ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

 2014-2019
Integrating Environment and Human Rights into the Governance of the Mining Sector

A JOINT SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY -

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME INITIATIVE 
WHO WE ARE  INTEGRATED APPROACH
The Swedish Environmental
Protection Agency (Swedish EPA)
and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP)
jointly launched the
Environmental Governance
Programme (EGP) for Sustainable
Natural Resource Management,
focusing on the mining sector, in
2014.
It draws upon the combined
governance, environmental and
extractive sector expertise of the
two agencies and their partners.
The EGP is fully funded by the
Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency
(Sida) from 2014 through June 2019.
WHERE WE WORK
The EGP provides targeted support
to four countries: Colombia, Kenya,
Mongolia, and Mozambique. The
programme also works at the
global and regional level to
strengthen knowledge sharing and
the exchange of innovative policy
approaches within and across
countries and regions.
Using the nexus between the
environment and human rights as a
lens, the EGP supports governments
to integrate environment and
human rights into the governance of
the mining sector.
We support the strengthening of
capacities of ministries of mining,
environment and other national and
local stakeholders, including national
human rights institutions, to ensure
that human rights are at the core of
the design, implementation, and
monitoring of policies and regulatory
frameworks relevant to the mining
sector.
In this way, the EGP helps countries
to operationalize Principle 10 of the
Rio Declaration and meet their
national commitments under global
environmental agreements and
international human rights
frameworks while accelerating
progress towards the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). 
WHAT WE DO
Connect countries to the expertise
needed to tackle complex challenges and
leverage new opportunities in the
environmental governance of the mining
sector.
Facilitate global, regional and country
knowledge exchange through:
- peer-to-peer learning events between the
Swedish EPA and national government
partners;
- the GOXI.org on-line Community of
Practice platform; and
- webinars and other South-South
learning opportunities.
Conduct diagnostics that inform policy
reforms and help to integrate
environment, gender, human rights and
rule-of-law in mining governance.
Strengthen inter-ministerial and cross-
sectoral coordination mechanisms that
recognize the roles of different authorities
involved in governing the mining sector.
Facilitate and strengthen in-country
platforms for multi-stakeholder dialogue
and engagement. 
Synthesize and share country experiences
and global expertise through technical
studies and guidance notes on cutting-
edge issues of environmental governance
of the mining sector. 
EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK 
In Mongolia, two landmark studies on the rule-of-law and legality in the governance of mining were conducted, which
have informed the drafting of stronger mining laws and regulations:  the Law of Offences, the Mineral Law, the
Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation, and the Environmental Monitoring Plan Regulation. These are
expected to strengthen environmental protection in the mining sector for affected communities across the country.

In Colombia, an assessment of the degree to which government institutions adhere to procedural rights related to the
environment has been conducted. The assessment is now being replicated in five new regions, with the results to be
used to inform the country’s future strategy for the Environmental Management of the Colombian Mining Energy
Sector and an early warning system.  

In Mozambique, a compendium of Good Practices for Women and Mining in Mozambique that highlight challenges
and opportunities for women in mining was developed jointly with UN Women. In collaboration with OXFAM, a training
on Free Prior and Informed Consent was conducted for civil society members from across four regional provinces.

In Kenya, for the first time, a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) of the mining sector has been
conducted. The process of the SESA has been as important as its recommendations:  A cross-sector coordination
mechanism with representatives from the ministries of mining and environment, civil society organizations, and the
national human rights commission was created to oversee the work, and its members have become advocates for more
integrated policymaking in the mining sector.

Global Guide - Extracting Good Practices: a comprehensive and user-friendly guide for governments and partners on
how to integrate environment and human rights into the governance of the mining sector.

Mining Governance Assessment - Rule of Law in Public Administration: User-friendly and adaptive governance
assessment on the application of procedural rights in the environmental governance of the mining sector.

Webinars: 15 webinars with more than 1,000 participants from over 100 countries.

Advocacy and Awareness Raising: Organization of global events to advance the right to a clean and healthy
environment and sharing of good practices for mainstreaming biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human rights in the
mining sector, including to inform the Conference of the Parties for the Convention on Biological Diversity.
MINING, SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS
AND THE ENVIRONMENT   
Mining, if managed well, can contribute to
sustainable development, including in the
least developed countries and fragile states.
However, mining can also cause great
environmental and social harm.

As the demand for metals and minerals

continues to grow - including to advance
durable growth and green technologies
required for a low-carbon future - and as
mineral extraction moves into ever more
remote and environmentally pristine areas,
greater efforts are needed to protect human
rights and the biodiversity and ecosystems on
which local communities and society more
broadly depend.

Protecting the environment from the direct

and indirect impacts of mining is integral to
the full enjoyment of a wide range of human
rights, including life and health. At the same
time, human rights, including procedural rights
for participation in decision-making, and
access to information and redress, are needed
for the protection of the environment.

When local communities are able to learn

about and participate in decisions that affect
them, they can in turn help to ensure that
those decisions consider their knowledge and
needs for a healthy environment and
sustainable livelihoods.
 OUR PARTNERSHIPS  CONTACT US
Partnerships are at the heart of our
work. At the country level, we work
with key government partners
including ministries of mining and
environment, national environmental
protection agencies, oversight bodies
and national human rights
commissions, and civil society.
We also work closely with our UN and
non-UN partners to achieve our
common objectives. 
Our partners include UN Women, UN
UNDP Bureau for Policy and
Environment, UNITAR, the World
Programme Support, New York 
Bank, the Folke Bernadotte Academy,
www.undp.org 
the Intergovernmental Forum for
Mining, Minerals Metals and
Focal points: 
Sustainable Development, the
ann.pedersen@undp.org
International Institute for Sustainable
sanna.due@undp.org 
Development, and Swedbio at the
Stockholm Resilience Centre.
Swedish Environmental
Protection Agency, Stockholm
http://www.swedishepa.se/
Focal point:
Maria.Bang@Naturvardsverket.se

Photo credits
Cover: © Friends of Earth International, Guatemala            Pages 3 and 4: © iStock.com/Obradovic 
Page 5: © visitcostarica.com    Page 6: © UNDP Kenya/Blerina Gjeka Page 7:© iStock.com/Obradovic