. UNCTAD in collaboration with the World Bank has provided support in setting up the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable development - an extension of the initiative started at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). The objective of the forum is to enhance and promote the contribution of the mining, minerals and metals sector to sustainable development. The forum provides governments with a framework in which to discuss the opportunities provided by theses sectors and to respond to the challenges they pose. Thus far two partnerships were implemented, one in South Africa and the other one in Canada.