ICMM has launched Working together a guidance note (of over 100 pages) for companies engaging with the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. This is a very important subject, particularly in Africa, Asia and South America. The document is the product of a fruitful partnership with Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM), the International Finance Corp’s Oil, Gas, and Mining Sustainable Community Development Fund (IFC CommDev) and ICMM. The interaction between large-scale mining companies and 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. It is put forward as a pilot, so that further testing and gathering of good practices with companies can take place in the next phase.
ASM uses techniques that have changed little since ancient times and continues to provide a source of direct or indirect employment to over 100 million people. ICMM says “there is no doubt that ASM has a legitimate and significant role to play in the social and economic development of many countries. “ASM and large-scale mining (LSM) often operate side by side. Large mining companies have been engaging with artisanal miners and their dependants through general community development programs for some time. However, the particular sustainable development challenges of ASM – including security, human rights and relocation programs – need specific consideration.
“The fact that much of ASM activity occurs outside regulatory frameworks – whether illegal or not – can also present significant challenges for companies and regulators. There can be significant tension between ASM miners and their own governments – with companies caught in the middle. In recent years there has been increasing interaction between artisanal operators and companies that has not always been positive.
“This document has evolved out of a growing sense that more mutually beneficial engagement between mining companies and ASM operators is needed. For this to happen, ‘good practices’ need further definition and further sharing across companies.
“In this spirit, the ASM-LSM guidance note brings together for the first time a number of approaches and tools for companies to engage with ASM. It is put forward as a pilot, fully recognising that further testing and gathering of good practices with companies is needed – activities that will be taking place over the next 18 months. www.icmm.com
