The Government Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Mines and Minerals and in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has developed a one year (2015-2016) preparatory assistance project with an approved budget of USD 1,063,800.
The overall objective of the project is to develop a five (5) year multi-partner programme for implementing mining sector transformational activities to achieve the vision 2030, leveraging its commitment to the African Mining Vision (AMV). This includes:
• Identifying gaps in various sector policy, legal and regulatory frameworks that provide for the linking of mining to the development agenda of the country
• Creating strong technical capacity to facilitate effective audit of the mineral value chain
• Geological mapping and exploration; improvement of collection, analysis, storage and dissemination of geo-data
• Capacity building for safety, health and environmental regulation in the mining industry
• Providing support for the development of artisanal and small-scale mining
• Commencing the process for developing the Country Mining Vision (CMV)

In the long run, the project will lay the foundation for achieving the goals of mineral led sustainable development, through structural transformation and industrialization as envisaged by the vision 2030 and the AMV. The project will hence contribute towards sustainable human development thereby helping Zambia address poverty and other development deficits.

Project short-term objectives

The specific project objectives are to:
• Advocate and create awareness among stakeholders on the AMV and Vision 2030
• Generate knowledge and evidence that will guide the review of policies; legal frameworks; economic, socio and environmental/climate change impacts; and tax and incentive systems. And build consensus on the way forward taking into account the aspirations of the Vision 2030 and the AMV.
• Facilitate consensus building on the gaps, issues, weaknesses and way forward including the definition of the ‘Mining Sector we want”
• Map the capacity of Government and other key stakeholders to implement the mining sector development priorities in line with the country ‘s Vision 2030 and AMV;
• Develop a five-year multi-partner programme for implementing mining sector transformational activities to achieve Vision 2030, thus leveraging Zambia’s commitment to the AMV

Project expected outputs

This project is designed as a one year programme to initiate the implementation of the AMV and Zambia Vision 2030. The initial emphasis is on mapping key areas that are critical to implementing the two Visions. The outputs of the project are, therefore:
• An AMV engagement strategy that draws upon key stakeholders in Zambia, regionally and internationally using communications and advocacy strategy that leads to an improved understanding by all stakeholders particularly in terms of its long-term transformation agenda and the potential benefits it promises to deliver. Also the building up of the platform for resource mobilization effort that aims to augment existing resources for the programme;
• Five analytical reports identifying gaps, issues and challenges in policy and legal frameworks, social-economic and environment/climate change impacts, and tax and

Project Strategies

The preparatory assistance project will undertake a mix of integrated strategies that are aimed at developing a five year multi-partner programme while ensuring that the process is supported by; increased awareness among stakeholders of the AMV; evidence of the gaps in policies and legal frameworks; evidence and in-depth understanding of the social and environmental impacts of current mining strategies; existing capacity gaps; and a participatory process involving all key stakeholders. The above-detailed strategies include:
• Develop and implement an AMV communication and advocacy strategy
• Review mineral resources development policy for alignment to the Africa Mining Vision and Zambia Vision 2030
• Compile a detailed socio-economic report on Zambia to include: attributes of the mineral sector comprising of geological potential; current mining operations; relevant policies and Acts governing sector; its place in the national economic and social development plans and the challenges the sector faces
• Review current reporting arrangements for the mining companies to identify reporting weaknesses in the mineral value chain
• Review artisanal and small-scale mining policy environment and support mechanisms with regards to potential for viability, gender inclusiveness and the possibility to create a rural economic framework for ASM development