Feb 5, 2013 ... Issue 14, February 2013. The. Argus. The monthly newsletter for Australia's
partnership and development program in Africa, the Australia-Africa ...
Issue 14, February 2013
The
Argus
The monthly newsletter for Australia’s partnership and development program in Africa, the Australia-Africa Partnerships Facility
Mining for Development: Sharing Australia’s experience This issue of The AAPF Argus focuses on the Facility’s mining governance program*, which operates within the context of the Australian Government’s Mining for Development (M4D) initiative. M4D aims to support the efforts of partner governments in Africa to build their capacity to manage their resource wealth in ways that promote equitable and sustainable economic development. Mining has been a driving force for economic and social development in Australia since the 1850s. With well-managed exploitation of natural resources, including minerals, resourcerich African countries could attain broader economic and social development. The Facility’s mining governance program focuses on public policy challenges related to the mining sector, particularly in terms of countries’ development priorities. AAPF mining governance activities explore areas such as environmental management, social and community aspects of resource development, equitable benefit sharing
and the use of mining revenue for economic diversification. A significant part of the Facility’s program involves study tour and training activities. The study tours are mainly to Australia, while training activities generally take place in Africa. Since August 2011, more than 940 officials from 37 African countries and the African Union have participated in AAPF mining governance study tours and training activities.
AAPF mining governance activities
The program also supports other activities: the placement of short-term advisers; short-term professional development programs by private sector bodies; partnerships and exchanges (including secondment programs); and grant funding to non-government organisations and other institutions. Ten such activities are underway and are listed on the right. Other activities are also in preparation.
* About half of the Facility’s activities are in the agriculture and food security or public policy sectors. We published special issues of The AAPF Argus on these sectors in August and September 2012, respectively.
Achieving Transformational Development through Extractive Industries: Policy-setting Session at the 2013 African Mining Indaba (Multi-country; July 2012 – June 2013) Consultant Services to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for the Establishment of the African Mineral Development Centre (Multi-country; December 2012 – May 2013) Development and Dissemination of the Natural Resources Charter (Multi-country; May 2012 – September 2013) Establishment of a Natural Resource Tax Unit in the Liberian Revenue Department (May 2012 – July 2013) Mozambique Ministry of Mineral Resources (MIREM) Legal Support Institutional Strengthening Program (March 2012 - June 2013) Pilot Vocational Training and Secondment (Infrastructure Planning) Activity (Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia; May 2012 – October 2013) Strengthening Mineral Tax Administration in Africa (Cameroon, Namibia and Uganda; May 2012 – April 2013) Strengthening Mineral Tax Administration in in Ghana (June 2012 – June 2013) Support for Preparation and Start-up of the World Bank Mineral Resources project in Mozambique (July 2011 – June 2013) Technical Assistance to the South Sudanese Ministry of Petroleum and Mining (May 2012 – April 2013)
AAPF activities addressed our development challenges: Alumni
Henrique
Esther
Grace (middle)
The Facility’s mining governance training and study tour activities are demanddriven and contribute to positive change in participants’ home countries. The following testimonials from participants demonstrate the development impact of just some of these activities:
could go on, not only for people living in Maputo, but also for the people or government officials of the provinces, mainly the provinces where we have mining activities, like Tete, Nampula, Manica and so on.”
study tour] I arranged an SME summit, where we invited the mining houses to present opportunities for the local people.” Esther said that these mining companies promised to support local suppliers to gain experience and build capacity to provide quality products.
Henrique Cossa (Adviser to Mozambique’s Minister of Mineral Resources) – Henrique attended a training seminar on ‘negotiation of mineral contracts’ in Maputo in December 2012 as part of the Mozambique Ministry of Mineral Resources Legal Support Institutional Strengthening Program. He said that the seminar was “of huge importance”. “After this workshop I feel I am able to do better,” Henrique said. “I feel I can negotiate contracts to the benefit of the country and also to the benefit of the people. I wish this
Honourable Esther Molete (Mayor of Joe Morolong Local Municipality, South Africa) – During a study tour to South Africa and Australia on local procurement and supplier development in March 2012, participants learnt about good industry practice and opportunities to improve the capability and competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SME), according to Esther. She said South Africa had policies and legislation in place for the companies to procure from local people and, while the system was not perfect, “we are getting there”. “[Following on from the
Australian Agency for International Development, AusAID
Grace Nassuna (Ugandan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development officer) – At the conclusion of the African Women in Mining and Development Study Tour in November 2012, Grace said that African mining companies could learn from their Australian counterparts with regard to understanding work-life balance for women. “I’m going to talk to my supervisors and make proposals especially for the help and support of women who have children,” she said. “We should be able to balance our time.”
An AusAID initiative managed by Cardno Emerging Markets (Australia) Pty Ltd
Issue 14, February 2013
The
Argus
The monthly newsletter for Australia’s partnership and development program in Africa, the Australia-Africa Partnerships Facility
Harnessing Liberia’s mineral wealth for a brighter future Liberia, following recent internal conflict, is one of the world’s poorest countries (ranked 182 of 187 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index, 2011). However, with its high mineral potential – including gold and diamonds – Liberia could increase its national wealth for the benefit of all its people. The Liberian Ministry of Finance approached the Australian Government with a request for technical assistance to enhance the management of the natural resources sector. In response to this request, the AAPF will fund a technical adviser for 15 months to support the Revenue Department to establish a Natural Resources Tax Unit (NRTU). The adviser, Chris Sheehan, from the Australian Taxation Office and recruited through Adam Smith International, began working last month. The project will be officially launched on 5 February 2013. The NRTU will form part of the Ministry of Finance’s Large Tax Payers Division and it will assist in the review of natural resource companies operating in Liberia.
Liberia has participated in several AAPF activities, including a recent mining governance alumni learning forum in Mozambique (participants pictured). Project support will include: advice about policy, procedures and systems to administer the natural resource tax, including the development of an audit strategy; assistance with organisational matters; training and on-the-job mentoring; assistance with the organisation of an
Read the full story online>>
AAPF team faces
In brief…
M4D website changes: The website for AusAID participants in Mining for Development activities (www.australia-africa-m4d.org) has been modified so that the general public (not just participants) can access ‘Resources’ and ‘Gallery’. The Resources section is a collection of articles and other reference documents relevant to mining governance in Africa. Let us know if there are other items you would like us to include.
Conference sponsorship: AusAID, through the AAPF, is funding a number of AusAID Capacity Development Stipends to the 2013 annual conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA). Priority will go to African impact assessment professionals working in Africa who had AusAID support at the 2012 IAIA annual conference, and women and individuals working in the area of mining sector impact assessment. Access www.iaia.org for application procedures.
Upcoming study tours: In the coming months, AusAID will be funding two study tours to Australia: one will focus on mining-related infrastructure development and technical and vocational education and training; the other will cover gold security and fraud prevention. Invitations to participants will come through governments selected by AusAID.
M4D in South Sudan: AusAID is funding a one-year technical assistance program within the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining in South Sudan. The program, delivered under the AAPF, has recruited a technical adviser from Adam Smith International to assist the Ministry to establish a legislative, regulatory and institutional framework for the minerals sector and to build the capacity of the Ministry to administer the sector. Read more online>>
More activities to come: AusAID is in the process of finalising AAPF programs to support mining governance in Ghana, Liberia, Mozambique and Zambia.
Please direct all comments and feedback to the editor: Will Wright AAPF Communications Support and Planning Consultant E:
[email protected] T: +27 (0)12 362 5950 F: +27 (0)12 362 5818
appropriate study tour to Australia. This project supports the Liberian Government’s development priorities, particularly in relation to poverty reduction. It will also help to strengthen the relationship between Liberia and Australia.
Jeanne Ellis is the AAPF’s Key Project Development Specialist (Mining). She supports the implementation of the Facility’s mining governance portfolio, which includes activities such as Support to the South Sudanese Ministry of Petroleum and Mining and the Pilot Regional Mining Infrastructure Vocational Training Programme. She also manages AAPF mining governance study tours and served as Team Leader for the recent Women in Mining and Development study tour to South Africa and Australia. Prior to joining the AAPF, Jeanne was a Senior Manager with Cardno’s Private Clients practice in Washington, working with companies, communities and governments on the design and implementation of development programs and social performance activities.
The purpose of this newsletter is to inform AusAID, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, particularly Australian Ambassadors and Heads of Mission in Africa, other stakeholders and alumni about the AAPF’s main activities. For more information about the AAPF and its activities, visit the AAPF website at www.aa-partnerships.org and its intranet (accessible via the website). To subscribe/unsubscribe to The AAPF Argus, please email the editor with your preference in the subject line.
