BACKGROUND:

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) jointly organised the Big Table on Managing Africa's Natural Resources for Growth and Poverty Reduction, in Addis Ababa on the 1st of  February 2007. The meeting agreed that Africa's huge natural resources endowment could engender growth and multiplier effects on the continent - if properly managed. This hinges on ensuring Africa's ownership of the development process, strengthening governance systems, reinforcing institutional capacity, investing natural resources wealth in the creation of knowledge for economic innovation, negotiating better terms with external partners, and integrating the natural resources sector into national development frameworks. It was recognised that many natural resources are finite, and the wealth they generate should be invested in other forms of capital, particularly human, social and physical. It was also recognised that the potential of using natural resources rents to promote Africa's infrastructural development, could be harnessed further than it currently is.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the International Study Group (ISG) to Review Africa's Mineral Regimes is, in the wording of the    Big Table Summary Report , to review the 'current generation of natural resources laws and regulations to better accommodate the interests of African countries'  This is in line with a paradigm shift towards a societal development perspective.

Implicit in this statement, is the recognition of the role of law in economic development. This raises important questions. First, about the definition of development and the choice between different development models. Second, about the role of law in the different development models, as well as the role of law in the mining sector in the context of those models. A third question is related to the choice of a development model that suits the needs and interests of African countries. From those bases, it will be relevant to discuss the scope of work of the ISG, as well as phases, methodology and criteria to carry out its tasks. 

The ISG will focus amongst other issues,  on sharing of best practices, identification of national capacity gaps, formulation of recommendations of the required actions by various stakeholders (African governments, civil society organization, African research institutions, and private sector) to address these gaps, and advocacy for change in modalities and approaches. The Group will also aim to stimulate dialogue on transforming development relations between African countries and their key external partners for increased  effectiveness and enhanced development impact of harnessing minerals for sustainable development within the continent. 

The International Study Group participants include mining industry experts, private sector actors, representatives of research institutions and academia, as well as lawyers who have been sensitised to understand policy formulation and its impacts in relation to achieving development objectives within the context of the group's study. The ISG will by  and large make staunch efforts to engage stakeholders of the mining industry in Africa that will be affected by its work.

WORKING GROUP:

It is envisaged and within the mandate of the ISG that on-going collaboration of the ISG and its participants will be done through an e-discussion forum. Persons that would like to be included in this participatory group can send an email to nridisg@discussion.uneca.org with the subject heading 'Prospective Participant' and within the body of the email, mention their full name and background with relation to the work of the ISG. The background can be as short as  a sentence mentioning the prospective participant's field of work, organisation or their interest in the work of the ISG.