In this article, World Bank senior counsel and African Mining Legislation Atlas (AMLA) project team lead Nneoma Nwogu writes about the AMLA’s impact over the past ten years.

As the world intensifies its efforts to combat climate change, the demand for metals and minerals from Africa continues to rise. This surge, coupled with the growing emphasis on socially responsible investing (SRI), is pushing mining companies to enhance their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. For mineral-rich African countries, this shift presents a golden opportunity. The mining sector, a key driver of economic growth, revenue generation, job creation and supply chains hold the potential to foster shared prosperity across the continent.

However, Africa faces significant challenges in maintaining a sustainable mining ecosystem that promotes equitable growth and broad-based development. One of the critical issues is the lack of skilled local capacity in the sector. Effective legal frameworks, robust regulation, strong oversight institutions, fair and transparent rule enforcement, dispute adjudication, and sector-specific research all hinge on the availability of skilled professionals. This is where the African Mining Legislation Atlas (AMLA) project steps in.

Launched a decade ago at the World Bank in collaboration with the African Legal Support Facility of the African Development Bank, the African Union Commission and several African law faculties, the AMLA initiative has become a cornerstone in Africa’s efforts to enhance its regulatory environment and build the necessary capacity for sustainable development. The AMLA initiative is built around four key objectives:

Promoting Transparency: By making Africa’s mining laws more accessible and comparable, AMLA aims to foster greater transparency in the sector.

Supporting Legal Frameworks: The initiative assists African countries in drafting, revising, and implementing mining laws that align with international best practices.

Developing Local Expertise: Through the AMLA Workshop, young legal scholars across the continent are equipped with critical skills and knowledge, empowering them to drive the mining sector towards a sustainable future.

Providing a Living Database: AMLA offers a public database that serves as a tool for ongoing legal research and policy development (available at www.a-mla.org).

This year’s AMLA Workshop marks a significant milestone: the tenth anniversary of the project and the final installation of this workshop as a special initiative. Organised in partnership with the World Bank, the African Legal Support Facility, and the University of Pretoria, the 2024 AMLA Workshop is being held from December 1 to 9 at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Campus. The event brings together over 100 participants, including more than 50 law students from all five regions of Africa, alumni of the programme, representatives from academic institutions, law firms, mining companies and other global stakeholders.

The AMLA Workshop emphasizes collaboration. This year, the workshop is also coordinated with South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand and the DRC’s University of Lubumbashi and New Horizons University, Lubumbashi with activity sponsorship from ENS Africa, Gold One Mining, and the City of Tshwane. Supported by over 30 external partners, including law firms, mining companies, and international organizations, the workshop provides participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical insights from experts in the mining industry.

The impact of the AMLA Workshop is evident in the tangible benefits it has delivered over the years. Since its inception, the workshop has trained over 280 law students, many of whom now occupy influential positions within the mining sector. These alumni are transforming the landscape of mining law, shaping ideas and policies that promote responsible and inclusive mining practices. For many resource-rich African countries, having a well-trained legal cadre is crucial to ensuring that the wealth generated from mining benefits the entire population.

The AMLA Workshop’s role in fostering stronger knowledge-sharing networks aligns closely with the World Bank’s broader Knowledge Compact for Action. By equipping young lawyers with the tools they need to navigate the complex world of mining law, AMLA is helping to lay the groundwork for a more equitable and sustainable mining sector in Africa.

As the final World Bank-led AMLA Workshop approaches, it serves as a timely reminder of the critical role that legal expertise will play in Africa’s mining future. Through training, strong partnerships, and the continuous development of legal frameworks, Africa can harness its vast mineral wealth in a way that drives sustainable development, promotes economic growth, and ensures that its people benefit from the resources beneath their feet.