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oPInIon

In Africa, sustainable

businesses take the lion’s share

ome to the world’s tallest free-standing socio-economic problems, stepping in where
H mountain, the longest river, and the largest government support and infrastructure are
terrestrial animal on earth, Africa has always lacking to bridge the gap in critical civic ser-
been a land of superlatives. But today, the vices such as health care and education.
continent is attracting attention not only for its There are multiple examples across the John Welborn received the Best Workforce
ecological feats, but its exponential economic continent of individuals identifying problems and Industry Development Initiative on
growth. and developing solutions in their communi- behalf of Resolute from AAMEG chief
Of the top 20 fastest growing economies in ties – from solar panels that provide lighting at executive William Witham
2019, nine were in Africa, with South Sudan, night, to mobile payment systems allowing em-
Rwanda and Libya topping the world rankings. ployers to pay employees directly and people
In the World Bank’s 2019 Doing Business In- to send money to loved ones in rural areas. ‘Best Innovation in Corporate Social Develop-
dex, five of the 10 most improved countries This isn’t just an ethical decision or a per- ment’ prize for its Balama Professional Training
were in Africa, and one-third of all reforms re- formative display of social cohesion, but an Centre project in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.
corded globally were in sub-Saharan Africa. ongoing and essential part of their business The project mobilised and trained a workforce
What’s more, Africa is home to the 10 fast- strategy. And with mounting evidence showing of close to 1,000 employees in Mozambique,
est growing cities in the world and, with 60% of that a commitment to sustainability attracts in- of which 55% reside in the local host communi-
the population under the age of 25, it’s teeming vestors, drives innovation, builds risk manage- ties, 96% are Mozambican nationals, and over
with young people who are increasingly well- ment, increases customer loyalty and attracts 20% female.
educated and eager to join the workforce. staff, these are the businesses most likely to Resolute Mining Ltd walked away with the
It’s no surprise that business leaders have succeed, in Africa and elsewhere in the world. ‘Best Workforce and Industry Development
called Africa ‘the land of opportunity’. The con- With more than 150-listed Australian com- Initiative’ for its Malian Talent Development
tinent is creating an entirely new development panies operating in Africa, a majority of which Programme. Situated in southern Mali, it gives
path, harnessing the potential of its resources are involved in the minerals and energy sec- local senior school students the chance to
and people. But while its opportunities are vast, tor, the golden age of Australia-Africa relations participate in a three-year apprenticeship pro-
its challenges remain persistent. And for many has begun. Indeed, Australia is now one of the gram, with the top student every year receiving
international investors, Africa still poses a risk. biggest international investors on the continent, a bursary to study at an Australian university.
Around 640 million people in Africa live with- doubling its investment to more than $40 bil- Taking place on the November 4 as part of
out electricity and more than 416 million live in lion over the past decade. As the saying goes, Africa Down Under in Perth, the 2020 Awards
extreme poverty. Debt levels and debt risk are with great power comes great responsibility. will again celebrate companies that champion
rising in some countries, the availability of good As Australia’s presence in Africa continues to a transparent, equitable and mutually benefi-
jobs has not kept pace with the population, and grow, so too must its efforts to champion best cial mineral resources industry in Africa.
there are persistent gaps in infrastructure, edu- practice ESG principles. Archetypal of AAMEG’s efforts to bolster
cation, healthcare and gender equality which From the junior end of the scale right through the capacity of junior companies in Africa, this
prevent the continent from reaching its full to the multinationals, there certainly is some year’s event will introduce a new category – the
growth and innovation potential. exemplary work being done in this space. A “Emerging ESG Leader Award”, sponsored by
So, the question remains: how do busi- number of our member companies donated the Minerals Council of Australia – which ac-
nesses build meaningful scale and attract con- millions of dollars to combat the COVID-19 knowledges junior explorers or service com-
tinued investment on a continent where oppor- pandemic in West Africa, in the form of direct fi- panies (with a market capitalisation below
tunity and volatility are equally potent forces? nancial support and medical supplies provided $100 million and less than 25 employees in
The world over, a continued focus on non- to hospitals, medical clinics and communities. Australia) whose outstanding company initia-
financial risks has sparked a boom in respon- Helping the Australian mining industry to de- tive delivers sustainable and tangible benefits
sible investing. And it’s a trend that is only go- liver world-class ESG outcomes across Africa to their host communities.
ing to intensify as concerns around climate was the founding mandate of AAMEG, and it This award joins the existing categories of
change, wealth inequality, human rights and continues to be one of our central concerns as Best Innovation in Corporate Social Develop-
biodiversity are magnified through a post- the peak body for Australian companies en- ment and Best Workplace and People Devel-
pandemic lens. But in Africa, an environment gaged in developing Africa’s resource industry. opment Initiative.
with higher degrees of uncertainty, ESG is ab- To that end, we established the AAMEG AAMEG encourages nominations from min-
solutely mission critical for long-term survival. Africa Awards in 2019 to celebrate and cham- ing and service-related companies who aspire
As Bill Egbe, President of the Coca-Cola pion those companies demonstrating a deep to enable the local communities surrounding
South Africa Business Unit explains, “You have commitment to ethical mining practices and their operations to be engaged meaningfully to
a much more viable business system when community development. Their work often reach their full potential, as well as contribute
you have partners along the value chain who goes unnoticed due to the tyranny of distance, more broadly to the host country’s socio-eco-
have a vested interest in the long-term survival and also because resources companies are nomic development and sustainable growth.
of your business because they derive a living hesitant to self-promote work that falls into their Nominations for the 2020 AAMEG Africa
from your business system. That is the ultimate social licence, especially when there is a lack Awards are open till 8 October, with full ap-
formula for sustainability on the continent.” of understanding about the extreme challeng- plication details available at www.aameg.org/
And in Africa, “long-term survival” often es of operating in Africa. aameg-africa-awards/
means taking a proactive approach to solving In 2019, Syrah Resources Ltd was awarded

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