CommDev has developed this section in partnership with the Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM) Secretariat in Washington D.C. ASM is a significant and growing issue in many developing countries.
While providing an important source of income for large groups of people, informal mining is too often associated with conflict, corruption and civil strife. Responses to the ASM sector frequently focus on security as well as environmental concerns, such as mercury. Given that ASM is not legal in many countries, engagement with local actors can be especially difficult. This is compounded by the fact that ASM actors and their priorities are diverse--some miners come from the local community, others come from far away drawn by the mineral rush. Some miners are women and children, others may be armed gangs. Artisanal miners are vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous middle men who may engage in smuggling practices. The challenge facing large-scale mining companies, governments and civil society is to harness ASM as an activity that can contribute responsibly towards the achievement of local development objectives. Issues of governance, social and environmental management, conflict, safety, protection of communities’ and miners’ rights, and alternative livelihoods remain urgent.
Featured Objects
Working Together: How large-scale mining can engage with artisanal and small-scale miners
The interaction between large-scale mining companies and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations has not always been positive, and encounters between the two sectors are increasing. There are a number of ASM sustainable development challenges – including security, human rights and relocation programs – that can require specific ASM consideration. For the first time, “Working together” brings together a number of approaches and tools for engaging with ASM operators.
Artisanal and Small-scale Mining: Challenges and Opportunities
This paper presents an excellent overview of the issues and challenges facing the ASM stakeholder community across the world.
Compendium on Best Practices in Small-Scale Mining in Africa
This document presents examples of best practices, selected through literature review and consultations, that illustrate how the small-scale mining sector can be promoted to contribute to rural economic development and sustainable community life.
Global Report on Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining
This Global Report gives a present “photography” of the ASM sector and provides an overview of the sector and a description of its social, environmental and economic issues. The report focuses on the major issues in ASM and how the sector may best contribute to sustainable development.
Related Items
Post- Mining Alliance
The mining industry supplies essential raw materials for our modern lives. A mining operation has enormous potential to contribute to the sustainable development of a region. The real challenge comes when the mine closes and the local community is faced with potentially large environmental liabilities and possible socio-economic collapse. Until recently mine decommissioning and closure activities were not obligatory in most countries. Centuries of inadequate and non-existent mine closure practice have left a huge legacy of derelict mine sites and often impoverished communities. This legacy affects the reputation of the entire mining industry, arguably stifling debate and progress on other aspects of its environmental and social performance.
World NGO Resource Page
In order for NGO's to connect on a worldwide basis www.nonprofitexpert.com has developed the following resource pages listed below. Please follow links for countries and donors.
World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations
The World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO) is an international organization uniting NGOs worldwide in the cause of advancing peace and global well being. WANGO helps to provide the mechanism and support needed for NGOs to connect, partner, share, inspire, and multiply their contributions to solve humanity’s basic problems.
Diamond Development Initiative (DDI)
The mandate of the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) is to gather all interested parties into a process that will address, in a comprehensive way, the political, social and economic challenges facing the artisanal diamond mining sector in order to optimize the beneficial development impact of artisanal diamond mining to miners and their communities within the countries in which the diamonds are mined.
Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM)
IFC Launches New Publications
Please see below for recent publications launched by IFC. Please send your comments or suggesstions to abhalla@ifc.org.
Diamond Development Initiative releases standards & guidelines for Sierra Leone
The Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) announced today the release of its Standards & Guidelines for Sierra Leone’s Artisanal Diamond Mining Sector. The release, in partnership with Sierra Leone’s Network Movement for Justice and Development, is the first comprehensive guide to a sector that was, during the 1990s, plagued by armed rebellion and horrific violence.
DRC Mining? Between a hard place and China
Western mining companies fear that ethical standards will count for little as they renegotiate contracts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Companies urged to engage with small-scale miners
Governments and large companies must improve relations with small-scale artisanal miners to guarantee the future sustainability of the mining sector
Small-Scale Challenges, Large-Scale Opportunities
Issue Brief: Property Rights and Artisinal Mining
The artisanal and small-scale mining sector (ASM) has attracted the increasing interest of governments, international organizations, and private corporations because of its growing role in national economies. The sector provides significant, but generally poorly paid, employment in difficult working conditions for the most marginalized populations in many developing countries.
Mining for Equity: Gender Dimensions of the Extractive Industries
Breaking the Curse: How Transparent Taxation and Fair Taxes Can Turn Africa's Mineral Wealth into Development
This report has been compiled by a group of African and international civil society organisations concerned about the lack of transparency in mining contracts, as well as the revenue that national budgets forego because of excessive mining tax concessions as well as multinational mining companies avoiding and evading tax.
Enhancing Benefits to Communities from Extractive Industry
Enhancing Benefits to Communities from Extractive Industry by Dafna Tapiero, was presented during the Extractive Industry Week - Improving Extractive Industries Benefits for the Poor (March 3-5, 2009).
Community Risks and Opportunities: A Site Level Tool
This working paper by the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining Sustainable Minerals Institute outlines tools, procedures, and resources in community risks and opportunities.
International Seminar on Social Responsibility in Mining, Santiago Chile, October 2011: Call for Papers
International Seminar on Social Responsibility in Mining
Interested authors are invited to submit a 300-word abstract in English to srm@srmining.com. Abstracts must clearly state the objectives and describe a summary of the obtained results. Abstracts are to include a title and full details of the corresponding author. Abstracts are due by 21 January 2011.
Community Development Networking Reception at Mining INDABA
The International Finance Corporation and co-sponsors are hosting an event for networking and knowledge sharing with mining community development practitioners following the CSR Forum at Mining INDABA.
Digging to Deliver Development: 8th Annual Communities and Artisanal & Small Scale Mining (CASM) Conference
This year's annual conference, with the theme Digging to Deliver Development, assembles the CASM global network and other parties interested in artisanal and small-scale mining in Brasilia, Brazil. Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy Secretariat of Geology, Mining, and Mineral Processing will host the event.
Africa Working: The De Beers Experience
7th Annual Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM) Conference (7th ACC)
The main goal of the Conference will be to better align the challenges of ASM to the international development agenda. Since the 2006 CASM Madagascar Conference there have been several significant developments and the international communities are turning to CASM to lead in the identification of solutions. The conference will also review progress on the initiatives that were established at the 2006 conference.
DISCUSSION FORUM: LSM meets ASM - Mining Together (DRAFT)
In the context of rising expectations related to corporate social responsibility (CSR), mining companies need to understand the importance of engaging constructively with artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and need to learn more from others about the experiences and lessons learned in the field. This document seeks to provide an understanding of the main issues and a conceptual framework for appropriate actions when engaging with ASM. It is intended as a practical and informative overview and is aimed at senior executives, corporate responsibility professionals, mine-site managers, and others who are seeking to understand the issues, dynamics, and key concepts of, as well as evolving approaches to, ASM.
This document is in draft format for peer review by a multi-stakeholder committee. We would greatly appreciate comments, ideas and experiences from industry representatives, civil society groups, government members and artisanal and small-scale mining practitioners to ensure the comprehensiveness of this document.
To download document, please click here (PDF, 4.9MB).
For more information, please see ASM.
Thank you.
Questions to Consider for Feedback
1. Does the paper cover the main "right" issue areas concisely and clearly but with a sufficient amount of detail and analysis?
2. Is the paper written in a clear and logical manner?
3. Are the case study examples relevant, sufficiently explained, and would the paper benefit from additional examples? If you know of other case studies or examples which would be useful, please share them with us.
4. Are the tables useful and clear, and should others be included? If so, can you please share the data or sources of information that you would like to see included?
5. Is the paper relevant/”to the point” for a private sector audience (e.g. corporate-level and project-level management, community relations, security staff, etc.) while also accessible/useful to other stakeholders (i.e. ASM groups, policy makers, civil society and academics)?
