Resources

planetGOLD 2019/2020 Annual Progress Report - Executive Summary

planetGOLD 2021 English

The 2019/2020 Annual Progress Report published by planetGOLD provides an overview of the progress made since the launch of the planetGOLD programme in early 2019 and includes data from the initiation of each of the national projects through fall 2020. This executive summary provides a snapshot of the key points from the full report, across the programme's 4 key programmatic areas: formalization, access to finance, technical solutions, and access to formal markets.

Graduating From Illegal Mining | HIGH GRADE Talks with Julius Opiyo

CIRDI English

Julius Opiyo was 12 years old when he started working in the mine to pay for school. Today he is Manager at MICA MINERS COOP LTD, Kenya’s first formalised ASM cooperative. This is his story and his recommendations to governments working to formalise their informal ASM sector.

Illicit Mercury Flows and Governance Practices in Mindanao, Philippines

Jashaf Shamir A. Lorenzo, BAN Toxics IUCN - National Committee of the Netherlands English

This report documents the illicit mercury flows in Mindanao, Philippines as well as the various governance practices for mercury in the study areas. The study is conducted by BAN Toxics and focuses on Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) communities in the island, where the majority of illicit mercury enters the country.

Assessing Drivers for “Formalization Readiness” in ASM Communities in Kenya: Understanding the Role of Cooperatives

CIRDI 2020 English

This study came at the request of the Kenyan State Department of Mining. Given the emphasis on ASM cooperatives in supporting the formalization process within national and county government policy, this study seeks to better understand what cooperatives need to successfully form, and how the government can best support cooperatives in the formalization process. 

Virus hits small-scale miners in the country

James Kirwa 2020 English

Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) activities have been hit hard by the coronavirus and the ongoing nationwide curfew, as miners and investors contemplate on the future of the sub-sector. Among them is artisanal mining based partnership projects by mining consultancy firm -EcoCentric, which have been postponed.

Opening the black box: Local insights into the formal and informal global mercury trade revealed

IUCN 2020 English

A combination of factors is driving the continued use of mercury, including the lucrativeness of the trade, the informality of the ASGM sector, the poverty of many miners and the power imbalance between many traders and miners. Mercury governance within the investigated countries has potential for improvement. To tackle the mercury problem, action should be taken that addresses the problem from all angles and takes all key stakeholders into account. The  report is a compilation of findings from investigations that IUCN NL’s local partner organisations carried out. More detailed findings for each country can be found in the respective country/regional report.

Définir la Voie à Suivre: Difficultés et solutions relatives à l’élaboration et à la mise en œuvre des plans d’action nationaux pour réduire l’utilisation du mercure dans l’extraction minière artisanale et à petite échelle d’or

UNEP, Africa Institute 2019 French

Defining the Road Ahead: Challenges and solutions for developing and implementing National Action Plan to reduce mercury use in Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining

UNEP, Africa Institute 2019 English

The report discusses the challenges and solution encountered by countries developing National Action Plan for artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).

State Gold-Buying Programmes: Effective instruments to reform the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector?

RCS Global 2016 English

Can state gold-buying programmes (SGBPs) be an effective tool for governments – to not only bolster state financial reserves, but also to reform the sector, raising its standards and improving its environmental and social outcomes? And can these programmes operate in countries that often lack institutional capacity, infrastructure and stability? This paper analyses case studies in five countries, drawing out the challenges and potential factors for success in developing an effective SGBP.