New centre to help African countries use mining revenues for sustainable development

With the joint efforts of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partners, a new centre has been set up to advise and support mineral-rich African countries in using mining revenues towards sustainable development, reports add. The centre - African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), has been set up in Addis Ababa.

It puts into perspective the Africa Mining Vision in which the extractives sector supports development across social and economic aspects in Africa, reports say. The centre is co-sponsored by the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Its experts and researchers will advise entities in government, business and civil society organizations on various issues form mining, to systems, mining licensing, and other aspects. Also, UNDP will extend technical and financial support to the new centre and help its members, and support countries on development and mining issues, reports add.