Digitalization as a tool for conflict management
In July 2023, the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining in Jamaica, presented and launched “Mining Matters” – a mobile application designed to facilitate citizen reporting of grievances related to the mining of development minerals within their respective communities. The mobile application can be accessed on Android-based phones by downloading it from the Play Store.
Uganda: Knowledge transfer on value addition
Accurate valuation of mineral reserves is critical in unlocking financing for mining enterprises. In Uganda, the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme supported stakeholders from artisanal and small-scale mining enterprises (ASMEs) who undertook guided tours to value addition facilities for stone and clays. Participants learnt about techniques and equipment utilized for stone cutting and polishing; and production of ceramics at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute. These learning and exposure activities harness the networks and skills transfer necessary to transform the mining and processing of development minerals for improved, inclusive and secure livelihoods. Several local government officials also participated in the activities to enable them gain insights into the technical service delivery aspects of innovation and value addition to development minerals.
Promoting sustainable growth & development within the development minerals sector
On 19th July, a Dissemination Workshop Formalisation and Business Development Acceleration Strategy for the Development Minerals Sector was held in Uganda.The workshop aimed to promote sustainable growth & development within the development minerals sector. It also seeks to foster collaboration, share knowledge and devise effective strategies to harness their potential for the benefit of Uganda’s economy. This workshop brought together the private sector representatives, civil society organisations, government officials, academia and local communities. By facilitating knowledge exchange & coordination, with the aim to foster effective partnerships for the sector’s advancement.
More information: https://twitter.com/UNDPUganda/status/1681602105524486149
Jamaica: discover functional art makers
Watch the video about MaeMarkets, functional art makers in Kingston, Jamaica, as part of a video series about Jamaican artisans making art from humble clay and stones – Development Minerals.
This initiative is supported by the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, funded by the European Commission and implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
Promoting innovation in low-carbon construction materials
“In the face of its population explosion, how can Africa circumvent the climate crisis, considering that conventional concrete used in the construction of much needed social and economic infrastructure is responsible for a big share of greenhouse gas emissions? Are there alternatives to conventional concrete? The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, funded by the European Commission and implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) is collaborating with experts, practitioners and entrepreneurs in African countries to promote innovation in low-carbon construction materials as a means of addressing the climate challenge that Africa faces”
JAMAICA LAUNCHES MINING CADASTRE TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY
In early March, with funds provided by the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, Jamaica’s mining industry took another step toward offering owners and employees better transparency. With the launch of the Jamaican Mining Cadastre (JAMinCAD), a public software tool that records mining titles throughout the country, investors will know who owns mining leases, licences, permits and environmental boundaries properties, and where.
“The Mining Cadastre provides a client-focused, user-friendly interface to investors and other end users of the system,” said Audley Shaw, Jamaica’s Minister of Transport and Mining at the launch in March this year.
Until recently the country did not have a computerized database for mining initiatives. Licensing processes were relegated to paper-based systems and a few digitized maps, (stuck in another century) with transactions mostly recorded on paper ledgers or through off-the-shelf ArcGIS software. Annual licensing costs for that software were costly for the government and the processes of issuing and tracking mining licenses {and tracking them} were time-consuming.
The mining cadastre now allows the government to manage its mineral resources efficiently, effectively and transparently. It enables the government and industry to know the types, location, and quantity of mineral resources in the country. The cadastre is also a key tool for regulating the operations of mining operators and artisanal enterprises through the management of mineral licenses and related documentation.
Reclaiming mined lands to create sustainable incomes in Uganda
The Bushenyi District of southwestern Uganda is home to numerous artisanal mining operations. For years, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has become an important source of income for thousands of residents of Uganda. The average monthly income for small-scale miners is 630,000 Uganda Shillings (about USD 170) per miner. The national monthly minimum wage is 6,000 Ugandan Shillings. Like in other countries in Africa, the past decade has seen increasing numbers of individuals and households turn to ASM. In the face of high mineral prices, population growth, poverty and climate change, this trend is likely to continue. Because ASM activities contribute to poverty reduction in remote rural areas, efforts to end the activity tend to fail.
But mining has also scarred these lands. There were many abandoned pits which have become death traps for both animals and humans. ASM has also destroyed and degraded forest ecosystems (through habitat destruction, the use of toxic chemicals, pollution of waterways, etc) and threatened the practices on which mining populations depended (for example, gathering firewood, bushmeat hunting, timbering for construction, etc).
The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme has equipped the Bushenyi District Natural Resource Officer, Mr Cyril Mugyenyi, with knowledge and skills to support artisanal and small-scale miners to restore mined lands to their original states. This support has started to yield results. So far about 25 hectares of land have been restored since 2018. Members of the Buramba Stone Quarry Association who are being supported by Mr Cyril Mugyenyi have reclaimed 15 hectares of the 30 hectares they are mining. Under the direction of Mugyenyi, abandoned pits are filled with a mix of poor soils from the mine, aggregates, and other materials. Next crops which usually survive in poor soils like eucalyptus are planted.
