Resources

Economic reactivation in the context of Covid 19, sustainable development, and artisanal and small scale mining

Cristian Darío Castro Urrego, Head of Governance for ARM 2020 English

In general, reactivation plans in the context of Covid 19 should make State investments flow, along with those from big companies, international cooperation and philanthropy to put resources into the pockets of several economic actors (small companies, cooperatives, associations, ASM organizations, women organizations, community organizations, vulnerable families, among others). This should take place with a strategic approach of design and implementation of local projects, subsidies and microcredits to activate the economies of the countries, especially in marginal urban zones and rural zones where there is ASM activity.

Impacto del coronavirus (COVID-19) en la minería artesanal y de pequeña escala de Bolivia

Solidaridad Cumbre del Sajama S.A 2020 Spanish

Emergency Support Needed for Artisanal/Small Scale Miners

Ruth Crowell, CEO, LBMA 2020 English

83% of the world’s mining workforce relies on Artisanal and Small Scale mines for their livelihood. That comes to roughly 40.5 million people. These people were vulnerable before COVID-19 and even more so now. As gold prices rise, so does exploitation and violence for these miners.

Women Mine-rock Waste Collectors in Artisanal and Small-scale Mining in Ecuador: Challenges and Opportunities

Patricio Colón Velásquez-López, Claudia Páez-Varas, Ximena Benavides-Zúñiga, Francisco Gallegos, Gerald Fallon 2020 English

CIRDI conducted an exploratory study of the nature of women mine-rock waste collectors’ (WWC) activities and analysed their working conditions managing mine waste rock in Ponce Enríquez, Ecuador. A WWC is locally known as janchera, and currently hundreds of women are involved in this activity within artisanal and small-scale gold mining. 

Communicating about ASGM (Issue Brief)

Gabriela Flores - for planetGOLD 2020 English

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is often associated with environmental degradation, workers’ exploitation, unsafe practices and even conflict. However, the sector is also a source of employment and local economic development in some of the world’s most deprived areas, where few alternatives exist. Few are aware of these benefits, but effective communications can help provide a more balanced view. This issue brief summarizes an analysis of the state of play in ASGM communications (including barriers to effective communication) and emerging trends, along with recommendations aimed at communicators and decision-makers.

Gender Issues in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Sector

USAID 2020 English

In most countries, women do not enjoy the same opportunities around access to, control over, and benefits from artisanal mining in their communities.

ASM, Responsible Sourcing and COVID-19-An Initial Analysis

Adam Rolfe and Levin Sources experts 2020 English

In this initial blog on the novel coronavirus, Levin Sources seeks to grapple with how the rapidly evolving context could impact responsible mineral supply chains and the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. 

Safeguards and their Role in the Responsible Mining Initiative - Brochure/Poster

planetGOLD Guyana 2020 English

Safeguards help ensure that project activities result in minimal or no negative effects on people or the environment. In this brochure, which when unfolded can also be used as a poster, introduces four safeguards that guide the planetGOLD Guyana project in delivering benefits to intended persons.

Artisanal Gold Communities as Prime COVID-19 Intervention Targets: Supply Chain Reform, Health In Gold Out

Shawn Blore, Marieke Kroll, Kevin Telmer 2020 English

In this paper, the AGC announces its three signal interventions for dealing with the crisis in ASGM communities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic: (i) Supply Chain Reform Project – a project to restart and reform artisanal gold supply chains; (ii) Health In Gold Out – a project to deliver health assistance via this gold stakeholder network; and (iii) Artisanal Gold Prices Database – a project to monitor these interventions via a worldwide database of artisanal gold prices.

Health responses to COVID-19 in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining sector: Mitigating the risk of infiltration, spread and severity

Mareike Kroll and Kevin Telmer 2020 English

The looming third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have devastating impacts in many countries in the Global South, with far worse health outcomes and economic implications. While formal and informal income sources in LMICs are collapsing, the ASGM sector offers a rare and desperately needed income opportunity due to the stable or rising international gold price. At the same time, artisanal mining communities can be considered as most-affected and at-risk group according to the UN Global Humanitarian Response Plan COVID-19.