Sustainability Round Tables on Local Content Policy (2018 Investing in African Mining Indaba)

What are the key challenges facing governments as they try to operationalize local content policies? What is best practice to date? 

The IGF is hosting its Sustainability Round Tables on Local Content Policy at 2018 Investing in African Mining Indaba, taking place Monday, February 5, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the CTICC rooftop terrace.

This event will feature parallel interactive round tables focused on six key subject areas: defining local content; building supplier capacity; skills development; economic diversification; different policy options; and the impact of new technologies. Moderators for each round table will summarize the key points in plenary. This event will also feature the launch of the IGF’s member guidance on local content policies.

• 2:00 p.m.–2:15 p.m.: Welcome, and launch of the IGF Guidance for Governments: Local Content Policy
• 2:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m.: Overviews by the moderators: round table issues
• 2:30 p.m.–3:15 p.m.: Interactive round tables (parallel sessions)
• 3:15 p.m.–3:45 p.m.: Moderators’ report in plenary: key points
• 3:45 p.m.–4:00 p.m.: Session close; networking space

Moderators will open the session, each presenting a brief overview of their subject area:

• Defining “local” (2 tables)
• Building supplier capacity (2 tables)
• Economic diversification (horizontal, downstream, post-mine) (1 table)
• Technology challenges (1 table)
• Skills training, human resources development (2 tables)
• Policy options: mandatory vs voluntary requirements; reporting requirements (submitted plans); negotiated community agreements (2 tables)

Participants will then break into the round tables, with moderators presiding at each. The discussion will center on challenges the participants have faced, on ways they have addressed the issue, or on ways they may have helped others address the issue. Moderators will facilitate those discussions, and will bring the highlights back to plenary.

Moderators for the round tables include:

• Robin Weisman, Corporate Director at B2Gold Corp. and INV Metals Inc.
• Nicky Black, Director – Environmental Stewardship and Social Progress, ICMM
• Andrew Cheatle, Mining Executive
• Jerry Ahadjie, Principal Planning & Policy Officer, Ghana Minerals Commission
• Johannes Danz, Program Manager of  Extractives and Development, BGR
• Emily Nickerson, Director of Programs, Mining Shared Value
• Jeff Geipel, Managing Director, Mining Shared Value
• Javier Aguilar, Regional Coordinator, LAC Region – Extractive Industries, The World Bank
• Isabelle Ramdoo, Senior Linkages and Investment Advisor, African Minerals Development Centre/ UNECA
• Howard Mann, Senior International Law Advisor, IGF

RSVP for this event by emailing Secretariat@IGFMining.org.