Trust in an Interdependent World: Advancing inclusion and resilience in mineral value chains
The 22nd IGF Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on October 12–14, 2026, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, hosted by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This year’s theme was Trust in an Interdependent World: Advancing inclusion and resilience in mineral value chains.
More than 480 delegates attended the event in person, and sessions featured government representatives from the IGF’s 85+ member countries as well as experts from industry, civil society, non-governmental, and international organizations.
Launching the IGF Mining Academy
The opening session of the AGM featured the official launch of the IGF Mining Academy. The Academy is a global platform for learning, knowledge sharing and innovation in responsible mining governance.
Through it, policy-makers from IGF member countries can:
- Build skills through online courses and country and regional training
- Learn from one another through peer exchange
- Learn about the Global Mining Legislation Atlas, and practical tools and resources to turn knowledge into action
- Connect with research through the Global Academic and Research Network and the Research and Innovation Lab
The Network took a concrete step forward at the opening, with the signing of three agreements with the University of Cape Town, BRIMM – University of British Columbia, and Catalyste+.
The IGF Prize for Excellence in Mining Governance
At the closing of the AGM, we awarded the first-ever IGF Prize for Excellence in Mining Governance. The prize recognizes outstanding leadership in sustainable mining from IGF member countries. Out of more than 20 entries, the inaugural award was presented to Brazil in recognition of its integrated mining dam safety governance system.
The system registers and risk-classifies 909 dams, requires periodic stability and emergency-plan declarations, publishes georeferenced risk information and supports risk-based inspection and enforcement. Upstream dams covered by the national policy fell from 61 in 2022 to 42 by July 2026. Brazil’s national mining agency, Agência Nacional de Mineração, conducted 710 inspections and issued 773 infraction notices in 2023–25.
Daniel Hill, Chair of the IGF Executive Committee, congratulated Marina Marques Dalla Costa of Brazil for her country’s exemplary framework on integrated mining dam safety governance.
Summaries and Reporting from IISD’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin
- Highlights from Monday, October 12
- Highlights from Tuesday, October 13
- Highlights from Wednesday, October 14
- Full event summary report
IGF Government Forum
Following the AGM, more than 100 officials convened at the IGF Government Forum, a one-day interactive workshop. Throughout the day, the Secretariat team engaged with officials to learn about their priorities and explore opportunities for collaboration.