SUPPORTING ARTISANAL & SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC We gratefully acknowledge funding from the Extractives Global Programmatic Support (EGPS) Program. EGPS is a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank with financial contribution to the “EGPS emergency response window for ASM communities impacted by COVID-19” from Belgium, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. CONTENTS 02 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 05 IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR ACTION Design of the Survey Results of the Initial Survey 10 RAPIDLY RESPONDING TO MEET MINERS’ NEEDS: PROGRAM RESULTS 16 PROGRAM APPROACH Supporting Short- and Medium-Term Activities Focusing on Health, Economic Empowerment, Social Protection, and the Environment - Health Activities - Economic Activities ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS - Social Protection Activities ASM artisanal and small-scale mining - Environmental Activities CEASOP Collaborative Efforts to Alleviate Social Problems Improving Gender Equality CIBART Centre for Indian Bamboo Resource and Technology Linking Miners through the Delve Exchange EGPS Extractives Global Programmatic Support 40 RESULTS OF THE 2022 FOLLOW-UP SURVEY M&E monitoring and evaluation 44 IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED RAJANO Network for Youth and Adult Education Advocacy 46 LOOKING FORWARD IDENTIFYING In 2020, the World Bank projected THE NEED that the COVID-19 pandemic could push more than 100 million people FOR ACTION into extreme poverty. The estimated 45 million people around To address these risks, the World As early as March 2020, anecdotal the world working in artisanal and Bank took early action. In May 2020, reports and some news stories small-scale mining (ASM) were par- the Extractives Global Programmatic began trickling in about domestic ticularly vulnerable because of the Support (EGPS) Trust Fund initiated a COVID-19-related travel and mobil- informal, often precarious nature of rapid global survey to identify miners’ ity restrictions and their impact on their working conditions and lack of needs and then used the results to mobi- strategic mineral supply chains and access to social safety nets. lize an emergency response window miners working in the informal mining sector. that raised $6.6 million in support to At the height of the initial lockdown, as ASM communities in 22 countries. This In Choco District, Colombia, for example, mineral prices dropped and mining sites report describes the EGPS Emergency the sudden closure of gold-buying shops closed, artisanal and small-scale miners, Response Window for ASM Communities was reportedly leading to food insecurity. their families, and their communities Impacted by COVID-19, what it achieved, “With the closure of all the local gold shops,” suffered large declines in income and and what the World Bank has identified noted one woman, “the real threat is not the rising food insecurity. Without inter- as priority areas for action in ASM com- COVID-19 virus but dying of hunger.” Fears vention, they were at risk of sliding into munities going forward. rose that the temporary vacuum of legitimate poverty. At the same time, there was buyers would force miners to turn to the illicit Conditions during COVID-19: A mining pit is sealed with a police line. concern that gains made over several market, strengthening the hold of terrorist Photo provided by Australian National University Enterprise and Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta organizations in fragile areas of Africa, such decades to formalize the sector would be as the Sahel. eroded, particularly where community tensions were rising. Reporting on the conditions facing artisanal and small-scale miners was sparse. More accurate and comprehensive information was needed to help development partners respond to a possi- ble crisis developing in ASM communities around the world. 6 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR ACTION 7 DESIGN OF THE SURVEY RESULTS OF THE INITIAL SURVEY safety protocols, and the belief that the virus Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda), respon- was not present locally. Across sites, the dents reported a decrease in insecurity In May 2020, EGPS conducted a global Knowledge of COVID-19 majority of respondents held the view that compared with pre-COVID-19 levels. Better survey to understand how COVID- The findings revealed high levels of awareness they were not likely or not at all likely to get security in these countries may be attributed 19 was affecting ASM communities. of COVID-19 in remote mining communities, infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. to government restrictions on travel, quaran- Using a quantitative survey instru- with a large share of respondents reporting tines, and curfews, which may have limited ment developed for this purpose in Access to Work by Women and Men and conflict and criminality. feeling very informed (48 percent) or some- several languages, EGPS worked with Changes in Their Roles what informed (33 percent) about COVID-19. 18 development partners to conduct Across the countries studied, the results Food Security In every reporting period, more than 90 per- biweekly telephone surveys with 3,400 cent of respondents reported having heard revealed no significant gender gap in changes During the early stages of the pandemic, food miners in ASM communities in 22 coun- messages explaining what COVID-19 is and in access to employment or in the roles of security was severely affected in the areas tries on three continents from May to how to protect themselves against the dis- men and women as a result of the pandemic. surveyed, with up to 76 percent of respon- July 2020. The survey covered seven ease. Eighty percent of respondents reported Women did not retreat from the mines as dents indicating a decrease in available food areas: knowledge of COVID-19 and its that their main source of information was feared early on in the pandemic. The fact that in the first reporting period. During the course prevention, access to work, food secu- radio, followed by word of mouth. men and women appeared equally likely to of the survey, this figure fell to 42 percent, rity, human security, service delivery, remain in the mines presented an opportunity suggesting that the flow of goods and oppor- supply chains, and recovery perspec- The most frequently cited methods of to cement efforts to empower women and tunities for employment increased after the tives. Given the small size of the sample preventing infection were masking and hand- achieve gender equality. initial shock. Respondents cited higher costs and the sampling method, the survey washing. Awareness of both was high across of basic food staples and reductions in house- results could not be considered rep- all reporting periods. Although not everyone Human Security hold income as the top causes of decreased resentative of national contexts. The who was aware of preventive actions took Most respondents reported no change in food availability. results did, however, provide a snapshot them, more than 60 percent of respondents in the security situation in their community. of perceptions and experiences of ASM each reporting period stated that they were Ethiopia was the only country in which a communities and suggested areas for taking preventive measures at mine sites. majority of respondents across all reporting research and response interventions. Major barriers to implementing additional periods indicated an increase in insecurity. measures were lack of funds to purchase sup- Respondents there attributed the increase plies and lack of supplies locally. to illicit mining activity, increased criminal- ity related to lack of employment, and social Among respondents who were not imple- unrest in June and July 2020. Respondents menting preventive measures at mine sites, in Niger, where concerns over insecurity in the number who believed that such measures mining areas had been high, reported no were unnecessary declined significantly over worsening of security. the survey period, as awareness of the impor- tance of prevention grew. Respondents not In five countries (Indonesia, Mozambique, implementing measures provided a variety of reasons for not doing so, including difficulty Janaki Padhan started a dried fish business as an alternative working in a face mask, lack of authority Susan Tango, miner, gold dealer and secretary of the Women livelihood to her ASM activities in Ulanda Block of Subarnapur in Mining Niger State Chapter. Nigeria, 2021. on-site to monitor adherence to health and District. India, August 2021. Photo by Mitrabhanu Mishra/ Photo by Safer World Foundation SRADHA 8 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR ACTION 9 Service Delivery greatest variability in price offered and ability Less than a quarter of respondents reported to sell on the market. In the first three report- having received any services to buffer ing periods, it was more difficult to sell gold, the impact of COVID-19 measures. Brazil, and prices were lower than before the pan- Colombia, Indonesia, and Sierra Leone were demic in most countries (results varied across the only countries in which more than half countries). In the last two reporting periods, of the respondents reported having received gold prices were reportedly higher than pre- services in response to COVID-19 across all COVID rates, and the ease of selling returned reporting periods. to the pre-crisis level. This rebound may be linked to the fact that investors continued to Governments delivered about half of the rely on gold as a stable asset during the pan- services that were provided; civil society demic, presenting supply chain actors with organizations, international organizations, lucrative market opportunities sufficient to and local associations delivered the other half. restart buying. For diamonds, colored gem- The top two items delivered were food rations stones, and cobalt, respondents in all periods and face masks, followed by disinfectant and reported that it was more difficult to sell min- cash. In Brazil, mining cooperatives provided erals and that prices were lower than before food assistance, masks, and COVID-19 tests the pandemic. to vulnerable community members. In Sierra Leone, GemFair—a pilot program of De Beers to purchase ethically sourced diamonds from Photo by Responsible Jewelry Transformative artisanal miners—delivered emergency food aid, protective equipment, and public health messaging to communities. Supply Chains Recovery Perspectives In Mongolia and Myanmar, the main priority In all countries surveyed except Ghana and Asked about their needs for recovery, respon- was support with licensing and regulatory Myanmar, a majority of respondents indi- dents overwhelmingly cited financing and requirements (including customary and sur- cated that the COVID-19 pandemic had access to capital to restart operations. face rent fees). In Mozambique, respondents affected their ability to work in the mines. Across countries and reporting periods, prioritized access to tools and equipment and Government restrictions on work and access almost half of the respondents (47 percent) support with licensing over financing. to mining sites were the most disruptive mea- prioritized financing, followed by access sures in the first two reporting periods. Of the options presented to miners, access to to tools and equipment and support with protective equipment was the lowest ranked licensing and regulatory requirements. Only The effect of the pandemic on ASM oper- in the last three reporting periods. This find- in Mongolia, Mozambique, and Myanmar ations varied with the mineral mined and ing is consistent with previous studies that did a majority of respondents in a majority the global supply chain structure. Globally, found limited use of personal protective of reporting periods cite a need other than gold and stone aggregates experienced the equipment among artisanal and small-scale financing. miners. 10 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR ACTION 11 RAPIDLY TABLE 1: DISTRIBUTION OF EGPS ACTIVITIES, BY TYPE TYPE OF ACTIVITY SUPPORTED NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES Alternative livelihoods 17 RESPONDING Management of cooperatives and associations 16 Policy and advocacy 14 Women’s rights and prevention of gender-based violence 13 TO MEET Network and knowledge sharing 11 Access to markets 7 Laws and regulations 6 Waste disposal and environmental management 6 MINERS’ NEEDS: Due diligence, risk mitigation, and certification 5 Digital literacy 4 Reduction in use of mercury 4 PROGRAM TABLE 2: NUMBER OF COUNTRIES IMPLEMENTING EGPS ACTIVITIES, BY AREA OF FOCUS AREA OF FOCUS NUMBER OF COUNTRIES RESULTS Health 22 Equal access by men and women to efforts to build skills, improve leadership capability, and prevent gender-based violence 15 Increased transparency of trade chains and market access for ASM miners 12 The findings of the global survey The emergency response has supported the livelihood activities. About 16 percent of fund- » Health awareness initiatives, including formed the basis of fundraising for efforts of 33 international, regional, national, ing supported environmental activities, such sensitization and awareness-rising the COVID-19 emergency response and local organizations to assist ASM com- as prevention of encroachment in protected campaigns on COVID-19 and preventive window and defined the priority munities in 22 countries in four regions (East areas and mercury reduction. (Table 1 shows measures areas. The COVID-19 emergency response Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the the distribution of activities supported. Table » Training on women’s rights and the pre- window became active in September 2020. Caribbean, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan 2 shows the number of countries that imple- vention of gender-based violence Over a period of two years, it raised $6.6 Africa), reaching 59,181 people. It issued 48 mented activities.) million, making it the largest—and only awards, a third of them to organizations that » Awareness campaigns and related ser- support women. Three-quarters of partici- Support provided to partner organizations vices to prevent the escalation of violence global—response to COVID for artisanal and pants engaged in activities that supported allowed artisanal and small-scale miners against vulnerable groups, including small-scale miners in the world. mining cooperatives’ work on debt esca- to continue working during the pandemic, women, in mining areas lation, formalization efforts, transparent improve a range of organizational and site practices, and build long-term resilience » Training on alternative livelihoods, through trade chains, improved market access, and/ to shocks through a variety of activities, reskilling or access to complementary/alternative including the following: 12 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC RAPIDLY RESPONDING TO MEET MINERS’ NEEDS: PROGRAM RESULTS 13 » The building of networks and associations » Short-term technical assistance to help through which miners exchange informa- miners access supply chains tion, establish trade networks, and help » Support for formalization women miners mitigate the impacts of the COVID crisis (including on job loss, income » Support for digital platforms that allow reduction, childcare, and education) miners to access markets electronically so that the miners can maintain income » The strengthening of institutional capaci- streams when lockdowns and restrictions ty, through education to support business make it difficult for them to sell their and organizational development minerals » Support to local cooperatives to prevent » Training in leadership, peace, and conflict them from accumulating debt resolution » Training on environmental management and ways to avoid exposure to mercury Basic training on rough diamond grading and valuation in Liberia. Photo by Empowerment Works, Inc. and Diamonds for Peace The program engaged Short-term relief (activities that lasted three in both short- and to six months) responded to the immediate medium-term activities health and economic impacts of the crisis. in four domains—health, Thirty-eight interventions received this kind economic, social, and of support. Ten received medium-term (sup- environmental—providing port that lasted more than a year) relief, funding in three rounds. which helped ASM communities build resil- ience for the future. Smaller allocations of funding were made available for research. 14 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC RAPIDLY RESPONDING TO MEET MINERS’ NEEDS: PROGRAM RESULTS 15 AT A GLANCE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING 48 AWARDS 1 GLOBAL NETWORK COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY COVID-19 38 for short-term interventions PARTICIPATING and 10 for medium-term Delve Exchange, which interventions includes 51 non-OECD countries 16 COUNTRIES that received capacity-building support to improve business and 816 participants practices and strengthen understanding of finance: Afghanistan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mongolia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia 22 COUNTRIES 25,844 MEN & PARTICIPATING FROM 25,456 WOMEN 4 REGIONS trained in COVID-19 protocols, East Asia and Pacific, Latin mining-related diseases other than America and the Caribbean, South COVID-19, and occupational health Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa and safety MONGOLIA AFGHANISTAN INDIA 1 MILLION+ PEOPLE 13 ACTIVITIES MALI reached by COVID-19 awareness working to reduce gender-based violence BURKINA FASO GUINEA NIGERIA campaigns UGANDA INDONESIA GHANA KENYA DRC TANZANIA BRAZIL MALAWI BOLIVIA ZAMBIA 144 WOMEN-OWNED 17 ACTIVITIES ORGANIZATIONS working to promote alternative/ supported complementary livelihoods 16 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC RAPIDLY RESPONDING TO MEET MINERS’ NEEDS: PROGRAM RESULTS 17 PROGRAM In the second and third rounds, which took FOCUSING ON HEALTH, place between February 2021 and December ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, 2022, the focus moved to medium-term SOCIAL PROTECTION, AND THE ENVIRONMENT APPROACH activities. These interventions supported (a) one global networking effort covering Sub- The World Bank and its partners supported Saharan Africa, East Asia and Pacific, South activities in four areas: health, economic Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean empowerment, social protection, and the (the Delve Exchange, described later in this environment. Across all areas, it supported report), and (b) seven awards to partners in gender equality. Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia. An artisanal mining cooperative in the Democratic HEALTH ACTIVITIES Republic of Congo relies on non-contact thermometers to identify potential COVID-19 cases among their workforce. Activities included research into responsi- The weak underlying health characteristic of The long-term objective of EGPS Photo by Stephanie Shumsky/Pact Inc. ble sourcing initiatives and their adaptation ASM communities left miners highly vulner- was to increase formalization, during COVID; capacity building to mining able to COVID-19. To help contain the spread including by improving social and cooperatives and associations to build back of the pandemic in mining communities, EGPS environmental performance in their activities in more socially and environ- supported the rollout of COVID-19 public ASM communities. To deal with mentally responsible ways; and efforts to awareness campaigns through radio, TV, and the immediate effects of the bring digital and technological innovations social media that reached more than 1 mil- COVID pandemic, EGPS focused to certain supply chain practices to improve lion people. Interventions supported by EGPS on short- and medium-term benefits to miners. trained 25,844 men and 25,456 women, activities. including government officials, in 22 countries in COVID-19 protocols, mining-related dis- eases other than COVID-19, and occupational health and safety. Activities also improved SUPPORTING SHORT- AND access to clean water, sanitation stations, MEDIUM-TERM ACTIVITIES Training of community-level frontline health care and health information. providers. Photo by SRADHA Financing of the first round of activities began at the end of 2020. This funding went to 22 organizations for short-term activities. The emphasis was on COVID-19 awareness prevention and efforts to mitigate pandemic impacts. Recipients spanned 18 countries, including 12 in Africa and 2 each in East Asia and Pacific, South Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Sixteen recipi- ents received top-ups to expand or scale up their initial activities. 18 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 19 IMPROVING OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE SUCCESS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Health Focus, in partnership with Synergy Global STORY Consulting, trained 263 “change agents” and launched an information campaign on 35 radio stations intended to reach about 45,000 miners. To promote a better integrated and more comprehensive approach to addressing ASM occupational health and safety issues, Health Focus brought together government officials, donors, and representatives of devel- opment agencies, development partners, nongovernmental organizations, and civil soci- ety organizations from the health and ASM sectors. Convening these parties resulted in a call to action by government and other partners that support the health agenda for ASM. Health Focus conducting COVID-19 awareness and prevention training in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo by Health Focus 20 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 21 All partner organizations sensitized benefi- Activities had enormous success informing ciaries to COVID-19, informing miners and residents about COVID. “Before the project, their households about the signs, symptoms, we were skeptical about even the existence and transmission avenues of COVID-19 and of COVID. As a result, we didn’t respect the ways to prevent infection, through social barrier measures that were in place,” noted distancing, masking, and handwashing. They Estelle Bassolé, an artisanal miner in Burkina conducted awareness sessions, community Faso. “Today, we are convinced that this dialogues, and/or trainings and workshop (15 thing is a reality, and we do our best to pre- interventions) and supported media cam- vent propagation.” paigns, using radio and TV, social media, and flyers (9 interventions). In some remote areas, unawareness, rather than skepticism, was the problem. Completely cut off from the outside world, people in one village in India had never heard of COVID before the arrival of masked staff from SRADHA, a nonprofit organization in India working to create alternative and sus- tainable livelihood opportunities for ASM communities. This intervention promoted the concept of “super mums,” who were encouraged to communicate messages about preventing COVID-19—through handwashing, social distancing, and the use of face masks— to their children, other adults, and pregnant Training of community-level frontline health care and lactating women. providers in India. Photo by SRADHA ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES The pandemic severely curtailed—and The largest number of economic interven- To increase resilience against future eco- livelihood activities. In 14 countries, it helped in some cases shut down—mineral trade tions focused on alternative livelihoods and nomic and/or health-related shocks, EGPS increase access to finance and other forms chains, restricting the ability of miners to support for cooperative associations work- conducted baseline research, engaged with of support to small mining cooperatives work at mine sites and sell their products ing on formalization of the sector (17 and stakeholders, and built the capacity to sup- and entities. In eight countries, it worked to at the desired price. For this reason, about 16 interventions respectively). Other inter- port efforts by ASM cooperatives to mitigate increase access to markets and prevent an half of all interventions sought to improve ventions focused on access to markets (7 debt escalation and other financial impacts. increase in smuggling, illicit financial flows, economic opportunities for miners. Some pro- interventions), laws and regulations support- It supported efforts to make trade chains and financing of organized crime. moted alternative livelihoods; others trained ing formalization (6 interventions), and due more transparent and provide market access workers to improve their mining-related skills, diligence, risk mitigation, and certification (5 for ASM miners in 20 countries. It also helped in order to increase their earnings. interventions). miners start and expand complementary 22 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 23 ASM women receive training in making hand sanitizers and liquid soap. Nigeria, 2021. Photo by Women’s Right to Editha Samree presents her stones at the Moyo Gems Education Programme (WREP) Market Day. Kenya, 2022. Photo by The World Bank PREVENTING MINING BRINGING ARTISANAL MINERS World Bank–funded Moyo Gems Market Day, HOUSEHOLDS FROM DESTITUTION AND BUYERS TOGETHER IN KENYA when selected miners learned how to evalu- IN NIGERIA ate rough stones, engage with vetted buyers, On May 6, 2016, Kenya passed a new mining and document sales on a blockchain platform. For many miners who were unable to work law that recognized ASM operations, stipu- Buyers explained what factors influence their SUCCESS because of the pandemic, the activities funded lating clear processes for establishing safe purchases—advice that Samree says is not easy by EGPS were life changing. “I thought I was operations and state support for miners. In a to come by in regular sales processes. going to lose my children to death clear departure from the previous law, which from hunger during the lockdown. I prohibited ASM and restricted women’s involve- “Today I’m happy because we are sell- STORIES was tired, discouraged, and felt like ment in the trade, the new regulation paved ing one-on-one, and at least people the way for groups like Editha Samree’s Taita have come to the ground and they a failure,” said Verashe Azenda, a 38-year- Women Mining Group to participate fully in old widow with three young children. She was know where the mine is,” said Samree. Kenya’s mining sector. one of many women in Nigeria trained to make “They are advising us.” and sell liquid soap, hand sanitizer, and reusable Samree is a seasoned miner and commu- sanitary pads. nity organizer who champions the rights and inclusion of women miners in her capacity as CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO “This activity literally gave me my chairperson of the Taita Taveta Women Mining life back,” Azenda noted. Group. She was selected to participate in the 24 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 25 In India, the Centre for Indian Bamboo Many interventions provided training in lead- SOCIAL PROTECTION ACTIVITIES Resource & Technology (CIBART) trained ership, organization management, financial The emergency response window provided artisanal miners to make bamboo prod- literacy skills, access to finance, entrepre- social support to miners and their house- ucts at home, where they faced less neurship, business planning, networking, and holds, including assistance for miners who exposure to COVID-19. It now plans to the formation and importance of business had to return to their home communities develop a work-from-home system in associations. The Association of Women in because of mine closures. It supported which all members of ASM households Energy and Extractives in Kenya provided the collection of gender-sensitive data and can earn additional—and, eventually, an women with financial literacy training. research to better understand the impact alternative source of—income. This work- of COVID-19 and tackle the most pressing from-home activity could eventually be “One of the things I learned from gender issues at the mines. Many partners part of a sustainable natural resource– the trainings that I implemented focused on policy advocacy (14 interven- based production system. immediately was to open an alter- tions), women’s rights and efforts to combat In Odisha, India, SRADHA trained women native business of a meat shop, to gender-based violence (13 interventions), to process and pack dry fish as an alter- have a secondary source of income occupational health and safety and other native livelihood option when pandemic aside from my mining and dealing health issues (12 interventions), networks and knowledge sharing (11 interventions), and restrictions prevented miners from work- business,” wrote one miner. ing in the mines. Staff linked beneficiaries research (10 interventions). Others focused to a local supply chain that procured what “I am also working on expanding on leadership, peace, and conflict resolution they produced at their doorsteps. The (4 interventions); digital literacy (4 interven- my participation in the gemstone activity was initially planned as a substi- tions); and child labor (2 interventions). value chain by investing in training tute for mining during the pandemic, but on value addition. I can now make In Mozambique, the Network for Youth and many participants continued drying and necklaces, earrings, and bracelets Adult Education Advocacy (RAJANO) imple- selling fish to supplement their incomes mented community dialogues on peace, after the mines reopened. from gemstones and beads.” security, and conflict resolution. It trained In Liberia, Empowerment Works, Inc., “peace hub” members in conflict prevention and Diamonds for Peace provided basic and resolution. The training provided women training on grading and valuing rough with new skills in mediation and negotiation diamonds. This effort helped narrow the to help them raise their concerns, propose information asymmetries in the supply solutions, and contribute to peace and secu- chain that allow mining companies to rity dialogue in the region. exploit miners by paying much less for their diamonds than they are worth. Training session of activists on gender-based violence, women’s rights, peace and conflict resolution in Mozambique. Photo by RAJANO 26 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 27 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES Across four regions—East Asia and Pacific, In Mozambique, RAJANO trained 150 men Latin America and the Caribbean, South and women in environmental protection. Two Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa—EGPS associations it helped register as legal entities financed research and capacity-building planned to plant trees and mobilize miners efforts on alternatives to mercury use in to do so in areas where mining had destroyed mining, waste management, and coexis- trees and rivers. The partners intend to con- tence models to promote best practices in tinue to provide trainings on protecting the responsible mining. Six partners worked on environment (rivers, water sources, the forest, waste disposal and environmental manage- animals) during mining activities. In Uganda, ment, four on fighting mercury exposure, and the Action Coalition on Climate Change two on research related to the use of mercury trained 100 women stone quarry miners on in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, waste disposal and tailings storage, including its impact, and alternatives for reducing environmental management. its use. In Brazil, the Centre for Small-Scale In Afghanistan, the Hatam & Nouri Legal Responsible Mining of the Department of Consulting Services Company trained women Mining Engineering of the University of São on Afghan environmental law. In India, Paulo (USIP) developed a model that will CIBART encouraged mine owners to raise allow ASM cooperatives to establish mutu- bamboo plantations on degraded land after ally beneficial partnerships with conventional mining, per their commitment to the govern- gold-mining companies, promote clean tech- ment to re-grass mined lands. nology, and improve mine standards on ASM sites. In northern Ghana, the Social Investment Consultancy and Women in Mining Ghana increased the environmental and health CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO awareness of women miners by educating them about responsible mining, innovative In Indonesia, Women in Mining and Energy mercury-free techniques, and the adverse assessed the impact of ASM operations on health impacts of mercury on miners. It the local environment and women’s health trained women in improved mining tech- and collaborated with district health agencies niques, such as adjusting the orientation of to conduct an awareness-raising campaign their sluice boards and changing their sluice on the dangers of mercury. mats in order to extract more gold. 28 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 29 REDUCING THE USE OF MERCURY IN INDONESIA SUCCESS Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta and Women in Mining and Energy used Photovoice, a visual research methodology, to promote social change. Photovoice empowers communities by letting people document, reflect on, and communicate their concerns through powerful images. Using a STORY participatory approach, the organizations trained participants to capture snapshots of their community through their own lens. In one community, following the Photovoice activity and a subsequent health campaign initiative, a group of women formed a mercury-free gold-panning collective. They brought in a resource person to train them to refine gold by processing it directly, without using mercury. The women mixed the gold concentrate from panning with borax and belching salt and then burned it with a torch to rid it of impurities and other minerals. In addition to creating a hazard-free environment, this technology increased the price the panners received for their gold because gold jewelry social entrepreneurs are willing to pay more for gold that has been processed without mercury. Use of mercury is widespread in the ASM gold sector because it is the simplest and fastest technology available for extracting gold. A study conducted for the Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA) in 2018 estimated that 346 tons of mercury are released into the environment in Indonesia every year. This release is a problem because mercury can cause headaches, blurry vision, and damage to the lungs, brain, and nervous system. Large amounts of or long-term exposure to mercury can lead to death. Rokini is washing rocks at the Pudu Jaya mining site in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo by Franata, Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta, 2021. 30 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 31 IMPROVING GENDER EQUALITY Building Women’s Resilience, Strengthening Their Capacity, and Almost all interventions included a gender Increasing Their Empowerment component. Gender-related activities To protect women from COVID, partner focused on three main areas (described organizations trained them on the use of below), with many addressing multi- protective equipment and the adoption of ple areas. In Uganda, for example, the occupational health and safety best prac- Collaborative Efforts to Alleviate Social tices. To strengthen women’s capacity, the Problems (CEASOP) trained women on gender organizations provided training on busi- equality and prevention of gender-based vio- ness skills, financial literacy, and technical lence, women’s property rights, and conflict aspects of mining. To increase women’s resolution and negotiation, and sponsored empowerment, they informed them of rel- a mentorship program for women miners. evant laws and sensitized them to their Partners supported 144 women-owned rights; sought to improve their working organizations and launched 13 interven- conditions; and created platforms through tions to reduce gender-based violence. which they can publicize the challenges they face, potentially bringing their needs to the attention of leaders at all levels of govern- ment as well as international institutions. In Bolivia, Cumbre del Sajama worked to increase the knowledge and confidence of women miners. In Burkina Faso, the Artisanal Gold Council helped close gender gaps by providing training and capacity building on topics such as occupational health and safety standards, entrepreneurship, for- malization, and international standards for a responsible gold supply chain. Photo by Responsible Jewelry Transformative 32 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 33 CHANGING THE VIEWS OF WOMEN AND MEN ABOUT WOMEN’S PROPERTY RIGHTS IN UGANDA SUCCESS Florence Okello, a stone quarrier from Lira City East, Uganda, attended the training on women’s property rights and conflict resolution con- ducted by CEASOP. “Before the training, we did not know that STORY we had rights,” Okello said. “We would earn some income and then our husbands would take it over and we didn’t have a say. Since my husband and I attended the train- ing on women’s property rights and conflict resolution, we both have a different view about how women should relate to their husbands, how husbands should relate to their wives, how both spouses should relate to their kids at home, and how to resolve conflicts when they rise in our house. “My husband, who participated in all the training ses- sions—more than I did—had the opportunity to listen and learn about the limit of his rights. For example, now he knows that a woman has the right to decide with her hus- band what they have to do with the husband’s income and vice versa. This has changed our everyday lives. Now my husband behaves differently. We sit down together, plan together, and use our resources better, which also reduces conflicts in our house. This is very different from before the trainings, when traditionally men did not consult their wives, because women did not have any say. Men could even sell a piece of land without consulting their wives. Now this has changed. If a woman has not consented to selling a property or land, it cannot be sold.” Florence Okello quarries stones in Ngetta Hill, Lira, Uganda. Photo by Patricia Ndagano, World Bank 34 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 35 Increasing Understanding of and Strengthening Measures to Prevent Gender-Based Discrimination and Violence Projects raised awareness in both men and women about the importance of nonviolent approaches, such as dialogue, within house- holds. In many villages, the results were extraordinary. “Before the project, violence, including domestic violence, was considered normal,” said Atia Osaibo Cululo Canjade, a provincial government official in Mozambique. “After the activists were taken for training, things started to change.” Female quarry worker in Ngetta Hill, Lira, Uganda. Photo by Patricia Ndagano, World Bank Supporting Women Mining Associations Partners established networks linking women and Helping Women Trade miners with buyers to increase the prices they Several activities helped legally establish or receive for their minerals. They helped women strengthen associations for women miners. miners facilitate trade by piloting digital plat- In Afghanistan, the Hatam & Nouri Legal forms for trading minerals and increased the Consulting Services Company supported the involvement of women along the entire value establishment of a national Women in Mining chain. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the Association chapter to promote and support the partici- of Women in Mining in Africa (AWIMA) sought pation of women in the extractives industry. to build the capacities of local associations to In Mozambique, RAJANO supported the legal design jewelry for sale internationally. registration of seven associations and built their capacity to negotiate with regulatory authorities, conduct business, and trade formally. Artisanal gemstones mined by ASM women. Photo by Responsible Jewelry Transformative 36 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 37 MENTORING WOMEN COMMUNITY LEADERS AS AGENTS OF FORMALIZATION IN BOLIVIA SUCCESS Cumbre del Sajama, a Bolivian nongovernmental organization, works to improve conditions for people working in extractive industries. In 2021, it implemented activities to increase the visibility of women in STORY ASM and improve the working conditions of women miners. Through training and training materials—including booklets, primers, videos, and other materials—it provided women with the knowledge and skills they needed to organize, defend their rights, and participate in the operations and administration of their organizations. These activities increased women’s awareness of the hazards they face—and what they need to do to protect themselves. “These work- shops opened my eyes to the misuse we were making of mercury,” noted Anabella Silva Chino de Cabezas, a miner from Tipuani. “Almost all of us … separated the gold from the mercury in the kitchen, where we prepared food for our families, using a spoon, without wearing gloves, and with- out using mouth and eye protection. I think that many of us became ill because we inhaled that vapor. At these workshops, we learned that we have to take care of ourselves … and that the gold and mercury separation should be done in open air while using protective measures.” The workshops also built women’s confidence. “Before the work- shops, I could not speak in public; I was very closed. I did not speak as easily and fluently as I do now,” said Nataly Priscila Meret, a miner from San Ramón. “These workshops helped me to open up, to be more open in what one thinks, to say what one thinks.” “With this project I learned about the rights of women— rights that are in the political constitution of the state and that give us the opportunity to participate in the decisions of our families, our community, and our munic- ipality,” noted Lucila Forra Avillcata, a miner from Tipuani. Workshop with ASM workers organized by Cumbre del Sajama in Riberalta, Bolivia. Photo by Cumbre del Sajama 38 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 39 LINKING MINERS THROUGH THE short documents (no more than two pages). DELVE EXCHANGE Coordinators encourage members to share a photo of their work site every Friday, with a The Delve Exchange is a global, online knowl- brief description. edge exchange network by artisanal and small-scale miners for artisanal and small- The Delve Exchange forums are regular, vir- scale miners. Launched in June 2021, against tual knowledge-sharing meetings facilitated the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, it by the coordinator of each region and held on seeks to (a) increase the exchange of knowl- Zoom. Each forum concentrates on a different edge and best practice and (b) empower the topic of interest to the network. The forums global voice and increase the visibility of ASM have been a particularly successful compo- and quarry sector associations. nent of the Delve Exchange, with coordinators relishing their growing sense of their con- The exchange connects miners and quarry vening power and the chance to confidently workers through monthly regional forums represent the concerns of their regions on an and ongoing exchange groups. By the end of online platform. September 2022, 2,060 people were partici- pating in 78 regional forums in 68 countries. The response to the Delve Exchange has Important features include the participation been overwhelmingly positive. “There is of women—as participants, leaders, and pre- no better place for an artisanal senters—and the creation of a safe place in or small-scale miner to be,” notes which participants can share information and Blessing Hungwe, the Delve Exchange coordi- discuss major concerns and training topics, nator for anglophone Africa. “This is for us such as mercury reduction. by us—a highway for empowering The exchange has created two categories of artisanal and small miners to drive knowledge products: (a) practice stories; sto- the agenda on issues that affect us.” ries of implementation, and challenge stories, and (b) Delve Exchange forums. In practice stories, members share knowledge of or experience with a topic or practice. In stories of implementation, members describe how they implemented something they learned from the network. In challenge stories, mem- bers describe a problem or a challenge their community or site is facing about which they seek advice from other members of their regional network. Stories are submitted in Silicosis widows in Panna District (India) attending a Delve Colombian emerald rough / ©Maison Piat Exchange forum on alternative livelihoods for South and Central video or audio format using WhatsApp or as Asia in December 2022. Photo by Sameena Yousuf 40 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROGRAM APPROACH 41 RESULTS OF THE Knowledge of COVID Among survey respondents who had had Awareness of COVID-19 and how to pro- or suspected they had had COVID, 78 per- tect against the virus was high but had not cent sought treatment. Government health 2022 FOLLOW- changed much since the first survey. The facilities were the most common location overwhelming majority of people in ASM for seeking treatment (three times more communities (83 percent) reported feeling prevalent than private health facilities and informed about COVID and how to pro- traditional medicine providers). UP SURVEY tect themselves from the virus (47 percent somewhat informed and 36 percent very Miners reported taking preventative mea- informed). These results were not very differ- sures while working at mines sites. Washing ent from the results of the July 2020 survey, hands and wearing a face mask were the in which 84 percent of respondents felt most frequently cited prevention measures, informed about COVID (40 percent somewhat as they were in the 2020 survey. Only 9 per- informed and 44 percent very informed). cent of global respondents indicated having In July 2022, as the two-year emer- The cross-sectional study used primarily Ninety-five percent of respondents in the taken no measure to prevent COVID. This a convenience sampling approach, polling second survey indicated having received mes- figure is about half that in the 2020 survey gency response window was nearing 3,409 people between July 17, 2022, and sages regarding what COVID is and how to (17 percent). There were two country outliers, its end, EGPS conducted a second November 1, 2022. Given the small size of the protect against it. Myanmar (where 67 percent of respondents global survey to understand what may sample and the sampling method, the survey reported taking no preventative measures) have changed since the beginning of In most countries, most miners reported not results cannot be considered representative and Ghana (39 percent). the pandemic. having had COVID. More than three-quar- of national contexts. ters of respondents (78 percent) reported The follow-up survey expanded upon the The results do provide a snapshot of percep- that they had not had COVID, 10 percent rapid response assessment conducted in tions and experiences of ASM communities reported that they had tested positive, and Across locations, 63 percent of respondents 2020 by engaging with 33 partner organiza- two years after the onset of the pandemic, 8 percent reported that they suspect they reported being vaccinated. In 12 coun- tions and collecting data in 31 countries. however, and suggest areas for further had been infected but had not tested. Outlier tries, more than 90 percent of respondents Data collection partners surveyed mine-level research and response interventions. countries—countries in which the majority reported having been vaccinated. Country stakeholders through a combination of phone of respondents indicated that they had had outliers include Mali (where just 1 percent and in-person interviews. A short, standard- or suspected they had had COVID—include of respondents reported being vaccinated) COVID-19 follow-up survey being conducted in Mozambique. ized survey focused on the same areas of Photo by RAJANO Mongolia (89 percent), Peru (77 percent), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (17 inquiry as the 2020 survey. Working with Bolivia (74 percent), Myanmar (60 percent), percent). In Mali, respondents cited lack of prior survey partners from 2020 as well as and Brazil (58 percent). information and trust in the vaccine as the new partners in 2022, an attempt was made reason for not getting vaccinated. In the to cover the same geographies and commu- Democratic Republic of Congo, 64 percent nities that were previously surveyed. Repeat of respondents indicated not having had partners resurveyed 20 out of 31 countries the opportunity to get vaccinated. from the 2020 sample. 42 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESULTS OF THE 2022 FOLLOW-UP SURVEY 43 Access to Work by Women and Men Confidence in the Health Care System Service Delivery More than half of respondents (57 percent) Confidence regarding access to the health About 45 percent of respondents received reported that COVID had affected their ability care system in the event of COVID infec- services from the government to help them to mine. Half of respondents who reported tion rose. In the 2020 survey, 49 percent of weather the impact of the pandemic and changes cited government restrictions on respondents did not feel they had adequate government measures to contain it—up from mining activity as the cause. Just five coun- access to health care if they got sick. In the less than a quarter in 2020. Services included tries reported gender-related differences of 2022 survey, this figure fell to 35 percent. The medical supplies (63 percent), information on more than 20 percent in the perceptions of change likely reflects the increase in infor- COVID (53 percent), food (36 percent), and changes in mining operations. Women were mation on the severity and nature of COVID cash (24 percent). more likely than men to report changes in illness, which may have reduced people’s mining operations in Ethiopia (a difference sense of the need for health care treatment, Economic Disruption of 40 percent), Niger (27 percent), Liberia and improvements in public health services. The vast majority of respondents (88 percent) (22 percent), and the Democratic Republic of viewed COVID as a threat to their finances. In Congo (22 percent). In Guinea, men were 20 15 countries, the figure exceeded 95 percent. percent more likely to report changes. Ghana, where only 32 percent of respondents held this view, was the only country in which Food Security a majority did not view the virus as a threat About two-thirds of respondents (65 percent) stated that they had less to eat than they did to their households’ economic well-being. before the pandemic. In 11 African countries and India, more than 75 percent of respondents Three-quarters of respondents indicated reported a decrease in available food. that their household income was lower than it was before COVID; in 11 countries (Guinea, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Zambia), more than 90 percent of respon- dents reported lower income. Recovery Perspectives Miners want financing to help them recover from the pandemic. Access to financing to support operations was the top choice, selected by 69 percent of respondents pre- sented with a range of options that included access to tools and equipment, personal protective gear, education, and support with licensing. This figure is up from 46 percent in the first survey, underscoring the economic challenge of COVID for miners. Artisanal gold miner in Sudan. Photo by Dylan McFarlane, Pact Inc. 44 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESULTS OF THE 2022 FOLLOW-UP SURVEY 45 IMPLEMENTATION activities, some local organizations will be in a better position now to apply for other types of inter- national assistance, as they now have a proven track record of performance with the World Bank. CHALLENGES TOP SIX LESSONS FROM THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE 1. Employ evidence-based approach AND LESSONS platforms helped track data and implementa- EGPS together with 17 partner institutions tion progress of projects. By providing support conducted research into how COVID-19 to improve M&E of operations in remote and had affected ASM communities in 22 hard to reach areas, the emergency response LEARNED countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, helped significantly strengthen the pre- and the Caribbean. This early assessment paredness and adaptability of organizations allowed definition of the scope and reach working with miners. of the emergency response project. 5. Customized M&E improves activity out- comes 2. Local organizations are key to success The project developed a customized M&E Given the restrictions brought about by the framework and approach. During weekly calls, The pandemic made it difficult In Brazil, Ghana, and Mongolia, remote tools COVID-19 pandemic, EGPS worked with and activities were able to address these partner organizations received guidance on to implement certain activities. local organizations to implement activities, constraints. Many organizations spoke of overcoming implementation challenges and Organizations shared key imple- which was instrumental in reaching ASM how the pandemic allowed them to use the improving outcomes. The project also facil- mentation challenges, including communities during the crisis. opportunity to teach miners new skills— itated monthly peer-to-peer online learning difficulties contracting individuals in local organizations; doubts about particularly the use of digital technology. 3. Target gender gaps sessions via Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp. the existence of COVID-19 by some miners Many organizations had never worked with Gender is an inseparable lens in the dis- 6. Strengthen networks and associations in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Colombia, course around ASM. A gender-sensitive the World Bank. EGPS dedicated considerable Knowledge exchange networks and associ- the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, project design led to gender-focused activ- time to capacity building of local organi- ations are an effective way of disseminating and Nigeria, which led to slow uptake of ities for women and men that exceeded the zations through support to monitoring and information to benefit miners and shape the preventative education in some countries; project’s gender-related targets. evaluation (M&E) design, quality review of ASM sector sustainably and responsibly. and lockdowns and travel restrictions in Afghanistan, Brazil, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, reports and activities, site monitoring visits, 4. Technology-based M&E systems are The project supported the development of weekly calls to unblock implementation critical in emergency settings an online network of ASM associations and Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mongolia, challenges, and peer-to-peer learning groups helped build local networks that contrib- Mozambique, and Uganda. In Burkina Faso, The emergency response highlighted the established to allow cross-pollination of the uted to the promotion of improved mining Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Uganda, importance of technology for M&E in emer- efforts of organizations on common themes: practices, provided access to knowledge and organizations implementing activities faced gency contexts. When COVID-19 related (a) gender and SGBV in particular; (b) health resources, advocated on behalf of their mem- other external challenges, including local disruptions in travel and field supervision messaging; and (c) social protection. It is bers on policy issues, and offered a social elections, regional insecurity, conflict at missions constrained direct access to anticipated that with the experience gained safety net during crisis. mining sites, and/or challenges from local areas of operation, technologies like mobile by implementing EGPS emergency response response to issues related to women’s rights. phones, messaging channels, and virtual 46 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED 47 LOOKING FORWARD Based on the results from the emer- » Continuing to support concerted efforts to gency response window and the reduce all forms of gender discrimination findings from the second data col- and improve women’s standing in the lection exercise, the World Bank and sector EGPS will scale up support to ASM. » Ramping up support to livelihood Support will focus on priorities emerg- diversification, in order to address ing from the pandemic and recovery persistent food insecurity, resulting in needs, including the following: large part from inflation » Leading and convening international » Scaling new forms of access to markets to and regional partners around a common increase miners’ earnings and help reduce understanding of support to the ASM structural gender gaps along value chains sector » Reinforcing security of tenure and other » Bringing awareness and support to traditional formalization measures national and subnational authorities concerned with mining on priorities for ASM development » Establishing a variety of financial instruments to meet miners’ growing demand for support to their operations » Working closely with mine associations and other networks such as the Delve Exchange to model best practice in occupational health and safety; Roseline Nyambu, artisanal miner in Kenya, presents environmental, social, and governance; her mined gemstones. Photo by the World Bank. and mine site practices 48 SUPPORTING ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOOKING FORWARD 49