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ARM has participated in formalization and improvement initiatives in artisanal and small-scale mining in 15 countries in Latin America and Africa.

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More than 150 mining organizations have received our support. Currently, 8 of them count with the Fairmined Certification

1,530,000 USD of Fairmined Premium has been paid to certified mining organizations to invest in their development and community projects.

News

Launch of the Mining Training and Extension Centers (MTECs) in Brokopondo, Suriname

On April 19, as part of the project "Improving Environmental Management in the Mining Sector of Suriname, with Emphasis on Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM)" (EMSAG’s), funded by GEF, the...

Charting the Path to Responsible Mining: Reflections from the CRAFT BRAZIL Project Closure

At the Closing Session of the Project "Traceability and Responsible Chain in Brazilian Mineral Cooperatives - CRAFT BRAZIL," the milestones achieved within the project framework were presented....

The OCB System in alliance with ARM conducted a Virtual Seminar: “Cooperativismo e Garimpo Responsável (Cooperativism and Responsible Mining) -CRAFT Brazil”.

On the 7th of December (2023), the “Cooperativismo e Garimpo Responsável- CRAFT Brazil” was conducted remotely. This event had the participation of national and international organizations such as the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Brazil, the National Mining Agency, the Brazilian Institute of Gems and Precious Metals (IBGM), Federação das Cooperativas dos Garimpeiros do Pará (FECOGAP), the Central Bank and important jewelers such as Ara Vartanian, who is part of the movement for responsible jeweler “Conscious Mining”. 

This event -which also had the participation of international organizations such as the Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA)– was possible through the collaborative alliance between the OCB system and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM).  

With more than one hundred participants, it centred on the perspectives on traceability and responsible supply chains in Brazilian mineral cooperatives. The initial aim was to implement infrastructure for the identification and mitigation of environmental, social and commercial risks within the framework of the CRAFT code. Some topics addressed during the agenda of the event included: mining regulation, legal security and best practices in the pilot phase. The perspective of a responsible market in Brazil and worldwide was also addressed.  

The agenda began with the intervention of Fabíola Nader Motta, General Manager of the OCB system. Subsequently, Marcin Piersiak made his intervention, where he highlighted ARM’s vision of consolidating the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in a legitimate, responsible and profitable manner that promotes inclusive and sustainable development.  

“Over the last months, both working groups and an Advisory Committee collaborated on the definition of parameters for the Comprehensive Mining Assessment (CMA) – CRAFT Criteria applicable, effective and efficient within the Brazilian legal and cultural context, without losing its status of being a recognized framework reference for different stakeholders worldwide. We hope this work acts as a guide for the Brazilian cooperative mining industry, with the OCB systems’ leadership, as it progressively improves its social and environmental practices, gaining the trust of civil society and markets.”, expressed Piersiak. 

Within the event, the “Comprehensive Mining Assessment” tool was launched for the application of the fully parameterized CRAFT code in the Brazilian context. The tool is publicly accessible and can be found at the following link: 
https://www.responsiblemines.org/en/publicaciones-y-cartillas/ 

Similarly, registrations have opened for the CRAFT course – Mineral Traceability Criteria and Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in February and April 2024.  

For more information, please contact us at gro.s1717714814enime1717714814libsn1717714814opser1717714814@mra1717714814 

SANU KURA project closes in Burkina Faso supporting the formalisation of 1.000 miners

Over 4 years (2019-2023), the SANU KURA project provided a pathway to a promising future for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Burkina Faso. Funded by the European Union through its...

Implementation of good mining practices progresses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In a joint effort, the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), HIVE, IPIS, Chambers Federation and Justice Plus are moving forward to lay the foundation for responsible gold mining in Ituri Province,...

Press Releases

Refer to the latest version of the CRAFT Code 2.1 approved by the Governance Bodies

The Craft Standards Committee and the Board of Directors of ARM have officially approved the third round of revisions that will amend the CRAFT Code 2.1. The final phase of the review that started...

The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) Announces Strategic Changes in its Board of Directors in the Celebration of its 20th Anniversary

January 4, 2024. - On its twentieth anniversary, the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) announces key movements within its Board of Directors. These changes reflect a continued commitment to...

Joint NGO Statement: EU Conflict Minerals Regulation Failing to Reach Its Goals

20 NGOs Call on the EU to Step Up Its Enforcement and Adopt New Measures Authors of the article: IPIS, PAX Brussels, 19 October 2023 More than six years after it was signed into law, the EU...

First Mining Communities Achieve Fairmined Certification in the Amazon, Paving The Way For First Fairmined Certified Gold Supply Chain From The Region

The project was developed by international NGOs Pure Earth and Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), with the support by the global jewelry company Brilliant Earth Four artisanal and small-scale...

Blog

Carbon Footprint in Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM)

Written by: Jairo Cárdenas - Manager of Sustainability at ARM.Climate change represents one of the most urgent challenges that humanity faces. With the increasingly clear scientific evidence about...

The Challenges of Small-Scale Tin Mining in Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil

By: Víctor Hugo Pachas, Andean Region ManagerOctober 18th, 2023 Since our early days in school, we have heard about the Bronze Age, a period characterized by significant advancements in metallurgy...

Deep dive on cooperative support – case studies from Inhambane, Tete and Zambezia in Mozambique

With an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 people working in it, the artisanal and small-scale mining (MAPE) sector in Mozambique is responsible for a significant portion of the country’s mining output, especially for minerals like gold. However, the miners who are the backbone of the MAPE sector have been struggling to make the most out of the minerals and metals they extract.

Small-Scale Copper Mining in Peru: What Do We Know About It?

By: Victor Hugo Pachas, Andean Region Manager (Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador) Little is known about the dynamics of small-scale copper mining in Peru. State agencies fail to pay due attention to this...

Structural challenges and contribution from ARM to the resilience of women miners in Burkina Faso

Since the pandemic of Covid-19, the economic resilience of mining communities in Burkina Faso has been strengthened with the implementation of several activities by the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), with particular attention to women in their communities, and the inequality and violence vectors that affect them.

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