The director of Malawi’s Geo-logical Survey Department (GSD), Leonard Kalindekafe, is the new chairperson of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development, a global forum aimed at enhancing the contribution of the mining sector to sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Kalindekafe is the second African to chair the forum and the third chairperson since its founding.

An outcome of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Devel-
opment, the forum is recognised by the United Nations (UN).

Kalindekafe says that, as chair-
person of the forum, he will strive to ensure that the proceeds of min-
ing operations benefit the poor.

The forum has been tasked with formulating a mining policy 
framework that will be adopted by 
the UN through the UN Commis-sion on Sustainable Development.