Zimbabwe has joined the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), representing the 81st country to become a member of the voluntary initiative.
“On behalf of the IGF Secretariat and our member nations, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Zimbabwe,” said Greg Radford, IGF Director. “We look forward to working with the government to understand and support their sustainable development goals through good mining governance.”
In joining the IGF, the country is seeking to improve the participation of stakeholders, including local and Indigenous communities and women, throughout the life cycle of mining projects in the country.
“We will work with the IGF to build government capacity and improve our legal and policy framework to ensure our mineral wealth fully and fairly contributes to the nation,” said Winston Chitando, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Mines and Mining Development.
“Our nation is well endowed with many resources, including the critical minerals needed for new technologies and the clean energy transition,” Chitando said. “We hope to draw on the experience and expertise of the IGF and optimize the benefits of mining in Zimbabwe.”
The IGF supports its 81 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.