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Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD)
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD / International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project (MMSD)
To be amended - Information as of 19 Feb, 2001
ISSUES: addressing international mining issues; stakeholder partnerships; sustainable development
GOALS:
PARTICIPATING STAKEHOLDERS: Variable according to each MSP – wide scoping exercises undertaken
TIME FRAME: April 2000-2002
MSP CONTACT DETAILS; URL: www.iied.org/mmsd
Classification:Type: The Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) project is an independent process of participatory analysis with the objective of “ identifying how mining and minerals can best contribute to the global transition to sustainable development.” Level: International / national / regional / with some local processes / inputs
Procedural Aspects: Designing the MSP MMSD is managed by IIED in London, under contract to WBCSD. The project was initiated by WBCSD and is supported by the Global Mining Initiative. The process was initially started by an IIED scoping group, then included commercial parties, then wider involvement – a dynamic process. In addition to the technical analysis and consultation, the stakeholder engagement element of the project is “ intended to promote an equitable, constructive, secure, and transparent set of processes for engagement of all interested stakeholders” at the global and local level. It has 3 elements:
Identifying the issues to be addressed in an MSP The process builds on IIED/WBCSD previous experience in carrying out an independent assessment of the world’s paper industry and prospects for sustainability. Regional processes use roundtable structures and expert groups.
Identifying relevant stakeholders Through consultation, especially through International Assurance Group.
Identifying MSP participants
Setting the goals of an MSP Goals outlined in Scoping Report, prepared by IIED for the WBCSD 1999 in brief are:
During the 2 year project, MMSD is designed to produce concrete results during its lifespan, and to create structures capable of taking things forward after that date. MMSD does not exist to solve or address all the issues faced by the mining and minerals industry. It is a start in identifying different concerns and getting processes underway that - long-term will move issues towards solutions. Participants have opportunities to check back with their constituencies when changes are being proposed. MSSD Project aims to support the Global Mining Initiative.
Setting the agenda Various groups involved since the process aims to use stakeholders to set the agenda (as per objectives). Other activities are spear-headed by IIED London-based Work Group or directly contracted out to existing institutions with relevant expertise and networks. A large part of the work is decentralised to a series of Regional Centres in the principle mineral producing and consuming regions of the world. An Assurance Group is charged with assuring adequate peer review of project outputs etc.
Setting the time-table Set by Project objectives and time-frame for closure.
Preparatory process A multitude of MSPs, at different levels, are used within the project; each have their own characteristics. Three global stakeholder dialogues are planned: role of financial institutions in funding mining programmes; information access, and role of dialogue & indigenous peoples. The initial approach is via a small scoping group (no attempt at an MSP at this stage) looking at certain issues and determining whether MMSD has anything to contribute (scoping meetings are really a GAP analysis). The MMSD will try and get hold of the best people (via known networks etc) to constitute a roundtable brainstorming session (6-16) to come with ideas on how MMSD could inform issues/add value. Out of this falls the development of discrete areas of research around each project – MSP networking process with Regional Partners over which groups to approach, who could input, who could critique etc plus interim research material. All this leads up to an MSP workshop of some kind (40-60 people) to reflect on work done.
Communication process All usual group work methods are used in addition to stakeholder techniques that ensure two-way communication. A “very high degree of openness and transparency” underpins the Project. All interim research will be released to stakeholders (participating and non-participating) as part of a broader engagement process (web-based). The communications process ensures / will ensure “ that interested stakeholders, researchers and others have the means to communicate their ideas freely and effectively in ways that impact the project and its outcomes”.
Decision-making process: procedures of agreement
Implementation process
Closing the MSP Overall project time-limited, ending 2002. Expected results will be fed into Rio+10 event. Individual MSPs have different time-frames.
Structural Aspects: Structures / institutions of the MSP MMSD Secretariat
Facilitation Usually done by experienced facilitators. MMSD Secretartiat provides support services.
Documentation Participants receive all records of process etc. The core of MMSDs work is directed towards preparation of a draft report, due end of 2001, covering the broad scope of issues investigated. Interim reports to be released. Material to cover network building issue.
Relating to not-participating stakeholders MMSD regional staff and LA21 projects – overlaps in Indonesia. At outset of MMSD there was an idea that it might be possible to engage with local communities; this can’t really be done by the MMSD London Work Group due to time / resources but will happen to a smaller extent by regional contacts. And some groups e.g. indigenous peoples come as individuals, thus allowin the project to gain a particular perspective.
Relating to the general public This is a specialised issue so there is no intentional public information. However there is a clear, informative and open web site, with viewpoints encouraged (as with many projects, web site needs updating).
Linkage into official decision-making process MSPs will probably feed into various national/international decision-making processes. Too early to detail. The final report is likely to contain 3 aspects:
Funding Overall budget for MMSD: $9.5 million for all work globally (6 regions). Commented as constraining. 60% is from commercial sources.
Additional Information / RemarksSeems to exemplify problem with all MSPs - a ‘chicken and egg’ situation. Do you start work and then expose work to wider group of people, or do you start with a very open process and get pulled in 20 different directions immediately? |
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Contact Minu Hemmati and Felix Dodds for further information. |
