Thematic Lead update - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Thematic Lead updateMININGAAUN PrDF projects

Aaun International Africa forumMay 11th 2015Indaba Hotel, JohannesburgSlide2

Current portfolioMining for a better communityPI Dr. Helen MacDonald, University of Cape TownEstimation of rock size distributions using image analysisPI

Dr Anthony Amankwah, University of Ghana

Integrating HIV and

gender related

issues into environmental assessments for Australian mining companies operating in

Africa

PI Assoc. Prof Angus Morrison-Saunders Murdoch UniversitySlide3

Key achievements and outputsMining for a Better CommunityParticipation at the upcoming 46th Union World Conference on Lung Health (2-6 December in Cape Town) .  One of the collaborators, Dr

Susan Hemer, has raised an independent travel grant, so we will be able to assemble 3 Australian team members with their African partners. A number of the team have submitted abstracts.An additional abstract has been submitted to the annual Anthropology Southern Africa conference

(August 2015).

  The paper is co-authored by

Dr

Helen Macdonald and

Ms

Mutsa

Mutendi

and is entitled: ‘We are like bubble gum’: Perceptions of TB among South African gold miners.  Independent travel funding has been obtained for one of the authors to present

.

Dr

Penny Johnson and Prof Martha

MacIntyre

have met in Australia and will begin work on a co-authored paper around the

Lihir

mines in Papua New Guinea for publication

. (see more on way forward)

Ms

Mutsa

Mutendi

has registered for her Masters degree at UCT and will undertake her research looking at mining’s responses to  community health careSlide4

ChallengesMining for a Better CommunityChallenges around getting original date for team meeting – hence the opportunity ofUsing the Cape Town conference as the catalyst to get everybody together which includes: University of Pretoria, University of Queensland, University of Melbourne, University of Adelaide, Australian National UniversityCurrently looking to negotiate a modification of the scope – to include comparison with PNG

There have been conversation regarding the scope of the final grant. The biggest challenge has been to locate a suitable grant for which to apply.Slide5

Way forwardMining for a Better CommunityProposed change of scope: A comparison that looked at the social conditions and causes leading to high rates of TB diagnosis across PNG and South Africa. In PNG the mines are open cut, whereas is SA they are not, so it is potentially not conditions within the mines that promote TBSlide6

Key achievements and outputsEstimation of rock size distributions using image analysisBegun training of sampler team, investigating state-of-the-art tools to be used in the project.Begun planning for capacity building workshop in AustraliaAwaiting funding to really commence activities.Partners include: University of Ghana, Curtin University, University of PretoriaSlide7

Key achievements and outputsIntegrating HIV and gender related issues into environmental assessments for Australian mining companies operating in Africa12 month report submitted to AAUN as well as acquittal of funds:Established a working group – met in its entirety in Perth in advance of the world AIDS congress being held in Melbourne included Paladin, Golden Rim and Resolute and

AAMIG. Murdoch University, University of Pretoria, Makerere University, K’eth Impilo (NGO based in Cape Town)Additional support from Murdoch University leveraged the original funding which enabled a major panel session at the congress on HIV and AIDS co-chaired by HE Festus

Mogae

and Bryony

Walmsley

(one of the working group based in Cape Town) mining companies that contributed included Anglo-American, Newcrest, BHP.

http

://pag.aids2014.org/

session.aspx?s

=1005

First paper delivered at AFSAAP November, 2014 in NZSlide8

ChallengesIntegrating HIV and gender related issues into environmental assessments for Australian mining companies operating in AfricaChallenges continue with regard to funding for Africa-specific research in an Australian context although commitment to Africa/Indian Ocean Rim is present in a number of areas of Federal Government.Slide9

Way forwardIntegrating HIV and gender related issues into environmental assessments for Australian mining companies operating in AfricaLooking at broadening the scope for funding to focus on communicable diseases and mining. Also potential for application to the Ford Foundation and various European funding agencies.Will include presentations on health/communicable diseases at the upcoming Africa Australia Research Forum – this builds on a multi-year engagement with Chatham House on this topic at Africa Down Under (the host of the forum)

World AIDS Congress will be in Durban, July 2016Slide10

5th Annual Africa Australia Research Forum September 1st Perth, WAMaking Growth Inclusive: The role of mining in the post-2015 development agenda for Africa.The year 2015 marks a watershed for Africa as it transitions from focusing on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the African Union-sponsored “Common African Position” (CAP).  One area of focus of the CAP is “structural economic transformation and inclusive growth”

.2016 special issue of The Extractive Industries and Society (Elsevier). Formal call for papers going out this week.

ERA-MIN – European opportunity for funding in extractives more generally – presented at Feb Meeting in Berlin and included

pitch for AAUN