Program for Strengthening the Governance of the Extractive Sector in West Africa

Despite a long mining tradition, particularly in gold, the countries of West Africa had minimal experience in industrial mining until the 1980s. With the surge in gold prices in the late 1990s, the global mining industry discovered the natural resource potential of the region and the mineral sector rapidly became an important source of revenue for governments. However the sector was contributing little to the social development of the region. In 2009 with the adoption of the African Mining Vision, African leaders committed to a comprehensive development approach that integrates mining with development policy. They saw the sector as a potential vehicle for growth, enrichment and development but realized that mining can only contribute to the transformation of the continent if it supports socio-economic growth that meets national and regional development goals.

Delivery partners have requested assistance from CIRDI, as a neutral partner, to help strengthen national and sub-regional institutions. The core program activities are:

1. Approve a strategy document for the sustainable development of a mining sector (extractive) integrated within UEMOA
2. In Senegal, at the national level, adopt a Sectoral Development Policy Letter (LPSD) and its Implementation Plan (PMO)
3. Establish a Master’s Program on Environment and Mining Waste Management.

Using a transparent, integrated and sustainable approach to mining governance, the project encompasses:

• Legislative, policy and regulatory frameworks
• Capacity and institution building
• Environmental and social management
• Economic strengthening and diversification
• Shared and integrated social responsibility between all actors of society

To date the project has achieved results in four areas.

1. Support to UEMOA
   • In December 2016, member states validated a draft strategy for the sustainable development of a mining sector integrated within the UEMOA.

2. Support to Governments
   • Submitted the draft of the Sectoral Development Policy (LPSD) Letter and its Implementation Plan (PMO) to Government of Senegal in December 2016.   The process included consultation with six target groups (mining industry, private sector, women in mining, civil society, artisanal miners, local authorities and elected officials) to improve the government’s knowledge of the issues and actors in the sector.

3. Support for multi-stakeholder dialogue
   • Completed a study of the mining sector in the Kédougou region of Senegal.

4. Strengthening of academic capacity
   • Signed collaborative agreements with the University Ouaga I Pr Joseph Ki-Zerbo (Ouagadougou) and the University of Cheikh Anta Diop (Dakar), for the development of a Master’s Program in Environment and Mining Waste Management.

The project aims to strengthen the capacity of UEMOA in the development of an integrated mining sector, and implement integrated and responsible mining management by the governments of target countries. Concurrently, it seeks to increase the involvement of local actors in dialogue on integrated development of the mining sector, and strengthen the capacity of selected universities to develop and implement training and research.