Support our Mission of a Mercury-Free ASGM Sector
Mission
Help us by making a one-time or recurring donation to support artisanal and small-scale gold miners (ASGM) throughout the world.
For 15 years, the Artisanal Gold Council has worked in over 30 countries to help reduce and eliminate mercury in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, improve environmental and human health outcomes, support the enhancement of economic opportunities, and improve outcomes for women who make up roughly half the workers in this sector.
Why This Work Matters
Artisanal and small-scale mined gold makes up 20% of the global gold supply, equivalent to roughly $30 billion generated annually. There are 10 million miners directly involved in the sector and another 90 million involved in secondary economies. It is the single greatest transfer of wealth from rich to poor in developing countries and provides significant opportunities for people who would normally depend on subsistence farming at less than $2/day, to have an opportunity to earn up to and even more than $50/day.
Still, ASGM is the single largest source of global mercury emissions and pollution, at 37% of global mercury pollution.
As experts in the field of international development project implementation, we engage with organizations like the United National Environmental Programme (UNEP), the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), The United States Department of State (USDOS), Global Affairs Canada, and the Swiss Development Corporation to support local efforts to professionalize and formalize the ASGM sector worldwide.
By donating to our efforts, you help contribute to removing mercury from gold processing, increasing gold recovery, improving human health, enabling women to gain more ownership opportunities, and supporting access to capital and finance for miners.
Thank you for considering donating to help some of the worlds poorest miners and ensuring we give them a chance to improve their livelihoods.