By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The German International Cooperation (GIZ) has engaged stakeholders of Mining Ministries, Law Enforcement Agencies, Civil Societies and the Artisanal- and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Sector on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains and the European Union (EU) Conflict Minerals Regulation in the Mano River Union (MRU).
The two-day semi-virtual training was organised on 29th and 30th September this year at the Home Suites Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown.
The training aims at participants across the MRU countries mastering the application requirement of the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance ‘Responsible Supply Chains in their respective mining sectors.’ The training also aimed at participants acquiring knowledge about the context and key elements of the European Union’s (EU) Conflict Minerals Regulations as well as the pertinence for their various countries and the MRU region in general.
Project Manager at the GIZ, Marie-Josephine Nsengiyumva said that the training is organised by the MRU Secretariat with the support of GIZ's Regional Resource Governance Programme. She said that the ASM industry is faced with many challenges even with substantial effort by the government, civil societies and Artisanal mining associations. She added that some of the challenges include poor working conditions, child labour, health issues and environmental degradation among others.
She added that the trade of the industry is often related to money laundering and corruption. She said that the training is to educate the various stakeholders on the latest international standards.
She affirmed that the German government has been assisting Sierra Leone in this area since 2009 with the aim to ensure that the industry is in line with socio-economic and environmental best standards. She noted that the programme also aims to solve the issue of mineral smuggling in the sub-region and the implementation of the Kimberly process at both national and regional levels. She maintained that the project also aims to educate the various stakeholders in the ASM industry.
Dr. Ruby Stocklin-Weinberg of GemFair, made a presentation on the main concepts of the Due Diligence Guidance and how to address risks and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance 5 steps.
Dr. Stocklin-Weinberg said that artisanal mining is normally linked with conflict, violence, armed groups and corruption but noted that the field is also affected by poor working conditions and the wrong notion by consumers that every diamond is from a conflict zone.
She disclosed that GemFair started operating in Kono District with just 14 sites but that they now have over 160 sites registered in the country. She informed participants that GemFair has been operating as a local diamond buyer and they aim to train and capacitate development by promoting responsible ASM standard.
Christophe Hanne Coulibaly from the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) also made a virtual presentation from Colombia on the EU Regulation. He said that the majority of minerals in Africa and South America are exported to the European Union. He gave a chronology of the development of EU regulation. Coulibaly added that the said regulation started to apply to EU importers since 1sr January 2021 and that the regulation is line with the growing global movement to ensure that companies observe human rights due diligence in their actions. He also explained that the MRU supply chains often have manufacturers and end users in European countries.
Coulibaly and Desire Nikiema also led the participants in an offline group exercise on the application of the EU Regulation according to their various countries.
Participants from Sierra Leone at the two-day training included Interpol, National Minerals Agency (NMA) and Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD).
Copyright © Politico Online (01/10/21)
