Project profile — Sustainable Development of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Indonesia

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved environmental, health, and social practices adopted and implemented by men and women gold miners and service providers in targeted areas; (2) improved artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) policy and technical environment in targeted provinces; and (3) increased participation by private sector and civil society in a responsible and legal ASGM sector.

Results achieved as of the end of the Project (December 2021): (1) improved mining practices in three targeted communities in Indonesia by establishing three mercury-free gold mining processing plants; (2) trained and mentored 843 artisanal miners and cooperative members, 246 women; 597 men, on various artisanal and small-scale gold mining topics such as business and supply chain management, waste management, mineral processing, gender equality, as well on important and relevant health themes such as COVID 19-awareness; (3) produced 56 grams of gold and 44 grams of silver in mercury-free processing facilities; (4) strengthened three project cooperatives to manage the three mercury-free gold processing facilities; (5) strengthened three women cooperatives who help women’s economic empowerment; (6) seven artisanal and small-scale gold mining modules and curricula developed and shared with government and other partners for further outreach and capacitation; (7) signed memorandum of understanding with the UNDP project planet GOLD to disseminate knowledge and to share these artisanal gold products to ensure alignment and coherence within the sector; (8) signed responsible gold purchase agreement in one of the project facilities linking the formal gold market to aproximately150 miners; (9) increased government officials’ level of awareness of the Minamata Convention. This strengthened their capacity to implement policies related to artisanal and small-scale gold mining. It also led to an improvement of services in their communities; and (10) facilitated 16 policy dialogues and actions to reform this type of mining. Forums, workshops and document reviews were held to support the formalization of this mining sector and the implementation of the National Action Plan on mercury elimination by the government of Indonesia.