Norwegian Embassy’s injection into SAIIA’s natural resource work

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On 10 March 2015, the Norwegian Embassy in South Africa entered into an agreement with the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) to provide financial support of approximately R16 million to our Governance of Africa's Resources programme.

The agreement, which runs from 2015 to 2017, enables SAIIA to conduct research on strengthening the sustainable management of natural resources in Africa and beyond. The overall goal of this work is to help ensure that the revenues from Africa’s natural resources contribute to the development of the continent.

This support is a continuation of SAIIA’s partnership with the Norwegian Embassy since 2007. The value of this work was recognised when SAIIA was recently identified as a centre of excellence in resource governance by the African Minerals Development Centre.

‘Over the last several years SAIIA has produced cutting-edge work in the field of extractive and environmental resource governance. We are extremely pleased to be able to continue this work through the support provided by the Norwegian Embassy,’ says SAIIA Chief Executive Elizabeth Sidiropoulos.

SAIIA will primarily focus on these areas:

  • make regulatory frameworks in the mining sector operational in the SADC region
  • support Africa’s energy mix and Green Economy
  • explore the development and governance of Africa’s Blue Economy

Beneficiaries of the programme will include policymakers at the national and regional level involved in resources and governance; for example, ministries of finance, mines, environmental affairs and water. SAIIA will also be working with the African Union, the World Bank and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

11 Mar 2015