Collaboration among industry, governments and civil society is becoming more urgent as Africa aims to convert its mineral wealth into sustainable economic gains, says mining and metals advocacy group ICMM president and CEO Rohitesh Dhawan.

Speaking to Mining Weekly ahead of this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, he says the continent’s ability to translate its geological advantage into lasting development will depend on stronger partnerships.

ICMM’s role as a global convener allows for bridging these partnerships by bringing together 26 of the world’s largest mining companies, representing more than one-third of global production and operating over 650 sites in about 50 countries.

While Africa offers “immense opportunity”, the continent also faces infrastructure gaps, regulatory uncertainty and rising social and environmental pressures, consequently making multi-stakeholder cooperation essential.

The ICMM’s experience since 2002 has shown that open engagement with its stakeholders strengthens accountability and accelerates progress on responsible mining practices, he states.

“The Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative [CMSI] is a key example of collaboration shaping the future of responsible mining,” he says, adding that it brings together ICMM, The Copper Mark, the World Gold Council and the Mining Association of Canada to merge the strongest elements of their four established standards into a global framework.

The CMSI is being advanced through a structured process that reviews, aligns and integrates the four existing responsible mining standards into one framework. This process is being guided by dedicated stakeholder and industry advisory groups, whose expertise is helping refine the final standard.

Dhawan says the crowded landscape of responsible mining standards has long been a barrier for many operators, but the CMSI, set for launch in 2026, aims to provide clarity for mining companies of all sizes, across all locations and commodities.

“Broad adoption could cover hundreds of mining facilities across about 60 countries, including major African jurisdictions that are preparing for increased demand linked to the global energy transition.”

Dhawan believes that the CMSI will be particularly valuable for governments aiming to align environmental, social and governance expectations as they position themselves for critical-minerals investment.

The Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 will also premiere The World’s Deepest Marathon documentary, which Dhawan describes as a “cinematic showcase of modern responsible mining”.

The underground marathon, filmed 1 120 m below surface in October 2025 at a mine operated by Swedish multinational metals, mining and smelting company Boliden, highlights industry diversity, technological progress and improved safety standards

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