The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is looking for a technical institution partner to support a responsible and sustainable mining and metals sector to achieve the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of the Green Recovery. Applications are sought from Academia (Research Institutes and Universities), Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Not-for-Profit Organisations (NPOs).
Deadline for submissions: 8 August 2021, COB
Background
The fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-4), which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 11-15 March 2019 adopted the Resolution No. UNEP/EA.4/Res. 19 on Mineral Resource Governance. The resolution recognizes the important contribution of mining towards the achievement of the SDGs, and the dependence of low-carbon clean technologies on metals and minerals. Among other things, it requests UNEP to collect information on sustainable practices, identify knowledge gaps and options for implementation strategies, and undertake an overview of existing assessments of different governance initiatives and approaches on sustainable management of metal and mineral resources, and report to UNEA-5. It also encourages governments and other stakeholders to promote awareness; calls for due diligence along the supply chain, including the continuous increase of transparency.
During 2020, UNEP undertook a broad consultation process which engaged a total of 1,237 people, from 123 countries through 22 virtual consultative meetings held between July and October 2020. A report on the progress in the implementation of the resolution was tabled for noting at UNEA-5.
In the consultations, a preference was expressed for distributed forms of resource governance that promote coherence and the harmonization of action at all scales. It was noted that such approaches could take the form of building upon existing institutions and multi-stakeholder governance initiatives, as well as mainstreaming key aspects into national laws and regulatory instruments, supported by international cooperation, coordination and capacity-building.
Concerns were expressed about governance capacity at all levels (from community to international) and with respect to several themes. Lack of capacity development was perceived as a key barrier to achieving the aspirations of existing mineral resource governance initiatives. Some of the most pressing issues raised related to artisanal and small-scale mining; transparency and accountability; environmental due diligence; tailings management; holistic project assessment and approval processes; the role of the financial sector; and the inclusion of local communities, indigenous peoples, women and vulnerable groups. The issue of human rights violations experienced by people drawing public attention to environmental harm in the minerals sector was also discussed, as well as the importance of ensuring that barriers to inclusion in decision-making about mining were removed.
The importance of developing and mainstreaming circularity in mining value chains was raised and the need to broaden the focus of mineral resources governance to include domestically consumed development minerals, such as construction materials and industrial minerals, was also highlighted.
Several good practices were also presented during the consultations. There was a strong view that international initiatives centred on human rights and development and due diligence provided a strong guiding framework for the development of more specific initiatives and plans. The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management was considered to be an important development and its successful implementation was called for.
The consultations also highlighted the importance of the extraction of minerals and metals in the context of the efforts made by countries to achieve the ambition of the Paris Agreement as well as its role in the green recovery. Attention was placed on the need for sustainable and responsible supply of minerals, and in particular mineral aggregates.
Building on the experience acquired by UNEP in the context of implementing the sustainable infrastructure resolution (UNEA4/5), the Guiding Principles should be developed addressing governance efforts required for the minerals and metals sector in the context of pursuing the objectives of the Paris Agreement, SDGs and the green recovery.
Expected activities
1. Develop an outline of the Guiding Principles.
2. Develop a strategic roadmap for the establishment and engagement of an expert group which will provide substantive inputs to the Guiding Principles. The expert group should be composed of international organizations and UN entities, representatives from academia and other stakeholders, with geographic representation from all regions.
3. Develop two following draft versions of the Guiding Principles for their distribution to and discussion with the expert group and for UNEP feedback.
4. Contribute to the identification of participants in broader consultations and support the development of agenda and background documents for the consultations.
5. Organize consultations together with the members of the expert group to discuss the Guiding Principles to create ownership among countries and involved stakeholders. Stakeholders from all regions should be consulted.
6. Elaborate the final version of the Guiding Principles and related communication materials which consolidate guidance for different stakeholders in the mining and metals sector highlighting their role in the achievement of the SDGs and Paris Agreement in the context of a green recovery.
7. Building on the final version of the Guiding Principles, develop recommendations for policy makers on the future of the mining and metals sector to achieve the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of the Green Recovery. The recommendations will feed into on-going political discussion related to the follow-up to UNEA resolution 4/19 on mineral resource governance.
8. Contribute to the organization of and participate in the launch of the Guiding Principles at the Stockholm+50 Conference, in June 2022.
After the launch, develop a compilation of case studies which will illustrate the uptake of the Guiding Principles on a responsible and sustainable mining and metals sector by countries.
Application process
Applicants should submit an application in the attached template to Ms. Charlotte Ndakorerwa charlotte.ndakorerwa [at] un.org (charlotte[dot]ndakorerwa[at]un[dot]org), and copy Ms. Elisa Tonda elisa.tonda [at] un.org (elisa[dot]tonda[at]un[dot]org) and Ms. Edith Kiget edith.kiget [at] un.org (edith[dot]kiget[at]un[dot]org). Please also email us for any inquiries.
UNEP Call for Proposals - Responsible and Sustainable Mining and Metals Sector
UNEP Call for Proposals Responsible and Sustainable Mining and Metals Sector Budget Template