Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is provides livelihoods to 100 million people directly and indirectly around the world. It is an important and mainly informal economic sector and it is essential to rural development. Vulnerable and indigenous people are often closely linked to this sector.
UNIDO supports the creation of a responsible gold sector, all along the gold supply chain.
Building on more than two decades of experience, UNIDO uses its expertise to reduce negative environmental and social impacts, including mercury use, while supporting socio-economic development.
UNIDO's interventions combine supporting countries to meet their obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury through the development of National Action Plans (NAPs), and integrated approaches designed to foster responsible artisanal gold value chains. With more than 15 ongoing projects, UNIDO is a leading institution in the sector globally.
Sustainable use of natural and mineral resources in Colombia
The objective of this EU co-funded project is to improve the livelihood of selected local communities in the Chocó Department. This is achieved by reducing negative social and environmental impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining, and supporting community empowerment.
The project aims to demonstrate the viability and benefits of a sustainable and inclusive use of the local natural resources, particularly gold ores and agro-forestry products, while contributing to territorial peace and enhancing the livelihoods of the project participants.
The project consists of three complementary components:
Responsible mining
Train Community Councils on good environmental and social practices in order to contribute to a responsible gold mining sector, minimize and mitigate its environmental impacts, and prevent illicit financial flows.
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Entrepreneurship and productive alternatives
Develop sustainable alternative income sources, that allow communities to generate income from sustainable and high-value agricultural commodities.
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Empowerment and gender equality
Train Community Councils on sustainability in their territory and effective decision-making processes for their development while enhancing the visibility of the role of women in mining and in their communities.
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The planetGOLD programme
UNIDO is a key actor in the GEF funded planetGOLD programme. The programme engages at national and international levels with governments, the private sector, and ASGM communities to achieve a cleaner, safer, and more profitable artisanal gold mining sector.
Funded under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the programme's goal is to phase out mercury use through the following four key areas:
1. Formalization
The widespread informality that characterizes AGSM operations, often prevent miners from accessing finance and better and cleaner technologies. It also exposes the sector to criminal activities as well as illicit financial flows.
In response, planetGOLD aims at gradually formalizing the ASGM sector. This includes building capacities of all stakeholders, promoting supporting policy frameworks, and enabling synergies between all relevant stakeholders.
2. Access to Finance and Responsible Supply Chains
The ASGM sector is generally perceived as a risky investment due to widespread informality and the associated negative and social impacts. In turn, this lack of finance prevents the uptake of better technologies and eventual formalization efforts.
Therefore, planetGOLD is developing the administrative capacities of miners, raising the awareness of financing institutions, establishing synergies between financial institutions and miners, and creating opportunities to address the different needs of miners and investors.
In parallel, efforts focus on increasing monitoring of gold commercialization processes to build transparent, traceable, and responsible gold supply chains.
3. Technical Solutions
Thanks to its ease of use and availability, mercury is generally the preferred option for most miners when extracting gold. However, it is toxic and inefficient.
Hence, planetGOLD is promoting and piloting better, safer, and cleaner technologies as well as building capacity for artisanal and small-scale gold miners.
4. Knowledge and capacity
All along the gold supply chain, stakeholders lack capacity and awareness of the hazards of mercury use, the potential of cleaner and more efficient technologies, and the business opportunities arising from financial support and improved supply chains.
In response, planetGOLD is (i) providing training activities for all relevant stakeholders as well as (ii) developing knowledge products in order to improve understanding and ensure improved local capacities.
For more information on the ongoing planetGOLD projects implemented by UNIDO please visit: Burkina Faso, Mongolia, Philippines.
This webpage is designed to provide only a brief overview of UNIDO's interventions. For more information on UNIDO's Mercury Programme please contact mercury@unido.org or visit our website.
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planetGOLD Mongolia