New workshops on financial access, alternative livelihood options for women miners in Bolivia & more

Supporting alternative livelihood options in Bolivia

In San Ramón, Bolivia - an area known for its biodiversity and tropical climate - the planetGOLD project is partnering with women miners to provide training in gastronomy, helping them to incorporate cooking businesses as an alternative source of income for themselves and their families. The course is grounded in the Manq'a approach of using locally sourced ingredients.

Learn more in the latest episode of planetGOLD's Dispatches from the Field, and view the full series on our website.

New Resources        

Financial inclusion information exchanges

The planetGOLD programme is exploring options for and promoting access to finance for artisanal and small-scale miners as part of the effort to drive the adoption of mercury-free processing technologies.

To support these efforts, planetGOLD partnered with The Impact Facility, which led a series of financial inclusion information exchange workshops virtually in August, October, and November. These workshops provided a platform to share knowledge, discuss solutions, and advance practical strategies for improving financial access for artisanal and small-scale miners. Click here to view recordings and other materials.

Stories, News & Updates        

Intergenerational actions for responsible mining in Peru

In the districts of Suyo and Sapillica in northern Peru, agriculture and livestock farming are the main economic activities. These practices coexist with mining carried out by the local population. In a new photo story, the planetGOLD Peru team demonstrates how women and men in this region are carrying out actions to advance formal, responsible, and cleaner artisanal mining practices.

Inspiring young people through educational roadshows

Last year the planetGOLD Philippines project launched a “Youth for Responsible Gold” educational roadshow to engage youth in promoting safer, cleaner, more equitable, and responsible mining practices. Students engaged in storytelling sessions highlighting the roles of women miners and how ASGM livelihood can be balanced with environmental stewardship. Watch the new video

Elevating voices for a mercury-free Colombia

A new music video produced by the planetGOLD Colombia project raises local voices for the protection and care of rivers, biodiversity and human health from the impacts of mercury use. The song, “Voices for a Mercury Free Colombia,” is the result of a collaboration between the project and communities in Guapi on the Pacific Coast. Watch the music video

Introducing “Ivoire GOLD Info”

The planetGOLD C?te d’Ivoire project has launched the first episode of Ivoire GOLD Info, their new YouTube program dedicated to sharing key messages and information. ?In the inaugural episode, the project takes us to the heart of the actions and challenges they are tackling to transform the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector. Watch the video

Sharing expertise on mercury-free processing in Mongolia

Recently planetGOLD Mongolia brought representatives of small-scale gold processing plants in 5 different provinces to an experience-sharing training on its new mercury-free processing system in Mandal soum, Selenge province.?Participants gained comprehensive insights into cleaner hard rock gold ore processing technologies, and how these methods have been researched. Read the article

Zambia launches project to reduce mercury in ASGM

An inception workshop held in November in Lusaka brought together key stakeholders of the Zambian artisanal gold mining sector including government organizations, civil society organizations, academics, and private sector representatives to introduce the project and its priorities. The planetGOLD Zambia project plans to support over 11,000 people and reduce mercury use by 1.14 metric tonnes over five years. Read more

Strengthening partnership & renewing commitment in Uganda

The planetGOLD Uganda project convened key stakeholders in October for its second annual meeting, uniting voices in support of a more responsible artisanal gold mining sector.?This year’s meeting emphasized the project’s mission to reduce mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and empower miners through cooperatives to create better economic opportunities.?Watch the video and read the article.

Raising awareness on mercury-free alternatives in Ghana

To promote mercury-free mining practices in line with Ghana’s obligations under the Minamata Convention, planetGOLD Ghana recently organized sensitization workshops in the Ashanti and Central regions. Led by a local expert in mercury-free processing technologies, the events emphasized alternative technologies available for ASGM and health impacts of mercury use. Read the article

Ecuador re-doubles efforts towards making mercury history

After introducing the newly launched planetGOLD Ecuador project at the national level in September, the initiative was brought closer to mining communities and project beneficiaries through socialization workshops held between October and December. More than 120 miners, mining leaders, and local authorities joined these workshops. Read more (in Spanish).

Consulting stakeholders on inclusive regulation of ASGM

The planetGOLD Guinea project recently held a consultation mission in Upper Guinea to update and harmonize the legislative and regulatory framework governing the ASGM sector. The mission aimed to relaunch discussions on the regulation of artisanal gold mining and to strengthen local authorities’ and communities’ commitment to the adoption and implementation of this regulation.?Read the article

New project launches in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s government is taking action to support a more responsible artisanal gold mining sector by launching the new planetGOLD Zimbabwe project. The project plans to support 7,500 men and women at 11 districts in the country, working with local communities to reduce mercury use by 4.85 tonnes over five years. Read more

Other Key Resources        

Taxes, Fees, Royalties and the Formalisation of ASGM

This study attempts to determine whether and to what extent a country’s fiscal regime – the total of taxes, fees, and royalties – acts as significant factor pushing ASGM producers and exporters into informality. The report addresses the production segment of the gold supply chain from the commercialization segment and focuses on nine planetGOLD countries: Burkina Faso, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Mongolia, Peru, and the Philippines. The report is now available in French, Spanish, and English.

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Technical Report Writing Guide

The objective of a technical report is to provide a summary of important scientific and technical information concerning mineral exploration, development, and production activities on a mineral property to guide potential investors in an investment decision. This Technical Report Writing Guide gives an overview of report content requirements and aims to standardize the format for ASGM Technical Reports, within the context of the resources available to organized artisanal mining groups. The report is available in English, French, and Spanish.

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