Guinea Bissau has become the 82nd member country of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF).
“We look forward to building a strong working relationship to help Guinea Bissau take action to develop a mining sector that creates financial benefits, supports livelihoods, and safeguards the environment,” said Greg Radford, Director, IGF.
Guinea Bissau’s mining sector is relatively small, but it has the potential to grow as the country hosts phosphates, bauxite, industrial materials, and more. Guinea Bissau joins an engaged group of IGF member countries in West Africa, an important mining region.
“We are delighted to join the IGF. We had the opportunity to closely follow the IGF’s work through its collaboration with the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) in the past 5 years. We have already benefited from a dozen training sessions and are eager to continue learning and work with our fellow member countries to promote best practices to advance a transparent, collaborative, and sustainable mining industry,” Luísa Emília Sanhá Évora, Head of the Prospecting and Deposit Evaluation Section, General Directorate of Geology and Mines, Ministry of Natural Resources.
“It’s encouraging to see our membership continue to grow in West Africa. It speaks to the good work we have done in the region to date,” Radford said.
The IGF supports its 82 member countries in advancing their sustainable development goals through effective laws, policies, and regulations for the mining sector. We help governments take action to develop inclusive and gender-equitable practices, optimize financial benefits, support livelihoods, and safeguard the environment. Our work covers the full mining life cycle, from exploration to mine closure, and projects of all sizes, from artisanal mining to large-scale operations. Guided by our members’ needs, we provide in-country assessments, capacity building, technical training, publications, and events to advance best practices, peer learning, and engagement with industry and civil society. The International Institute for Sustainable Development has hosted the IGF Secretariat since October 2015. Core funding is provided by the governments of Canada and the Netherlands.