2609
Tierra Dorada
Tierra Dorada/Golden Land was a 20 Million USD project issued by USAID during a time of political transition when the artisanal and small mining (ASM) sector represented critical environmental and security challenges in Colombia. Chemonics and the core partners, Corporación de Centros Regionales de Servicios (CORCRESER), Jaime Arteaga y Asociados (JA & A), and Projekt-Consult (PRC) formed the project consortium. Together, they brought local and international expertise that advanced USAID efforts to strengthen mining supply chains, alternative livelihood value chains, environmental processes, and regulatory and enforcement efforts of the ASM sector.
Tierra Dorada aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote biodiversity conservation, and support livelihoods through the development and support of socially and environmentally responsible artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities and alternative sustainable economic opportunities. Responsible ASM and alternative sustainable economic opportunities supported by these activities also advanced USAID’s efforts to strengthen governance, expand licit livelihood opportunities, and promote more competitive, sustainable, and licit economies in support of USAID/Colombia’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS). Tierra Dorada achieved its goal through two objectives: 1) improving ecosystem services and conservation in areas affected by illegal and informal ASM; and 2) strengthening responsibility and lawfulness of ASM activities throughout the entire supply chain of gold and other targeted minerals.
Projekt-Consult worked on the project’s second objective and had the responsibility for all supply chain related activities. Specifically, experts from Projekt-Consult worked on the Intermediate Result (IR) 2.3: Improved Traceability of Responsibly Sourced Minerals, and IR 2.4: Increased Access to International Markets for Responsible ASM. The activities were planned to be implemented throughout the 5-year length of the project from 2023 to 2027. Projekt-Consult was responsible for the following results:
IR 2.3 Improved Traceability of Responsibility Sourced Minerals
Tasks:
- Develop, implement, and scale a sustainable and reliable traceability system for ASM minerals using distributed ledger technology (DLT).
- Enable the Colombian government to codify and build a reliable traceability system.
- Conduct grand challenges or equivalent competitions to attract the best possible solution to a sustainable and reliable traceability system for ASM minerals.
- Strengthen role of mining districts and MDSC’s (mining district service center) and empower miners in tracing minerals.
- Provide technical assistance through MDSC’s to develop systems for increasing transparency and consistency in the mineral supply chains.
- Strengthen the use of reliable technology-based mineral traceability systems, enabling miners to access responsible international markets.
IR 2.4 Increased Access to International Markets for Responsible ASM tasks:
- Work with miners to adopt standards for responsible sourcing and connect miners with responsible and premium mining traders.
- With Swiss cooperation agency and other stakeholders, increase volumes of responsible gold/minerals exported from TDA-supported miners.
- Develop standards, incentives, or partnerships throughout the supply chain to further the sourcing/demand for responsible minerals.
- Work with miners, associations, and traders to reach fair schemes for trading gold and minerals.
- Work with the Colombian government and the private sector to improve ASM operators access to premium and international markets.
- Partner with mining traders, refiners, and/or international initiatives to develop mining purchasing and traceability schemes.
- Raise awareness about the negative impacts of illegally sourced minerals
*Note: this project was cancelled in January of 2025 due to the closure of USAID under a new administration.
