The Mining Fiscal Regime Simulator (MiFRS), ARPL’s flagship platform, was launched to the public this October in partnership with the Global Mining Tax Initiative of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), which is hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The launch follows the publication of a joint blog post between ARPL and IGF announcing the platform.
At the triennial Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Global Conference in Brussels, ARPL and IGF convened the partner session Modelling what matters: Using data and AI to mobilise extractive sector revenues. Viola Tarus of IGF led the discussion, with ARPL Executive Director Jonah James Allen presenting the overview and motivation for MiFRS and Yakouba Kourouma, Tax and Economic Advisor to Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Geology, contributing his practical experience of applying financial models to mining fiscal policy and decision-making. Kourouma discussed how modelling can clarify policy options and trade-offs, as well as the constraints posed by data, technical capacity and institutional coordination.
Representatives in the audience from finance ministries in EITI member countries and modelling specialists working with EITI engaged closely, asking detailed questions about MiFRS potential applications and providing suggestions on long-term objectives. Participants highlighted its promise both as a capacity-building resource and as a practical tool for strengthening fiscal analysis and policy dialogue.
Alongside the EITI conference, the ARPL team met with the IISD and IGF tax team for high-level strategic discussions on potential areas of collaboration, the platform’s long-term objectives, and opportunities to advance related initiatives together.
At the 22nd IGF Annual General Meeting in Geneva, ARPL and IGF organized a side roundtable session and live demonstration for government counterparts. Viola Tarus and Thomas Lassourd of IGF led the discussion, while ARPL Executive Director Jonah James Allen presented the platform. Together, they addressed participants’ questions about MiFRS’s capabilities and its relevance to the analytical and policy needs of their ministries.
Participants expressed strong interest in MiFRS’ potential applications and raised important questions that will help guide its continued development and use. Several ministries are now planning follow-up conversations with ARPL and IGF to explore how the platform could support their specific modelling, training and policy priorities.
ARPL also met separately with the IGF’s mining tax team to identify practical near-term opportunities for collaboration, including ways to integrate MiFRS into existing workflows and technical assistance priorities.
ARPL Senior Advisor to Government Partnerships, Daniel Ofosu, attended both conferences to support the launch and facilitate productive side discussions with potential partners and counterparts.
Together, the two events marked an important milestone toward making mining fiscal analysis and financial planning more accessible, transparent, and responsive to the needs of governments and other stakeholders.