The document introduces the International Bar Association's (IBA) Model Mining Development Agreement (MMDA) project. The IBA established the mining law committee to develop the MMDA, which aims to provide a template for investor-state mining agreements based on international best practices. The committee drafted an initial version of the MMDA and is conducting consultations with governments, industry, civil society and others to refine it before presenting at an IBA conference in October 2010. The MMDA project is intended to balance the interests of host countries, communities and investors in the mining sector.