English
A Mining Governance and Africa Down Under study tour to Australia, organised by AusAID through its Australia-Africa Partnerships Facility (AAPF), with support from IM4DC is taking place during late August 2013.
The study tour aims to assist government officials to strengthen their understanding of the frameworks governing the mining industry in Australia, and to apply as appropriate lessons and learning in their home countries.
Participating countries are Botswana, Djibouti, Gabon, Ghana, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
During the first week of the study tour, the group split into three sub-groups with the following technical focus areas:
- Mining and Agriculture
- Taxation, Financial Management and Public Expenditure
- Inspectorate Functions (Health, Safety and Environment).
During the second week of the study tour, participants are attending the Africa Australia Research Forum, as well as the Africa Down Under (ADU) conference.
Participants are being supported to develop links and networks with institutions, companies and individuals that they meet during the study tour. They will be exposed to both theoretical discussions, as well as hands-on field trips where they will have the opportunity to meet with private sector companies, community groups, visit large scale mining operations and interact with local and state government departments.
IM4DC Director Ian Satchwell opened the study tour with an overview of Mining in Australia.
IM4DC will also host the Mining and Agriculture group in the first week of the study tour, with the objectives to support participants to:
- Examine how agriculture and mining interact in the areas of water, land use, infrastructure, workforce, local economies and communities
- Demonstrate best practice dry land agriculture and land rehabilitation
- Explain natural resources management, water management and land management in the context of mining and agriculture.