ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING (ASM) AND COVID-19: RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC

This report presents the results of a July 2020 survey conducted by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining (IGF) among 21 member states to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. It details the health, economic, and regulatory challenges faced by miners, the differentiated impacts on men and women, and the various government support measures implemented or suspended during the crisis.

• The COVID-19 pandemic created severe health risks for ASM miners due to the remote nature of mining sites, which lack critical protective supplies such as masks and sanitizers, and suffer from a lack of health infrastructure, making testing and contact tracing nearly impossible.
• Economic and operational disruptions include lost jobs, reduced cash flow, and supply chain interruptions that prevented the import of equipment. Additionally, the suspension of certification schemes and the closure of borders to foreign buyers led to falling exports.
• The pandemic led to an increase in illegal and irresponsible mining and minerals trading, as travel restrictions hindered the ability of governments to monitor and enforce regulations on the ground.
• While impacts varied, some governments reported that women were more negatively affected by lockdowns and market disruptions, facing increased food insecurity and a higher vulnerability to sexual and gender-based violence. Conversely, in other contexts, men experienced higher spikes in unemployment and lost incomes.
• Government support for the sector has been inconsistent: more than half of respondents could not offer specific pandemic-related support, although some provided gold-buying programs, monetary and food aid, and sanitation equipment. Approximately 71% of respondents stated their governments had not suspended specific ASM support projects.
• Future challenges for the next 6 to 12 months include continued decreases in production, limited access to financing, and the risk that extended school closures may push children into ASM to search for gold.
• To address these challenges, governments identified the need for increased funding, expanded health campaigns, and the use of drone technology to monitor illicit activities in remote areas.

APA

Crawford, A. (2020). ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING (ASM) AND COVID-19: RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/artisanal-small-scale-mining-covid-survey-en.pdf

Chicago

Crawford, Alec. ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING (ASM) AND COVID-19: RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/artisanal-small-scale-mining-covid-survey-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crawford |first1=Alec |title=ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING (ASM) AND COVID-19: RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=November 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/artisanal-small-scale-mining-covid-survey-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crawford2020artisanal, author = {Crawford, Alec}, title = {{ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING (ASM) AND COVID-19: RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/artisanal-small-scale-mining-covid-survey-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }