Environmental Governance Programme
Integrating environment and human rights into the governance of the mining sector
Find out moreDigging deeper for sustainable mining
In 2014, UNDP and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency launched the Environmental Governance Programme for Sustainable Natural Resource Management, focusing on the mining sector (EGP-Mining).
The EGP-Mining draws upon the combined governance, environmental and extractive sector expertise of the two agencies and their partners to support countries to integrate environment and human rights into the governance of the mining sector.
Using the nexus between the environment and human rights as a lens, the EGP-Mining takes an integrated approach to sustainable natural resource management, that focuses on addressing the drivers of conflict, environmental degradation, inequality, exclusion, and poverty simultaneously.
Programme and geographic focus
The EGP-Mining is now in its second phase from 2020-2023. It provides policy advice and programme support to Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mongolia, Namibia, Peru and Zambia.
The EGP-Mining:
- Works at the global and regional level to generate and share knowledge, provide support and promote exchanges of innovative policy approaches within and across countries and regions.
- Works with ministries of mining, environment and other national and local stakeholders to strengthen capacities for integrating human rights and environmental protection into the design, implementation, and monitoring of policies and regulatory frameworks relevant to the mining sector.
- Supports local communities, civil society and national human rights institutions to strengthen the right to information, participation, accountability, and redress in public decision making.
- Promotes women’s empowerment and gender equality in mining governance while supporting women, youth and children as agents of change.
- Engages with the media to sensitize them to issues related to mining and environmental harms.
- Creates platforms for dialogue with the mining industry aiming to strengthen understanding of and compliance with environmental and human rights standards and obligations.