WASHINGTON, Sep. 19, 2024—The World Bank today unveiled a bold new vision to unlock the full potential of Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) to drive economic growth, boost development, and reduce poverty in developing countries. The sector, which supplies minerals essential for the global clean energy transition, continues to grapple with significant challenges, including environmental harm, gender inequality, human rights, and health and safety risks.
The World Bank's new approach, articulated in a new report, Achieving Sustainable and Inclusive Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): A Renewed Framework for World Bank Engagement, champions the professionalization and social well-being of artisanal and small-scale miners, urging governments to play a leading role in regulating and supporting sustainable ASM practices to achieve national growth targets.
"Despite decades-long efforts to improve artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), the sector still faces significant legal, safety, and efficiency challenges, endangering millions of workers in the mines and across the value chain,” said Guangzhe Chen, World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure. “Our seminal report serves as a roadmap to support governments to protect the ASM workforce, empowering them to contribute to the global demand for infrastructure and technology while ensuring the sustainability of our planet."
By fostering multistakeholder partnerships and leveraging the strengths of various development actors—including governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and civil society—the World Bank's new approach underscores a new way of working—one that is more participatory, adaptive, and centered around the needs of ASM actors and their communities.
It also calls for a renewed focus on government leadership in regulating and fostering ASM development., advocating for long-term investments and partnerships that will help build the necessary infrastructure for a well-regulated and legal ASM sector. The report reflects extensive consultations and research with a diverse range of ASM actors and policymakers to foster a more sustainable and inclusive approach to ASM development.
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