FORAM, a two-year project to advance the idea for a World Forum on Raw Materials, was launched at the end of November in Brussels during the first Raw Materials Week, organized by the European Commission. The meeting opened a discussion with a selected audience on the opportunities, needs and challenges in raw materials management at the global scale.
FORAM is the largest collaborative effort for raw materials strategy cooperation on a global level so far. Centred on an EU-based platform of international experts and stakeholders, it aims to enhance international cooperation on raw materials policies, making the complex maze of raw materials’ related initiatives more effective.
Mr. Bas De Leeuw, Managing Director of the World Resources Forum, the FORAM coordinator, stated “Key aspects of advancing the idea of a World Forum on Raw Materials include assessing its focus and its format. Will there be a need for just information gathering, or for a scientific platform? Should the platform offer policy dialogue, multi-stakeholder awareness raising and capacity building, or a mix of these? Should it be a network or become a formal institution? We will assess these questions with an open eye for all the good work that is already going on, and in close dialogue with existing networks. We do not intend to reinvent wheels, we want to offer ideas for increasing efficiency and effectiveness for all concerned”.
According to Mr Demicheli, Secretary General of EuroGeoSurveys, one of the key partners: “By closely working with relevant stakeholders in industry, European and international organizations, governments, academia and civil society, this project will contribute to consolidating the efforts towards a more joint and coherent approach towards raw materials policies and investments worldwide. Synergies with relevant EU Member States initiatives will be explored and fostered. The project will in particular seek to engage the participation of G20 Member countries and other countries active in the mining and other raw materials sectors, so that experiences will be shared and understanding of all aspects of trade in raw materials will be increased”.
The FORAM project is led by the Swiss based World Resources Forum Association (WRFA) and supported by 11 additional leading organizations (EuroGeoSurveys, European Federation of Geologists, United Nations University, Leiden University, University Kassel, Clausthal University of Technology, ESM/Matsearch, Gondwana Empreendimentos e Consultorias, Servicio Geológico Colombiano, MinPol GmbH and La Palma Research Centre for Future Studies SL). In addition, more than 20 international organisations are involved as Advisory Board members and 40 organizations as Linked Third Parties, for a total number of over 70 key influencers. These will work closely for the next two years to enhance international cooperation and increase the understanding of all aspects of raw materials investment and trade.
