Applications are now open for a Regional Training Workshop on Quarry Management of Dimension Stones and Construction Materials that will be delivered from 15 to 20 June, 2016, in Carrara Italy through the European Union - African, Caribbean and Pacific Groups of States (EU-ACP) Development Minerals Programme being implmented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme.

Sponsorship for the event is open to 20 mid-level professionals from ACP countries. The workshop will be held over six days and includes field visits to Carrara’s famous marble quarries. Participants will attend

• ‘Stone Sector and Changing Trends’ international conference at Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara (16-17 June)
• a pre-conference training workshop ‘Best Practice for Assessment and Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves’ (15 June)
• a post-conference workshop/mentoring event on Quarry Management of Dimension Stones and Construction Materials (18-20 June).

The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme is a three-year, €13.1 million capacity building program that aims to build the profile, and improve the management, of Neglected Development Minerals (industrial minerals; construction materials; dimension stones; and semi-precious stones). The program is an initiative of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, financed by the European Union and UNDP, and implemented by UNDP.

The mining of Neglected Development Minerals has important implications for sustainable development, however, they have not to date received adequate attention for their potential to impact livelihoods; and few development programmes have provided support for this mining sub-sector. Often referred to as Low Value Minerals and Materials (LVMM) due to their low price as a function of their weight, and their relatively low value to international commodity markets, Neglected Development Minerals provide crucial inputs for domestic economic development (infrastructure, manufacturing, construction and agriculture to name a few) and have the potential to be high value in terms of domestic development.

The programme is implemented at both the regional and country level. At the regional level, the programme conducts capacity building activities for forty ACP countries through regional training workshops, guidance products and knowledge exchange. At the country level, in depth capacity building is undertaken with six focus countries [Programme focus countries include: Cameroon (Central Africa); Guinea (West Africa); Uganda (East Africa); Zambia (Southern Africa); Jamaica (Caribbean); and Fiji (Pacific)], with activities including training, small grants, the production of maps and databases, development of regulations on environment and safety, organization of community dialogues, technology fairs and networking events etc.

Training and support will be provided in the following thematic areas of importance to the sector: 1) mine and quarry management; 2) environment, health and safety; 3) entrepreneurship skills; 4) market analysis and investment promotion; 5) geo-data and maps design; 6) community relations and addressing grievances.

Download ‘Request for Applications‘ for further information and the application form.

Watch this video for more information about the EU-ACP Development Minerals Programme.

ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme from Dev Min on Vimeo.