Intergovernmental Forum on Mining/Minerals/Metals and Sustainable Development André Bourassa, Forum Secretariat Minerals and Metals Sector Natural Resources Canada

2 Why this Forum?  Development needed for poverty alleviation Priority for developing countries  Development needs to be sustainable Must be competitive Comparative advantage: mineral endowment Need to maximize benefits  Lessons learned on mining Mining can be sustainable Canada, Australia, Chile, etc.. If it is done right, i.e. Good governance

3 Why This Forum?  Mining issues debated globally  Players on issues are organized globally Industry, NGOs  Governments have most at stake They own and manage the resources Responsibility to generate benefits to people  Governments lack a global organization to Promote their views and interests globally Influence global policy development

4 The Forum  A partnership of the World Summit Started through the Global Dialogue Promoted by South Africa and Canada  A partnership of national governments Voluntary, not a Treaty Status of decisions Came into effect, February 2005 Inaugural meeting in November member countries

5 The Forum  Objective: Promote contribution of MMM to SD  Nature: voluntary, advisory and consultative  Respond to priorities of the mining section of JPOI  How? By enhancing capacity for governance Sharing of lessons learned Identify opportunities and respond to challenges Providing recommendations on best practice in dealing with issues (social and environmental)

6 The Forum  Membership: National governments Mines Ministries  Observers Multilateral or international agencies  National delegations Can include stakeholders: industry NGOs, etc.  Canada provides secretariat for first 5 years.

7 Expected Results of the Forum  Enhanced national governance of the sector  More effective generation and more equitable distribution of short and long term benefits  More international support for capacity building  More effective and timely government responses to sector challenges  More positive investment climate  More policy influence by Mines Ministries

8 Inaugural Meeting  Inaugural meeting: November 2005 Election of Executive Committee  Work program: three issues National mining policy framework Equitable distribution of benefits Mine closure and financial surety  Recommendations for future work  A Market Outlook Committee is created

9 Progress Report  Template on national mineral policy framework  Template of investors perception of country risks  Registration with ECOSOC  Creation of Market Outlook Committee: briefings  Comparison of exploration and extraction regulations  Follow-up with multilateral agencies: programs relevant to mining  Preparation of 2006 meeting  ETC.

10 Challenges  Funding Activities for work programme Canada funds the operations of the Secretariat  No membership fees Most members are developing countries  Key supporters to date UNCTAD, UNDESA, World Bank, UK’s DFID, Canada

11 Opportunities  Enhance linkages betweeen regional intergovernmental groups on mining Limited national human resources  More effective and timely information sharing Mining groups, agencies, others  Broaden stakeholder participation on national delegations

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