INAUGURAL MEETING OF CASM (AFRICA) ADDIS ABABA

COMMUNIQUÉ FROM CASM (AFRICA) 10/08/05

INAUGURAL MEETING OF CASM (AFRICA) ADDIS ABABA

10 August 2005

The inaugural meeting of the Communities and Small-scale Mining (CASM) Africa initiative (CASM (Africa)) took place on 10th August 2005 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as a precursor to the African Mining Partnership (AMP) meeting held from 11 to 12th August 2005.

Members of CASM (Africa) agreed that the new organisation will function as a regional partner of the multi-donor CASM (Global) network whose Secretariat is hosted by the World Bank in Washington DC, USA.

CASM (Global) and CASM (Africa) share an urgent commitment to enhance the positive contribution that the ASM sector can make to development processes in many countries.

CASM (Global’s) role is to develop and share knowledge, build networks, facilitate projects, provide an advisory and review function on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) with the goal of transforming ASM into profitable enterprises within sustainable communities.

Through partnership with CASM (Global), CASM (Africa) will be a key conduit and platform for establishing critical in- country, locally owned programmes and influence the international agenda based on African experiences. CASM (Africa) will assist with on-the-ground implementation of ASM projects and activities.

Given CASM (Africa’s) access to local and international knowledge and experiences on ASM it is anticipated that it will help the AMP and assist with the implementation of the AMP’s own ASM initiatives, in support of the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

CASM (Africa) has now adopted a 3-year work programme as part of its developing business plan.

This is aimed at:

Profiling and better understanding the current and potential contribution of the ASM sector to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, including poverty reduction.
Actively advocating the inclusion of ASM considerations into national development strategies and plans, including Poverty Reduction Strategies.
Providing a dynamic network for interested parties from all sectors to share experiences and emerging good practice through appropriate training and knowledge transfer.
Building sustainable ASM communities through improved and enhanced ASM rights and responsibilities and better integration into formal economies.

CASM (Africa) activities are coordinated by an interim Executive Committee chaired by Mr. Linus Adie (Director, Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Projects, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria).

It was agreed that the Southern and East African Mineral Centre (SEAMIC) based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania would continue to serve as the secretariat of CASM (Africa) and will host the web page.

CASM (Africa), along with other regional CASMs, is represented at the CASM (Global) Strategic Management and Advisory Group that provides oversight to the CASM (Global) network and secretariat.

ENDS