OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 12, 2013) - On May 9th and 10th, 2013, international leaders will gather at The North-South Institute's Ottawa Forum: Governing Natural Resources for Africa's Development. The Forum will identify best-practice policy options for natural resource governance, based on the exchange and in depth analysis of global experiences. These policy options will reflect the needs of host governments, mining investors and local communities in Africa, in order to create a more balanced distribution of the socio-economic benefits of natural resource exploitation between extractive sector investors, local communities and governments.

Discussions at the Forum will focus on the following themes:

• The Role of Africa's Natural Resources in the Global Economy;
• Governing the Extractive Sector in Africa: Institutional Challenges and Opportunities;
• Extractive Companies and Community Engagement in Africa: Beyond Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Role of Free, Prior and Informed Consent;
• Emerging Economies and the New Scramble for Africa's Natural Resources;
• Mining and Development in Africa: Canada's Role;
• Land Governance and Land Deals in Africa.

Participants at the Forum will include senior Canadian and African policymakers and government officials, extractive industry executives, global and African civil society groups, multilateral institutions, donor agencies, diplomats, think-tanks and academics.

"The topic of this year's NSI Ottawa Forum is a critical one to both African and Canadian audiences," said Joseph K. Ingram, President and CEO of The North-South Institute. "Africa's leaders increasingly recognize that the manner in which the continent's resources are overseen and exploited is fundamental to their ability to enhance both state and human security and contribute to broad-based development. For Canada, one of the world's most important investors in extractives and natural resources, helping set best practice policy and standards in natural resource exploitation globally, is a necessary priority. For this reason, this year's NSI Ottawa Forum will be a must-attend event for development experts."

The NSI Ottawa Forum will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada at The Chateau Laurier on May 9-10, 2013. Registration is now open and media are welcome.

Founded in 1976, The North-South Institute is Canada's leading, non-profit, independent think tank dedicated to improving people's lives in the developing world through effective international development.