commission, the African Minerals Development Center and the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of the Republic of Mozambique.
Field visits to six different sites in the Boane and Namahacha districts (around 40km SW of Maputo) were an opportunity to put knowledge into practice.
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Key note presentations were made by H.E. Augusto de Sousa Fernando, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Republic of Mozambique, Mr. Frank Mugyenyi Dixon, Representative of the African Union Commission, Mr. Geert Anckaert, Head of Operations, Economic Development and Governance, Delegation of the European Union to Mozambique, Ms. Marcia de Castro, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Mozambique. |
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The Chiuta Ceramics brick factory (left) produces over 10,000 bricks per day!
View the photo album of the workshop on our Facebook page.
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UGANDA ON A ROLL. HOSTS THREE NATIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS IN ENTEBBE, MBALE AND GULU
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Three country-level training workshops on Environment, Community, Health and Safety of Development Minerals were held accross Uganda.
The first training event took place in Entebbe, April 8 – 13, and gathered 33 participants drawn from the public, private, business development and social sectors. Opening addresses were made by Ms. Agnes Alaba – Ag. Commissioner (Geo data) at the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development, Uganda and Ms. Hope Kyarisiima of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, Uganda. Two site visits organised as part of the training, saw participants visit the Nkiima Stone Quarry and Fenco Dredging in Entebbe district.
A second workshop attended by 40 participants occurred in the Eastern region of the country, in Mbale, from May 15 -19, while the Northern region training took place in Gulu from June 12-16. Similarly, all the training events included field visits to the region-specific quarry and mining sites of aggregates, clay, vermiculite,
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dimension stones and industrial minerals.
The training events aimed to build the capacity of the participants to improve their livelihoods. One such participant was Rose Gwokyalya, who joined the Entebbe workshop. Rose faces many challenges as an artisanal miner of quarry stone: seasonal markets, middle-men who dictate the price of the stones where she makes very little income, the lack of childcare facilities and separate toilet facilities for the women miners. Further to her involvement in the training, Rose intends to use her newly acquired knowledge to lead changes at her quarry site by mobilising the artisanal miners into an association in order to have better access to affordable finance, organizing for communal childcare away from mine site, ensuring the construction of separate toilet facilities of the woman miners, and maintaining links with the programme in order to benefit from further trainings on market access and linkage to extension services from the Ministry.
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TWENTY ACADEMIC & VOCATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTES ADAPT DEVELOPMENT MINERALS CURRICULA
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The City of Acacias - Maputo - hosted 20 academics and trainers from ACP countries in a 'Curricula Sprint on Environment, Community, Health and Safety of Development Minerals' from 7 - 9 April. The event was organised jointly with the Southern African Development Community, the African Union Commission, the African Minerals Development Center, the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of the Republic of Mozambique and the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo.
The participants adapted Curricula on Environment, Community, Health & Safety of Development Minerals contextualized to their specific countries and regions for roll-out in their respective institutions.
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Gladys Kianji, a Kenyan lecturer from the University of Nairobi, had already been involved in a training of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, in late 2015. She joined the Curricula Sprint having trained over 500 students on Development Minerals at the University of Nairobi. She indicated that her participation in the Curricula Sprint provided additional and complementary knowledge to better raise the profile of the sector to her current and future students.
John Adu Kumi (Ghana), John William Gama (Tanzania) and Salabogi Mavoa (Fiji), described the workshop as "an impactful event thanks to a wide range a materials and case studies covered" and "an excellent blend of participants from different disciplines".
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ZAMBIAN MEDIA TRAIN ON DEVELOPMENT MINERALS
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Twenty-five (25) media practitioners drawn from all provinces of Zambia took part in the Media Training Workshop on Effective Reporting of Development Minerals. The event took place in Lusaka, March 2-3, 2017.
"There is little talk about this Development Minerals sector in Zambia. This training increased our understanding of the topic and motivated us to raise the profile of such an important and promising market. This training was an important step further toward informed and balanced media coverage and reporting, " said Angela Mwandu, a training participant.
Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Oliver Kanene, Director, Zambia Institute of Mass Communication and and Mr. Ian Milimo, Assistant Resident Representative of the UNDP Office.
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In other news, the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme supported an exhibition stand hosted by 5 small scale miners of Development Minerals at the Copperbelt Mining, Agricultural & Commercial Show in Kitwe organised by CAMINEX & CBM-TEC, between June 6-8.
In total, 4300 visitors had the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, build relationships and develop business partnership.
Additionally, the UNDP and Ministry teams participated in the seminar on ‘The outlook for Zambia mineral market – Driving economic diversification, overcoming challenges and discovering new opportunities’. This was an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of Development Minerals at local, national and sub-regional levels.
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CHAMPIONING DEVELOPMENT MINERALS IN TANZANIA AND CAMEROON
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On Wednesday 5 April 2017, the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme organized an Alumni Day in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The African Minerals and Geosciences Centre (AMGC) hosted this colourful event. Around 9 alumni, staff members from AMGC and a representative from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals attended the event which provided an opportunity for the alumni to present their achievements and actions in the framework of a 'Return to Work Project' they developed after their participation in one of the Programme's activities and workshops.
Lucas Kalombola, Crispin P. Kinabo and John Gama presented the successes they have achieved following their participation in previous training, including the development of training manuals, a one-day training workshop of 35 students (18 female & 17 male), the training of 5 people on ceramics, and the creation of a training program for artisanal and small scale miners on identification of different species of gypsum. They also received reported on commitments made by local government officials to provide support and closer environmental oversight of mining sites.
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Similarly, two program alumni from Cameroon, Djomo Tamo F. Duclair and Tata Wirba Usamaila represented the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme at the Cameroon Young Entrepreneurs Forum (FOJEC) held in Yaoundé, from April 17 - 22.
Numerous questions were asked by some of the 1000 people who visited the exhibition stand of the Programme, which increased the two alumni's commitment to tackle the problems faced by artisanal miners in the field. As Mr. Usamaila and Mr. Duclair say, "It is always a pleasure to show our fellow citizens the richness of the ground under our feet. This exhibition really encouraged us to become more professional in our areas of expertise while widening our scope of reasoning and analysis".
Charlot Moussa, the Programme's Country Coordinator, also took part in the forum and made a presentation of the activities the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme is undertaking in the Cameroon to the 200 participants of the session on April 20th.
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Godefroid Bigirimana – Monitoring, Evaluation and Data Specialist
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Godefroid is a Monitoring, Evaluation and Data Specialist for the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme. Godefroid leads the implementation of the monitoring, evaluation and sustainability strategies for the Programme. Prior to joining UNDP, Godefroid worked for about 6 years at the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) as a statistician and data management expert. Godefroid is interested in development and sustainable implementation strategy especially in developing countries.
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JAMAICA HIGHLIGHTS QUARRY REHABILITATION WITH NATIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOP
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Kingston, Jamaica hosted a National Training Workshop on Environment, Community, Health & Safety in the Development Minerals Sector in April 2017. The event was organized by the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme with the help of the Mines and Geology Division and the Ministry of Transport & Mining of Jamaica. Over 4 days, 19 representatives of the public, private and social sectors participated in the training, which included sessions on
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recent amendments to the Quarries Control Act and quarry rehabilitation.
The opening address was delivered by Ms. Stacey Plummer, Chief Inspector of Mines, Mines and Geology and Mr. Clinton Thompson, Commissioner of Mines, Ministry of Transport and Mining. The workshop included a field visit to a quarry site to witness quarry rehabilitation practices first-hand and sessions dedicated to the participation of women in the sector.
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CAMEROON: 7,800 ASM OPERATORS DOCUMENTED FOR FIRST TIME
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Cameroon has undertaken a country-wide 'census' to document for the first time the full extent of the mining for Development Minerals throughout the country. This census took place in November and December 2016 and in March 2017. A first report 'Census of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining and Quarries of the Development Minerals Sector in Cameroon' was issued in January 2017, a second report was released in March 2017.
This unprecedented and exclusive country-wide census led to the identification of 470 sites and 7,800 operators throughout Cameroon. The activity revealed the importance of women in the sector, who represent up to 50% in certain regions of the country.
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During a 3-day workshop in Douala, from 30 January until 2 February 2017, a technical review and validation of the report took place. In total, 46 stakeholders from the artisanal and small scale mining sector, representatives of the Ministry of Mines and Technological Development as well as selected sector experts reviewed and validated the report. This Census Report, which will be available to the public, is a milestone for the Development Minerals Sector in Cameroon. The report will serve as the launch-pad for all sector-specific activities by all interested stakeholders including local, national and regional investors.
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DEVELOPMENT MINERALS ANCHOR GUINEA'S RESPONSIBLE MINERAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
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To accompany Guinea's mining sector reforms, a Responsible Mineral Development Initiative (RMDI) was initiated in March 2014 by the Word Economic Forum and a range of other partners.
To conclude the process a round-table was held in Conakry from 21-24 February 2017, gathering about 420 participants representing all technical and financial parties involved in the restructuring of the country’s mining sector. The round-table was structured along two themes: the challenges related to the governance and transparency of the mining sector, and the need for responsible mineral development in Guinea.
The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme staff participated in the panel sessions and ensuing discussions, substantively leading dialogue on the need to harness the
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as-yet untapped potential of Development Minerals in the country's minerals development agenda.
The RMDI facilitated the identification of the key challenges and constraints faced in the Development Minerals sector in Guinea - particularly the national institutional framework. This discussion was informed by the Capacity Development Roadmap developed for the implementation of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme in Guinea. The end-result was the development of a Strategic Action Plan on the short, medium and long term interventions needed to address the identified challenges and constraints in alignment with the programme's Roadmap. This Strategic Action Plan, informed by the Development Minerals roadmap, is the blue-print for future extractive sector reform in Guinea.
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MOSI-OA-TUNYA - "THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS": CASCADING THE TRAINING OF TRAINERS IN LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA
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Fifty-six (56) Zambian small-scale miners, civil society actors and government representatives took part in the Training of Trainers Workshop on Environment, Community, Health & Safety in the Development Minerals sector in Livingstone, Zambia, on March 28-31, 2017.
The workshop featured opening remarks by Mr. Chipilauka Mukofu, Director of Geological Survey Department on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, and introductory remarks were made by Dr. Daniel Franks, on behalf of UNDP.
The training increased technical knowledge of operating standards, technologies, techniques and facilitated knowledge exchange
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on best practices in environment, health and safety standards for the 56 participants. Furthermore, intensive group and one-on-one mentoring of the participants on implementing return-to-work plans was facilitated by previous trained alumni.
Alumnus Vincent Kawamya, who attended a workshop in 2015, participated in the ToT to mentor the training participants. His contribution was an excellent opportunity to foster exchange of best practices among peers. He spoke about his achievements and challenges in the implementation of his Return to Work project. His achievements include : identification of over 30 mining sites, more than 40 field visits with raising-awareness activities towards the miners, and partnerships with local governments among other things.
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SPOTLIGHT ON RETURN TO WORK PLANS
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Rosemary Okla works at Ghana's Geological Survey Authority. She is an alumnus of the Regional Training Workshop on Environment, Community, Health and Safety in the Development Minerals Sector which took place in Accra, Ghana, in March 2016. She implemented a project that consists of using the Geographic Information System to spatially map the relative distribution and spread of the exploitation of Development Minerals that are extracted from the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. This previously unknown information is now publicly available to any interested stakeholders.
More information concerning Rosemary and her work on our website.
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Mariama Abdoulaye Ide is the executive director of the VLAN Group, Niger. She also is an alumnus of the Regional Training Workshop on Environment, Community, Health and Safety in the Development Minerals Sector which took place in Accra, Ghana, in March 2016.
Mariama's Return to Work Project focuses on the valuation and production of naturally colored stones pavement, their use as materials for surface coating as well as building of new roads in the Niamey and Agadez regions of Niger. Mariama has now finalized her business plan, and is currently mobilizing resources for the implementation of her project.
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UGANDA: DEVELOPMENT MINERALS BREAK ONTO LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
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The Government of Uganda has undertaken steps to facilitate better oversight of the mining sector through the formulation and review process of the draft 2016 Mining and Minerals policy.
The Development Minerals sector in Uganda, however, faces significant barriers and challenges. In response to this, the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme organised an orientation exercise for 14 Members of Uganda's Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources in Kampala, 23 March 2017.
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This Orientation Workshop created awareness and provided specific information about the sector. The sector-specific regulatory frameworks discussed during the orientation highlighted the key role of the Committee in leading the enactment of responsive legislation for the sector by the Parliament of Uganda. Thanks to this timely event, the parliamentarians committed to use their knowledge of the Development Minerals sector to inform the revision of the Quarry Act later this year.
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OCEANS APART YET BOUND TOGETHER BY KNOWLEDGE: JAMAICAN DELEGATION TRAINS IN TANZANIA
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The absence of advanced training in ceramics and jewelry design in Jamaica has inspired a unique Africa-Caribbean partnership. The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme supported a delegation of nine (9) Jamaican artisans to undertake a one month training course at the African Minerals and Geosciences Centre in Tanzania. This workshop aimed to inspire south-to-south knowledge exchange and the mastery of clay and ceramics.
Ms. Lisa Callender was part of the Jamaican delegation. By participating in the training, Lisa hoped to enhance her knowledge of how internationally competitive industries for jewelry, clay products and semi-precious stones were organized and how design and production companies function within these industries.
After her trip to Tanzania, which included practical visits to a variety of
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sites in Kunduchi, Lisa met her fellow alumni during a Report-back event, which took place on May 29 in Kingston, Jamaica. There, Lisa had the opportunity to share her impressions and future projects related to her participation in the workshop. Lisa described her experience as truly invaluable: "I see my trip to Tanzania as an input to refining my technical understanding of the use of local materials to make high-quality products", she explains. She further added that "culturally, the language and the people in Tanzania are fascinating and provide unlimited potential sources of creative inspiration for South-flavored design and lifestyle."
This training opened-up new opportunities for Lisa, who now intends to create a clay jewelry design show to include newly acquired cultural and visual inspiration from Africa and bring new opportunities for marketing and investments in Jamaica's clay sector.
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Jamaican artisans who attended to Tanzania study tour exhibiting their work during the report-back event in Kingston.
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MINERAL OF THE MONTH: MICA
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It’s the glitter in eyeshadow and the traction in brake pads. If you’ve ever applied make-up or driven in a car, then you have used mica, a group of silicate minerals that have a layered or platy texture. Only a handful of the 40 mica minerals are mined for economic use. Muscovite, white mica, is the most common, followed by Phlogopite, a dark brown mica. Mica is widely used in many products, from electronics, plastics, and pearlescent paints, to brake pads and mineral based make-ups.
Like so many so called ‘low value minerals’ data on mica production is incomplete, but we do know that artisanal and small scale miners play an important role, particularly in India and Madagascar. Recent media attention has highlighted the risks of child labor in the production of mica in India. Efforts to formalise the sector by auctioning licences to larger companies, however, also present risks for the thousands of artisanal miners and their families who currently draw a livelihood from mica mining. The complexity of these challenges has led to the formation of the Responsible Mica Initiative, a collaborative approach to source mica responsibly. Read more here:
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WHAT WE ARE READING AND WATCHING
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Can development minerals avoid abuses and fuel African growth? Kieran Guilbert, Reuters, July 3, 2017
The Dark Sites of Granite: Modern slavery, child labour and unsafe work in Indian granite quarries, Glocal Research, Stop Child Labour and Indian Committee of the Netherlands, August 2017
Regional markets, politics and value chains: The case of West African cement. Byiers, B., Karaki, K., Vanheukelom, J. 2017.
Gemstones and Sustainable Development Knowledge Hub, University of Delaware, University of Queensland, University of Lausanne.
In pictures: Dialogues and pilot projects for better ASM governance in Madagascar, Andry Rabemanantsoa, April 2017
IGF Guidance for Governments, Managing artisanal and small-scale mining, IGF, January 2017
Uganda: Nkoyoyo Roofs with Stones, allAfrica, April 2014.
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Presentation of Erisa Kiwana Nkoyoyo, an Ugandan stone roofing businessman, using local dimension stones for better housing.
The video is here (October 2015). |
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The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme is a 3-year, €13.1 million capacity building program to promote the sustainable development of industrial minerals, construction materials, dimension stones and semi-precious stones in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Often referred to as 'Low Value Minerals and Materials', these minerals are in fact high value for domestic economic development. To reset the debate and shed the pejorative connotations associated with 'low value' the programme uses the term Development Minerals. "Development Minerals" are minerals and materials that are mined, processed, manufactured and consumed domestically in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. Development Minerals are economically important close to the location where the commodity is mined. Development Minerals include, industrial minerals, such as gypsum and talc, construction materials, such as sand and gravel, dimension stones, such as marble and granite, and semi-precious stones, such as garnet and amethyst. Development minerals are locally mined materials used in local and domestic infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, agriculture and craftsmanship. The program is an initiative of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, financed by the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and implemented by UNDP. The aim is to: 1) increase the sector’s productivity; 2) better manage mining operations; 3) adhere to national and international environmental and health standards; and 4) prevent conflict through effective community relations. Implemented at both the regional and country levels the programme includes: training; small grants; the production of maps and databases; review of legislation and policy; organization of community dialogues, technology fairs and networking events.
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Copyright © 2017, UNDP, All rights reserved.
Bulletin #5: 2017. Contact us: development.minerals@undp.org
http://www.developmentminerals.org
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