Formalisation
Formalisation of the ASM sector is crucial for integrating artisanal miners into the official economy, enhancing their living conditions, and promoting sustainable practices. By transforming informal mining activities into legally recognised operations, Projekt-Consult supports the development of the ASM sector as a cornerstone of local and national economic growth. Our comprehensive approach includes in-depth technical and socio-economic assessments, analysis of existing mining legislation, and the proposal of necessary adjustments tailored to the unique needs of each community and country. These efforts ensure that ASM operations are compliant with national and international standards, thereby enhancing their legality and legitimacy.
Formalisation of the ASM sector is pivotal for integrating artisanal miners into the formal economy, enhancing their living conditions, and ensuring sustainable mining practices. Projekt-Consult supports this transformation by conducting detailed socio-economic assessments, revising mining legislation, and implementing tailored strategies that align with international standards. Our work mitigates environmental impacts and fosters economic growth within mining communities.
By establishing clear legal frameworks and promoting compliance, we address illicit financing and enhance safety and productivity in ASM operations. Our approach includes capacity building with local authorities, engaging CSOs for sensitisation campaigns, and introducing technology to improve efficiency and traceability. Through policy dialogue, we advocate for supportive regulations, ensuring the formalisation and sustainable development of ASM.
Projekt-Consult helps to:
- Provide technical support and training to improve environmental management practices in ASM, helping to mitigate the sector's ecological footprint.
- Facilitate the introduction of appropriate and sustainable technologies that increase efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of mining operations.
- Involve local communities in the formalisation process, by attempting to improve relations between miners and local populations, ensuring that mining activities contribute positively to local development.
- Develop and implement comprehensive safety training and standards to reduce risks and enhance the health and safety of miners in ASM operations.
These activities reflect Projekt-Consult's commitment to improving the ASM sector's efficiency and sustainability. Our efforts ensure that mining practices contribute to economic development and environmental conservation, aligning with our mission to make mining a responsible venture.
ASM mapping & assessment: Projekt-Consult acquires first-hand information through detailed field mappings and assessments, on-site interviews, and discussions with the key stakeholders. According to the client’s needs, spatially referenced geo-data and ASM knowledge databases are set up and maintained.
Formalisation processes: We design and implement formalisation training programs that enable ASM miners to access formal markets and adopt responsible mining practices. In Colombia and Peru, for example, we successfully collaborated with various regions to formalise miners, enhancing their operational standards and market integration.
Comprehensive legal frameworks: We collaborate with authorities at the national, regional and local to refine and strengthen ASM legal frameworks, ensuring they are robust and support sustainable development. Particularly in Latin America and Africa we have participated in ASM reform processes in various jurisdictions. In these assignments, we typically provide support for regulatory and legal reforms based on a combination of international best practices and insights from fieldwork at mining sites and in neighboring communities.
Capacity building: We develop and deliver training programs for stakeholders to enhance their ability to implement and sustain formalisation initiatives. These programs frequently adopt a train-of-trainer approach, where experienced didactic experts collaborate with thematic specialists to develop participatory courses for national multipliers. For instance, in the DR Congo, we have trained staff of the competent local authority as well as civil society members to support the ASM sector in seven technical modules. Following the training of trainers, the project team provided ongoing support to the trainers during their initial training sessions for ASM cooperatives and communities in the copper-cobalt sector.
Stakeholder engagement: We facilitate dialogue and collaboration among miners, local communities, CSOs, government agencies, and international organisations to support inclusive and realistic formalisation strategies We have organised stakeholder consultations to inform formalisation reforms in various Andean countries. We also work with specific interventions on sensitive issues. For example, we have supported authorities at various levels in Central Africa on LSM-ASM cooperation and on conflict resolution in ASM-affected areas.
Compliance with environmental requirements: We have extensive experience in environmental management for ASM, with a focus on assessing and mitigating risks to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and standards. Our approach includes thorough evaluations of environmental impacts and the establishment of best practices for responsible mine management. For instance, we have provided support to environmental protection agencies and other mining oversight institutions in different Western African countries on environmental and social audits, particularly in the ASM sector. Our multidisciplinary teams have developed, tested, and introduced customised audit guidelines for the relevant authorities. We also conduct on-site trainings and shadow audits of semi-industrial and artisanal mines.
Contact
Projekt-Consult GmbH
Phone: +49 40 603 06 740
E-mail: info@projekt-consult.de
Picture header: © Swiss Better Gold Initiative
