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| Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development | |
|---|---|
| Name | Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development |
| Formation | 2002 |
| Type | International forum |
| Headquarters | Geneva |
| Region served | Global |
Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development is an international multilateral platform convening states, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, and industry, civil society and Indigenous representatives to address extractive sector issues. The forum links policy forums such as the United Nations system, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, African Union, and regional bodies including the European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations, fostering dialogue on mining, minerals and metals for sustainable development.
The forum emerged from deliberations at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Earth Summit follow-up processes involving United Nations Development Programme, International Council on Mining and Metals, and national delegations from Canada, Australia, Chile, South Africa, and Peru. Initiatives by the Intergovernmental Forum’s progenitors responded to calls from the Rio Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation for multistakeholder platforms linking extractive sector governance, trade, and environmental protection. Founding meetings assembled delegations from Norway, United Kingdom, Brazil, India, and China alongside representatives from International Finance Corporation, Global Environment Facility, and World Health Organization observers.
The forum’s mandate aligns with international instruments including the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and Sustainable Development Goal frameworks endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly. Core objectives include improving mining governance in line with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, advancing responsible sourcing in partnership with OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, and supporting reform agendas similar to those pursued by the African Mining Vision and the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization. The forum aims to mediate among stakeholders such as International Labour Organization, World Trade Organization, Transparency International, and Indigenous advocacy groups represented by organizations like the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs.
Governance arrangements mirror models used by forums like the United Nations Environment Assembly and the Global Environment Facility council, with a steering committee comprising state representatives, industry associations such as the Chamber of Mines of South Africa, financial institutions like the Asian Development Bank, and civil society networks including Oxfam and Friends of the Earth International. Secretariat support has been provided by host institutions in Geneva and by partner agencies such as UNCTAD and UNEP. Advisory panels have included experts from Columbia University, University of Queensland, London School of Economics, and think tanks like the International Institute for Environment and Development.
The forum convenes thematic working groups on topics reflected in initiatives from International Council on Mining and Metals, Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Activities include capacity-building workshops alongside institutions such as the World Bank Group and African Development Bank, policy dialogues with European Commission delegations, technical cooperation projects with Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and research collaborations with Stockholm Environment Institute and GRI Standards partners. The forum has launched toolkits and pilot programs in regions including Andes, Congo Basin, and Mongolia.
Membership encompasses states, intergovernmental organizations, private sector consortia like the International Mining and Metals Forum, academic institutions including University of British Columbia and University of Cape Town, and NGOs such as Greenpeace and World Wide Fund for Nature. Strategic partnerships include links to Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, OECD, United Nations Development Programme, and donor agencies such as USAID and DFID. Indigenous participation has been coordinated with organizations like the Assembly of First Nations and regional bodies including the Organization of American States.
The forum has produced policy briefs, guidance notes and reports informed by collaborations with United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, Global Reporting Initiative, and academic outputs from Harvard Kennedy School and University of Oxford. Publications have addressed topics paralleled by the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards, and case studies from Peru, Zambia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Outputs have been used in consultations at the United Nations General Assembly and policy processes within the World Bank and IMF.
Critiques mirror those directed at multistakeholder platforms such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and Global Compact, highlighting perceived imbalances in representation between industry actors like Rio Tinto and BHP and communities represented by Amnesty International and Indigenous networks. Observers cite challenges similar to controversies in Equatorial Guinea and project disputes in Bougainville regarding accountability, implementation gaps, and the translation of dialogue into binding regulatory reforms. Financial constraints from donors including European Commission and operational coordination across agencies such as UNEP and UNCTAD remain ongoing hurdles.
Category:International organizations