Tegan Holmes

The planetGOLD Burkina Faso project is actively working to improve access to finance for both the men and women at its mine site. For the women, this also means accompanying them on their journey from employees to independent entrepreneurs. In this story meet Zourata Nacanabo, who made the move from artisanal miner to shaft owner and is championing the inclusion of women in the project's activities to improve health and livelihoods.

As part of the planetGOLD Burkina Faso project’s efforts to assist in the formalization of the country's artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, the team analyzed current legislation, identified key areas for potential policy revision and potential for improved application, and held two workshops to capacitate key stakeholders on how to implement the proposed recommendations.

The planetGOLD Burkina Faso project focuses on assisting artisanal gold miners with obtaining access to formal finance so they have the means to improve their operations. Recently, the project held the first Access to Finance workshop of its kind for the benefit of mining communities marginalized by traditional financial systems such as banks and microfinance institutions.

As the planetGOLD Mongolia project works towards formalizing the sector, and reducing the clandestine use of toxic chemicals in ASGM, focus has been placed on strengthening local government’s comprehension of the implications and benefits of the Minamata Convention and thus incentivizing its implementation using the NAP as a guide. To begin this, two training sessions on the ‘Minamata Convention on Mercury and ASGM’ were organized in two provinces.