A New Vision for ASM
We support a well-regulated ASM sector that helps reduce poverty, protect the environment, and benefit all people in mining activities, especially women and local communities.
ASM is a growing part of national development and international trade. In 2024, over 315 million people across Latin America, Africa, and Asia relied on ASM for their livelihoods. Around 45 million people work directly in mining, with women making up 18% to 50% of the workforce. ASM involves a wide range of minerals—from gold, cobalt, and copper to salt, gravel, and gemstones. Its share in the global mineral supply chains is increasing.
The World Bank aims to professionalize the sector to support job creation, improved livelihoods, and increased revenue. This entails building strong local systems for legal and well-managed ASM. Key areas include improving environmental and social practices at mine sites, expanding access to finance, and supporting local trade. Governments play a key role in guiding and growing the sector. Both miners and governments should be encouraged to adopt and apply standards that improve mining practices and governance. Improving ASM requires a shift in thinking—from seeing it as a risk to recognizing its potential to create wealth and support national development. This also requires better data, research, and smarter program design.
Creating a new unifying narrative for ASM
Our Framework aligns with key priorities identified by ASM stakeholders: improved incomes, health and safety, and environmental stewardship.
The framework is divided into two pillars: legitimacy and professionalization with nine intervention areas. Legitimacy emphasizes the role to be played by government in fostering legal and regulated ASM. Professionalization highlights areas critical to ASM entities meeting their legal and ESG obligations. The framework acknowledges that a holistic approach towards supporting ASM is required. It also raises the importance of 3 cross-cutting areas: scale, digital solutions and partnerships.
ASM Framework
Priority Engagements
The Multistakeholder Partnership Initiative for Sustainable and Responsible Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold (ASGM) Mining
Background
In 2023, the World Bank and the World Gold Council launched a partnership to promote sustainable and responsible artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). They combined their strengths—like development know-how, funding, market insights, and strong networks—to support this goal. The partnership focuses on helping governments improve gold mining through better infrastructure, security, and conflict resolution. It also aims to bring in more partners, including large gold mining companies, development agencies, investors, and others involved in the gold supply chain.
Objectives
The MSPI aims in selected countries to:
Support Governments and ASM Entities
Nurture sustainable small-scale gold mining sectors in select countries.
Promote Legal and Responsible Mining
Ensure small-scale gold mining leads on environmental and social stewardship.
Foster Collaboration
Encourage host governments, large-scale mining (LSM) companies, ASGM actors, civil society and other technical partners to work together under a common governance framework.
Mitigate Security Risks
Address governance and security risks posed by illicit gold flows.
Encourage Sustainable Mining Practices
Promote climate-smart mining, gender equality, and mercury-free technologies.
Vision
By 2033, small-scale gold mining will contribute positively to national development by collaborating with governments, the private sector, and downstream supply chain actors to mine and sell gold legally and sustainably in the international market.
Scope and Phases
The MSPI will be implemented in two phases:
Phase 1 (2023-2025)
Establish national MSPI structures and pilot model small-scale gold mines in select countries of West Africa and Sahel.
Phase 2 (2026-2033)
Scale out the model to other countries and regions, solidify the regional knowledge-sharing platform, and ensure sustainability.
Key components
Building Partnerships
- Leadership and Governance: Establish formal agreements involving host country governments and institutions, mining companies, the World Gold Council, the World Bank, and small-scale miners.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Ensure representation and transparent communication across all mining sectors.
- Governance Framework: Define clear roles and responsibilities, focusing on community and government involvement.
Creating Model Mines
- Collaboration: Governments, small-scale miners, large-scale operators and formal downstream actors work together to develop sustainable model mines.
- Support and Training: Mobilize technical expertise, financial aid, and training for small-scale miners on best practices and guide their output to the formal bullion market.
Sharing Knowledge Regionally
- Knowledge Exchange: Promote regional learning and sharing of best practices in sustainable mining.
- Stakeholder Forums: Organize regional events for dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders.
Monitoring and Scaling Up
- Evaluation Framework: Implement a system to monitor progress and adapt quickly.
- Risk Management: Develop strategies to address and mitigate risks in the unregulated market.
2) The World Bank defines sustainable artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) as mining activities that align with the United Nation’s sustainable development principles. Sustainable ASM focuses on improving miners' incomes and security, ensuring that practices align with national legislation and international best practice, enhancing occupational health and safety, and promoting environmental stewardship.
3) The World Gold Council defines responsible gold industry practices as those that operate responsibly and sustainably from mine to market, maintain public trust, and support socioeconomic progress. Key principles include aligning with responsible sourcing standards, advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, respecting human rights and core labor standards, promoting diversity and inclusion, considering impacts on indigenous peoples and vulnerable populations, addressing climate change, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Delve and Delve Exchange
Delve is the World Bank’s global platform on ASMa. Established in 2016, it is the main public website for ASM information. It stores reports and data, and also publishes a report every two years on how ASM contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The World Bank intends to continue:
- Growing the platform’s data and resources
- Building strategic partnerships for data sharing and financial sustainability
- Enhancing external communications and platform user experience
- Producing the initiative’s flagship State of the ASM Sector report
Delve Exchange is a sister initiative to Delve, It is a miner-led network for artisanal and small-scale miners and quarry workers to share knowledge and support each other. Started in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, it now has over 1,000 members who connect through six WhatsApp groups and regular monthly forums in different regions.
The current focus is on expanding the network and running the ASM Academy—an online learning program created with miners to encourage safer and more responsible practices at mining sites and includes topics such as:
Mining.Better.Together
#Mining.Better.Together is a global call to improve environmental and social standards at ASM sites . It reflects a new way of working together to raise the bar.
The goal is to raise awareness and help more sites, apply strong existing mine site standards.
The World Bank supports this through open partnerships—with ASM groups, women’s networks, NGOs, and others—to expand the use of these standards worldwide.
We also aim to involve mining companies and buyers to invest more responsibly in ASM supply chains.
Mining.Better.Together is made up of 3 related areas:
- A global call to action statement
- In-country mine site standard implementation through technical assistance and financing instruments
- Reporting and learning secretariat function to track, monitor and report on global progress
Partnerships
The World Bank aims to be a valued partner in ASM at national, regional, and global levels. Following the One World Bank Group Partnership Charter, it supports countries in leading their own development plans while working with other key partners —like the private sector, civil society, and nongovernmental organizations. By encouraging teamwork, mutual learning, and aligning across partners, the World Bank helps find better and more scalable development solutions.
Partnerships can take many forms and support a range of activities:
The World Bank uses recent experiences to shape partnership models with key stakeholders.
To make the most of its resources , the World Bank will strengthen collaboration across its institutions —IBRD, IDA, IFC, and MIGA. These partnerships will support financial access, gender equality, small business growth, and local trade in the ASM sector. Together, they will combine the World Bank’s development knowledge, IFC’s private investment tools, and MIGA’s investor guarantees to deliver strong, well-rounded support for ASM.
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