A group photo of the delegations at the 2017 IGF Intergovernmental Workshop

The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) will convene from 15 – 19 October 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland. Government delegates will take part in an intergovernmental workshop on Monday 15 October, and the Forum’s 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) will convene from 16-18 October, followed by a technical workshop for delegates on 19 October.

The theme of the 2018 meeting is ‘Modern Mining Law and Policy: Accountable, Equitable and Innovative Approaches.’ Topics to be discussed during the week include: tax base erosion and profit shifting; local content policies; gender toolkits and assessments; best practices in environmental and social impact assessments and permitting for large-scale mining; and strategic environmental assessments for artisanal and small-scale mining.

The IGF was an outcome of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa. It currently has 67 member countries, with nine countries having signed on to the initiative since the 2017 AGM. The Forum’s purpose is to improve resource governance and develop the role of mining as a driver of sustainable development, through limiting the negative impacts of mining and sharing its financial benefits. The IGF supports its members through conducting in-country assessments and providing capacity building and technical assistance, and promoting good practice and stakeholder engagement.

The Government of Canada funds the IGF and previously hosted its secretariat at Global Affairs Canada. In 2015 the secretariat moved from this government department to the offices of a global research organization, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in Winnipeg, Canada. The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) co-hosts the annual meetings of the IGF in Geneva. The World Bank, World Economic Forum (WEF), World Gold Council (WGC), International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) participate in IGF activities.

Registration for IGF 2018 will open at the end of August.