Throughout 2019, discussions began between the 3S&E Network, CECI (the Center for International Studies and Cooperation) and the ISMBG (the Boké Institute of Mines and Geology) in Guinea. ISMBG is a public educational institution, one of its missions being to provide training and further improvement for senior technicians and engineers in the fields of geological and mining sciences, as well as the metal mining industry. In 2019, the institute had close to 500 students, nearly 25% of whom were in the “Industrial Environment and Safety” program.
These talks laid the groundwork for a partnership aiming to develop a training program dealing with health and safety as well as the environmental aspects of mining. Impacts sought by the project are, among other things, the updating of the ISMGB’s educational content in relation to industry expectations, gender equality issues and the economic and employment benefits for young people and communities.
Left to right: Fanta Mamady Condé (CECI-Boké), Sylvain Matte (CECI-Canada), Rachel Gomez Camara, (CECI-Guinée Director), Yvon Courchesne (3S&E Network Instructor), Dr. Diaka Sidibé (ISMGB Director), Jean-Marc Lajoie (3S&E Network Instructor).
A successful first mission
Following this agreement, two Network members, Yvon Courchesne and Jean-Marc Lajoie, accompanied by Sylvain Matte of CECI, carried out a first mission to Boké, Guinea, in November and December. This mission was essentially aimed at identifying the needs to improve the current program and evaluating the Network’s ability to provide the ISMGB with the support it needs to achieve its objectives of updating the “Industrial Environment and Safety” program.
To fulfill the mandate of this mission, several activities were carried out: multiple meetings and discussions with the Institute’s management and professors, interviews, focus groups, review of curricula and teaching materials, and field visits. The findings were numerous and confirmed the relevance of the 3S&E Network’s involvement in the continuation of this project.
In addition to this initial diagnosis, concrete actions have also been undertaken in order to clearly demonstrate the support that can be provided by the 3S&E Network. Thus, our volunteers took part in lectures as guest speakers on topics such as project management, occupational health, safety and hygiene as well as atmospheric dispersion modelling and mining project impact studies. A virtual site has also been set up to initiate and facilitate the sharing of reference documents between the 3S&E Network and the ISMBG.
Jean-Marc Lajoie (3S&E Network) during project management training.
More to come in 2020
At the end of their mission, our volunteers submitted an initial assessment of their findings and improvement suggestions to the Institute’s management. This was very well received. Since then, a detailed report including findings, recommendations and actions to be implemented has been prepared and was the subject of a special meeting between the 3S&E Network and CECI. It will be submitted to ISMGB management in January in order to agree with them on a joint work plan to be carried out over an eighteen (18) month period.
The involvement of the 3S&E Network in this project will be important and will require the participation of several of our experts.
Réseau de professionnels et de gestionnaires
en santé, sécurité, société et environnement (SSSE)