1. Partnerships to Restore Minerals Policy and Institutions in a Post Conflict Country Sierra Leone

2. Agenda Brief introduction to the project Perspectives
The origins of the project
Partnerships
Overview of artisanal mining in Sierra Leone
Constraints to the restoration of policy and institutions
What have the partnerships achieved?
What more do we intend to achieve?

3. Introduction
Two-year DFID funded project in Sierra Leone to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Mineral Resources (MMR)
Purpose: To strengthen the efficiency and capacity of the MMR to achieve its mandate
Activities include day-to-day management support, policy development, legal and regulatory reform, strengthening functions
Focus is on implementation and not analysis/theory
Stress day-to-day management support/fire-fighting
Also working with UMU and Chamber of Mines

4. Our perspective?

6. Our perspective

7. Our perspective

8. Our perspective

9. Our perspective

10. Your perspective?

11. Sierra Leone top performer in West Africa

12. Tourism potential

14. Sierra Leone Small country in West Africa
Gained independence from Britain 1961
Abundant natural resources include rutile, diamonds, bauxite, gold, iron ore, platinum
Security and stability a major success following end of war in 2002

15. Origins of the project
Management and Functional Review of MMR conducted by Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU)
DFID Diamond Sector Project
DFID Security Sector Project
DFID support to United Mineworkers Union (UMU)
Strategic and Environmental Assessment (Gary McMahon, 2007)
Request from previous President for an expatriate Director General

16. Partnerships Government: Membership organisations: MMR, PSRU, HRMO,
United Mineworkers Union,
Chamber of Mines
Government:
MMR, PSRU, HRMO,
Office of the President,
GDO, NRA
Donors:
DFID, World Bank,
EC, UNDP, USAID
Reference Afghanistan experiences

17. Artisanal mining Artisanal licenses:
2006: 2,184 licences; 2007: 1,968 licences
Only available to Sierra Leoneans
Estimated to be 2,000 unlicensed
Estimated to be 150,000 to 300,000 artisanal miners (grassroot diggers)
In 2006 artisanal miners produced approximately 80% of the country’s diamonds
Artisanal licenses are not having the desired effect on the market
Most grassroots diggers living in poverty
Lack of engagement between large-scale mining companies and communities and artisanal miners
Sometimes confusion between LSM, exploration and prospecting licenses and ASM licenses
Artisanal licenses are not having the desired effect on the market

18. Constraints to restoration of policy and institutions
The loss of technical expertise across the organisation but particularly within the Mines Division
Lack of policy implementation: Core Mineral Policy, Strategic and Environmental Assessment (Gary McMahon, 2007)
Regulations that are not fit for purpose
The weak linkages between the regional offices and headquarters
Ineffective monitoring and compliance of precious mineral trading

19. Realising potential requires:
Government organisations with capacity to attract and retain professional, technical staff
Public servants with the incentives required to govern the sector better
A separation of policy from implementation
A clear legal and regulatory framework with the capacity to enforce
Mining companies meeting their social and environmental obligations
Government organisations willing to engage and respond to stakeholders
Mining communities seeing tangible benefits of mineral production

20. What have the partnerships achieved so far?
Major institutional reform proposals being debated by Cabinet
Review of mineral rights is a transparent process
MMR mindset is shifting away from fire-fighting and towards economic and social policy
MMR communicating better with civil society
Improved communication between MDA’s involved in minerals governance
Chamber of Mines established
Diamond Area Community Development Fund “unblocked”
United Mineworkers Union on path to becoming sustainable

21. Better stakeholder engagement

22. What else do we intend to achieve?
Policy implementation
New legislation
New regulatory framework including new artisanal mining and trading regulations
Institutional reforms approved and implemented
Ministry has capacity to perform functions
4 points above have had positive and sustainable impact on artisanal mining
Test of partnership effectiveness = CASM 2009
Most of this is in collaboration with World Bank

23. Thank you