Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) presents both significant opportunities and challenges to many countries. The sector is responsible for a large proportion of the global production in
minerals and metals, and it supports countless livelihoods, both directly and indirectly. At the same time, it can be a source of considerable risk and impact, socially, economically and environmentally. Strong governance and management of the sector will help governments capture the positive benefits of ASM while ensuring that any negative environmental, social
and economic risks are minimized or eliminated.
To help in this effort, IGF released the IGF Guidance for Governments: Managing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in late 2016, a guidance document aiming to guide governments in the development of effective and inclusive management strategies for their ASM sectors.
Upon publication of the guidance and the completion of two trainings in Africa in French and English, the IGF’s Latin American member countries, led by the Dominican Republic, requested that a related training program be designed and delivered in the region.
The goal of the training program was to ensure these IGF member states had the capacities required to implement the guidance and develop their ASM management strategies.
The Regional Workshop for Managing ASM in Latin America was held June 24–29, 2018, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with the financial support of the Government of Canada and ACP-EU. Twenty-seven participants attended from nine IGF member countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Peru. UNDP invited three additional women from the host government to participate, which ensured that the meeting was gender balanced.
The goal of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of participants to apply and implement the IGF Guidance for Governments on Managing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining. It is also meant to offer guidance and insights on key challenges in the sector, including gender equality, occupational health and safety, and strengthening the value chain.
At the close of the workshop, country representatives presented their preliminary return-to-work plans, which had been developed throughout the week by the country teams to assist them in applying the guidance to the development of national ASM management strategies.