This 3-day workshop began with an assessment of the state of environmental management in Burundi through the Environmental Management Progress Assessment (EMPro) Tool developed by the IGF, which saw participants respond to a series of questions to determine the state of environmental management in Burundi’s mining sector. The diagnostic helps the government identify where legislation and implementation can be strengthened to support more robust environmental management in mining. For example, the emergency preparedness and response diagnostic showed some weak points that could be strengthened by requiring companies to actively engage local communities to participate in the development of plans and by assigning more resources to the relevant governmental agencies.
This diagnosis was followed by training focused on the four themes outlined in the IGF’s guidance on environmental management: water, biodiversity, mine waste, and emergency preparedness and response. The training included themed lectures and discussions of scenarios, case studies, and real-world examples of implementation.
In total, the program was completed by 25 participants from various government agencies and two mining companies, including the following:
- Ministry of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines
- Burundian Office of Mines
- Burundian Office of Environmental Protection
- Burundian Women’s Mining Association
- Burundian Mining Exploitation Council
The workshop helped government officials in Burundi identify strengths and weaknesses in environmental management in its mining sector, which they used to pinpoint where national and local regulations can be improved for more environmentally responsible mining development. In addition, the lectures provided participants with new knowledge and practical examples of how to implement international good practices.