1. Insert image Supporting Artisanal Miners in Mongolia: SDC‘s Experiences and Lessons Learnt. Patience Singo, Project Manager, Sustainable Artisanal Mining Project, Swiss Development Cooperation Mongolia Swiss Cooperation Office Mongolia

2. Insert image Emergence of ASGM in Mongolia

3. Insert image if needed SDC Response: The SAM Project Transforming illegal ‘ninja mining’ into a formal sub- sector. ‘Sustainable Artisanal Mining Project (SAM)’, (2005-2014). SAM adopted a Rights Based Empowerment Approach in supporting ASGM. SDC replicated lessons on formalisation and empowerment approaches from Latin America. 3SCO Mongolia Patience Singo3

4. Insert image if needed Results of the SAM Project Public opinion on ASGM improving.Public opinion on ASGM improving. Mercury free processing techniques, introduced and replicated. Miners organised into permanent community mining groups. Formalisation on-going.Formalisation on-going. ASGM Legal framework in 2010.ASGM Legal framework in 2010. 4SCO Mongolia Patience Singo4

5. Insert image if needed Lessons Learnt Political will of government key to regulate ASGM (ignoring or prohibition of ASGM is not the solution). Appropriate legal framework: Incentive to ASGM formalisation and mercury reduction/ elimination. Formalised miners: Are organised, paying taxes and rehabilitation funds and have stable & higher income (30-100% >informal) and use mercury free techniques. 5SDC Mongolia Patience Singo

6. Insert image if needed Lessons Learnt To move from mercury to elimination-Mongolia adopted a strict regulatory approach. Government monitoring is essential and building that capacity is key. Mercury free approaches are successful and gaining popularity with many miners and are being replicated to a growing degree. Due to improved gold recovery rate of 75% and increased income. Miners increasingly aware of Hg environmental and health risks. 6SDC Mongolia Patience Singo

7. Insert image if needed Lessons Learnt When Mongolia banned mercury in 2008, the approach worked as SAM quickly provided technical solutions, sufficient finance and program longevity. Facilitation and support through development cooperation was needed to bring international experience and capacity in –country. But one size does not fit all Mercury prohibition without viable technical alternatives and capacity does not work. It pushes miners to clandestine mercury use. 7SDC Mongolia Patience Singo

8. Insert image if needed Mercury reduction in Mongolia 1990s-2008 ASGM Practices Whole ore amalgamation Open air burning Poor chemical management Interventions Awareness raising Field testing of retorts Government monitoring, on mercury use 8SDC Mongolia Patience Singo 2008 April Government bans mercury use in mining industry 2008- to date ASGM Practices Mercury free processing Aware of negative mercury effects Clandestine Hg use in areas without processing plants. Interventions Introduction and replication of Hg free plants Government monitoring Technical training Technology improvement Step 2

9. Insert image if needed Further Initiatives for Responsible ASGM and Mercury Reduction SDC pursuing a joint initiative with UNIDO for the GEF project. To replicate Mongolia mercury free successes. To fill existing gaps and discourage clandestine mercury use. Fairtrade Fairmined Gold Certification and ecological premiums to provide incentives for miners to move to Hg-free processing 9SDC Mongolia Patience Singo

10. Insert image if needed Invitation to Swiss side event Subsequent to the Technical Briefing. Information on SDC experiences with ASGM from Latin America and Mongolia Time: 12:30 to 14:00 (including lunch)Venue: 10SDC Mongolia Patience Singo

11. Insert image if needed 11SDC Mongolia Patience Singo Thank you! Formalisation and cleaner gold! Sustainable Artisanal Mining (SAM) Project