Entebbe, Uganda,  March 24, 2017: A two-day workshop organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) in partnership with the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum (UCMP), ended today at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe, Uganda under the theme: “A New Beginning: A collaborative partnering approach towards African Geodata”. The Theme was guided by the aspirations of the Agenda 2063, the principles of the Africa Mining Vision and within the framework of Africa Minerals Governance Framework. The workshop  attracted key stakeholders from across Africa in order to examine innovative ways within which geodata (geoscientific data) can be generated, managed and used to contribute to social and economic structural transformation, wealth creation, and poverty reduction.

“While Africa has always been endowed with rich natural resources, the continent has not fully benefited from them due to an assortment of factors. One of the major holdbacks is the limited availability of geodata to guide policy and investment,” noted Hon Richard Kaijuka, the Vice President of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum. It is because of this gap, that the African Union Commission has initiated this geodata compiling effort. The Africa Mining Vision (AMV) which is a flagship of the Agenda 2063, recognizes resources’ data as an imperative for countries to strengthen their positions when negotiating complex agreements in extractives, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, infrastructure and tourism sector.

Studies have shown that returns on investments in exploration in Africa could result in a multiplier effect of 1:20. This means that for every investment of $1 in exploration, the country will generate $20 in returns across the broader economy. 

“Making geodata readily available and accessible to government, industry and other stakeholders not only enables effective decision-making but helps create more value and generate more revenues, along the minerals’ value chain” said Mr. Frank Mugyenyi, Senior Industry Advisor for the Department of Trade and Industry at the AUC. “According to the Africa Mining Vision, the Africa Union Commission recognizes that geodata provides a foundation to facilitate inclusive and sustainable economic growth by stimulating industrial and inward investment”, he emphasized.

He however, pointed out that exploration is a complex, risky and highly costly venture that requires a multi-stakeholder collaboration and coordination, hence the need to build confidence and enhance trust between the public and private sector in order to attract investment.

The workshop tried to find concrete solutions to Africa’s geodata shortfalls and drew expert participants from member states and institutions across Africa, Britain and Canada. Discussions were centered on: Data requirements, Data Management and Technology Innovation, a business case for a public- private  partnership (PPP) Model and Capacity Building.

The key outcome of the workshop was an agreement on a regional pilot project for the Eastern African region with the portal to be hosted by Uganda. The pilot project which will be under the auspices of AUC, will be conducted in a collaborative partnership between the British Geological Survey (BGS), Geosoft of Canada with the Uganda Geological Survey and the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum.  This will be based on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Business Model for generating, management and ownership of geodata by participating countries and it's expected to be piloted in other African countries.

For further information, please contact Mr. Frank Dixon Mugyenyi, Senior Industry Advisor for the Department of Trade and Industry - Email: Mugyenyif@africa-union.org Mariam Nabatanzi, Department of Trade and Industry – Tel: + 251 929080876 - Email: nabatanzim@africa-union.org

Media contacts:

  Esther Azaa Tankou, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC Tel. +251 911361185, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

For further information: Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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