...Mining is economically critical for...the world’s poorest...with some 50 countries being significantly dependent on mining. Yet mineral wealth does not always mean positive economic growth – the so-called “resource curse” theory. In 2004, ICMM (International Council on Mining and Metals) began the Resource Endowment initiative...It developed...research on why some countries...avoided the “resource curse”...The Resource Endowment initiative showed that the “resource curse” is not inevitable. Mining investments can drive economic growth and reduce poverty...The findings were based on the application of ICMM’s Resource Endowment Toolkit...[which] has been now been revised...as the Mining: Partnerships for Development Toolkit...This report is the first independent study to look comprehensively...at mining’s contribution to Zambia; it does this by presenting the findings of an application of the MPD Toolkit to Zambia...[refers to Konkola Copper Mines, a joint venture comprising Vedanta Resources and ZCCM; Mopani Copper Mines, a joint venture comprising Glencore Xstrata, First Quantum Minerals and ZCCM; FQM Kansanshi (First Quantum Minerals); and Barrick]