Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has played an increasingly active role in national development and international trade over the decades. As of 2024, those engaged directly and indirectly in the sector’s labor value chain make up more than 225 million people working across Latin and South America, Africa, and Asia. Studies estimate that women account for between 18 percent and 50 percent of the 45 million people who work directly in ASM.
Artisanal and small-scale miners work in diverse mineral supply chains - ranging from well-known minerals and metals such as gold, cobalt, copper, and semiprecious and precious gemstones to lesser-known materials such as salt, gravel, and quarry rock. Growth in the share of artisanal or small-scale mined material has grown significantly.
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.
