Call for Proposals - Implementation of the UNEA4 Resolution 19 on Mineral Resource Governance

Other News

11 December 2019

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is looking for a technical institution partner to support its work towards implementing the UNEA4 resolution on Mineral Resource Governance. Applications are sought from Academia (Research Institutes, Universities), Non-Government Organisations, and Not-for-Profit Organisations.

Deadline for submissions: 31 December 2019, 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 (February 2021). It also encourages governments and other stakeholders to promote awareness; calls for due diligence along the supply chain, including the continuous increase of transparency.

Expected Activities

1. Developing a discussion paper on mineral resource governance (MRG) outlining the context for the UNEA4 resolution on mineral resource governance and the importance of the topic, based on existing knowledge, highlighting the key findings of, among others, three reports, and outlining key questions for discussion:

The 2019 IRP report “Mineral Resource Governance in the 21st Century: Gearing Extractive Industries Towards Sustainable Development”;
The 2019 UNEP / GRID-Geneva report “Sand and Sustainability: Finding New Solutions for Environmental Governance of Global Sand Resources”; and
The 2017 UNEP / GRID Arendal report “Mine Tailings Storage: Safety Is No Accident” and the following 2018 UNEP report “A Roadmap for improved mine waste management”.

The discussion paper should translate scientific findings into policy relevant information and questions to be used as the input for regional stakeholder consultations.

2. Developing a strategic roadmap for and lead in the design of regional stakeholder consultations on the discussion paper to create ownership among countries and involved stakeholders. Regional consultations are planned to take place in all regions: Latin American and Caribbean (LAC), Asia and Pacific (AP) as well as African (AF), Central Europe and Western European and Others Group (WEOG) regions.

3. Supporting in the identification of participants in the regional consultations, helping in the development of background documents and the agenda of the sessions, engaging relevant experts to support the discussion of specific topics, contributing and leading specific sessions of the workshop, as well as consolidating findings of the consultations.

4. Elaborating a report and related communication materials which consolidate information from the discussion paper, highlights best practices, knowledges gaps, assessment of governance options; and common elements of interest for next steps which emerged during the regional consultations and provided the basis for the preparation and discussion at UNEA5.

Application process

Applicants should submit an application by completing and sending the two documents below to Ms. Elisa Tonda [email protected] and Ms. Charlotte Ndakorerwa [email protected], and copy Ms. Janet Kabatha [email protected]. Please also email for any inquiries.