African Renaissance and Australia Resources and the ‘Renaissance’: Australian Government support for the Africa Mining Vision

A defining characteristic of the ‘African Renaissance ’ is African countries ’ expanding exploitation – and strengthened governance – of their natural resources. The adoption in February 2009 by African Union Heads of State of an Africa Mining Vision (AMV) has stimulated national efforts to ensure this resource wealth is shared equitably. The AMV advocates for a transformative role for mineral resources in Africa’s development. But there is a long road ahead. In many African countries increased resource revenues are widening the gap between rich and poor. As in many parts of the developing world, inequalities between resource stakeholders in Africa are stark, in terms of expertise, resource governance ‘fluency ’ and access to decision-making. This paper outlines how the Australian Government is playing a pioneering role in supporting the realisation of the AMV, as a founding supporter of the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) – the chief organ to drive continent-wide implementation of the AMV. The success of the AMV will, however, largely be measured by the extent to which African communities themselves manage and negotiate their resource endowments – while minimising social and environmental impacts. So the Australian Government is also working at this level to build individual and institutional capacity, to support the goal of a knowledge-driven African mining sector