International Projects
Mozambique — Government Legal Capacity
Sustainable Development Strategies Group, in a project led by Dr. Laura Barreto and funded by AusAID, has worked with MIREM, the Mozambican ministry of natural resources, to assess the legal resources available to MIREM with an eye to strengthening the capacity of MIREM to negotiate mineral deals with foreign investors that will maximize development benefits to Mozambique.
Honduras — Mining Legislation
An SDSG team led by Professor Raul Campusano has recently completed an analysis of the new proposed mining legislation in Honduras.
Social Risk Assessment
Philippines –
An SDSG team led by Cecilia Dalupan recently completed a stakeholder analysis and social risk assessment of a mining project in Mindanao, Philippines.
Brazil — IBRAM
Luke Danielson gave a major address to IBRAM, the Brazilian Mining Association, at its annual meeting in Belo Horizonte.
Philippines — Capacity Building for Indigenous Communities
Cecilia Dalupan of SDSG worked with Revenue Watch Institute, Samdhana Institute, and other NGOs to develop and present a capacity building workshop in Mindanao, Philippines, for leaders from indigenous communities impacted by mining in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Panama — Evaluating Issues at Proposed Mine Site
Luke Danielson, as an independent external advisor to INMET, a Canadian mining company, visited the site of the proposed Minera Panama copper project in order to share with the company observations regarding community and national level issues faced by the project.
Germany — Contract Negotiation Support for Developing Countries
Jim Cress, a Director SDSG, participated last October in a gathering of academics, lawyers, economists, geologists, and government officials from the developed and developing world to discuss whether and how developing countries might be assisted in investment contract negotiations. This meeting was convened by the Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance and the Vale Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment.
Chile — Universidad Alberto Hurtado
Luke Danielson gave a presentation at this leading Jesuit University on Chile’s accession to the OECD and the opportunities for OECD leadership in mineral policy.
Germany — Heinrich Böll Institute
Kristi Disney participated in a Berlin workshop on problems of supply of rare earth and other minerals to support development of renewable energy and other green technologies.
India — IUCN
SDSG President Luke Danielson worked with a team from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Tata Steel to assess the potential impacts of mineral development on biodiversity in mining regions of Orissa state.
Model Mining Development Agreement
Sustainable Development Strategies Group has worked to support the efforts of the Mining Law Committee of the International Bar Association to develop a Model Mining Development Agreement, which can serve as a basis for more transparent and equitable negotiation of agreements between mining companies and host countries. The intention of the Mining Law Committee is to support agreements which are commercially attractive while promoting sustainable development of host countries and communities. The MMDA website is www.mmdaproject.org
Guinea – Capacity Building for Communities Impacted by Mining
In collaboration, with a Guinean NGO, CECIDE, and Global Rights, SDSG conducted a three day capacity building workshop where community advocates and NGO leaders from seven West African countries shared experience and increased their understanding of international best practice in mineral development.
Ecuador – Ministry of Non Renewable Natural Resources
Ecuadorian mining legislation requires that the Ministry of Nonrenewable Natural Resources develop a model contract as the basis for mining agreements with foreign investors. SDSG has supported the Ministry’s work to develop the model contract by supplying perspectives from foreign law and experience, through a team of Dr. Elizabeth Bastida, Dr. Howard Mann, and Dr. Laura Barreto.
Sierra Leone – Mining Contracts
SDSG has at the request of the World Bank Group prepared an analysis of certain mining agreements in Sierra Leone to compare these agreements both to current legislation and international best practice.
Chile – Future Issues in the Mining Sector
SDSG prepared an analysis of future issues affecting the mining sector in Chile for submission to GTZ, the German aid agency.
Kazakhstan – Transparency in Management of Resource Revenues
Mr. Danielson made a lead presentation on the links between the Model Mining Development Agreement, EITI and the movement for greater transparency in the management of resource revenues in a conference sponsored by Soros Foundation – Kazakhstan and Revenue Watch.
Columbia University – Vale Center on Sustainable International Investment
Mr. Danielson discussed specific next steps toward the implementation of an integrated development approach for governments and companies at the Fifth Columbia International Investment Conference. http://www.vcc.columbia.edu/content/fifth-columbia-international-investment-conference-extractive-industries-and-sustainable-dev
Conference on Prosecution of Pillage of Natural Resources – The Hague
SDSG is developing a position paper on the question of consent as a defense to war crimes prosecutions for pillage and looting of natural resources which Mr. Danielson will present at the Hague. http://www.pillageconference.org/schedule/