AFRICA LAUNCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT MINERALS PROGRAMME

Africa’s strong economic growth, infrastructure boom, and rapid urbanisation are driving the demand for construction materials, dimension stones, industrial minerals and semi-precious stones. Despite their catorgorisation as low value minerals and materials (LVMM), these natural resources have the potential to boost development through employment creation at the local level for millions people, and to stimulate intra-Africa trade. Conservative estimates indicate that more than 8 million people in Africa are engaged in this sector, with women making up more than 40 percent of the work force. With greater attention, policy support and regulatory oversight, LVMM could play a key role in driving the continent’s inclusive growth agenda.

In this context, the African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) Group of States, the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have initiated the Development Minerals Programme, a three-year, €13.1 million capacity building programme to support the LVMM sector in 40 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. More than 25 of the participating countries will be in Africa. The programme aims to support the capacity development of key stakeholders in the sector such as regulatory agencies and local governments; private stakeholders including small-scale mining enterprises, construction companies, mining and quarrying associations; as well as training centres, universities, civil society organizations and community groups.

The Development Minerals Programme is aligned with the aspirations of the African Mining Vision (AMV), adopted by African Heads of State in 2009, that seeks to ensure natural resources are used in a sustainable way and for the benefit of all.

What: Africa launch of the “Development Minerals Programme ”

When: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon on Monday 9 November 2015

Where: African Union Small Conference Room 2

Who: H.E Tolesa Shagi, Minister of Mines, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

H.E Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the AUC

Ms Treasure Thembisile Maphanga, Director of Trade and Industry, AUC

Maximin Emagna, ACP Secretariat, Brussels

Ambassador Gary Quince, Head of EU Delegation to the AU

Mr Lebogang Motlana, Director of UNDP’s Regional Service Centre for Africa

For interviews and media availability, please contact:

AUC: Patient Acho, AtchoP@africa-union.org, tel. +251 929 335250

UNDP: Eva Hinds, eva.hinds@undp.org, tel. +251 9 2320 7525

On Twitter: Hashtag #amv, #extractives, #developmentminerals and @DevelopmentMin, @_AfricanUnion, @UNDPAfrica, @PressACP, @europeaid @EU_Commission, @UNDPEU

Background:

The Development Minerals Programme is an initiative of African, Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Group of States, coordinated by the ACP Secretariat, financed by the European Commission and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The programme is implemented by UNDP.

More than 25 African countries will be participating in the programme, including: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Earlier launched in Brussels, Belgium in mid-July 2015, the Development Minerals Programme is now being launched in Africa on the occasion of the first regional training workshop on environment, community, health and safety in the low value minerals and materials sector, with the participation of representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.