IMPACT

🗣️Parlons égalité des droits ! #IWD2025

🗣️Let's talk equal rights! #IWD2025

On Sunday I attended a #PDAC side session focused on artisanal #gold #mining, which touched on a range of issues impacting the sector, including informality, lack of financing, ASM/LSM relations, and capture by criminal networks. While there was acknowledgement that some actors were missing from the table (finance institutions and miners themselves, for example), less was mentioned about one of the most pivotal parts of the #ASGM supply chain – traders! There tends to be an over emphasis on gold mining sites and miners in discussions around informality and illicit trade, and not enough discussion on whether and how we bring gold traders into the discussion. It’s a tricky part of the discussion, for sure. But we can’t shy away. Traders play multiple roles beyond simply buying and selling gold – they organize logistics and transports, assume risk, trade in other valued goods for communities, and most importantly finance the supply chain along with community initiatives in some cases. A colleague of mine recently referred to gold traders as ‘the community banker’. It can be an opaque part of the supply chain, for sure, but we’re unlikely to get anywhere if we continue to ignore it. They are an integral part of the system and power dynamics of ASGM supply chains and communities, whether they operate legally or illegally. IMPACT has begun some interesting work in this area (https://lnkd.in/ggZ4Kciy) with the support of the EPRM RVO, but much more is needed. Let’s push ourselves outside the box!

As the global mining industry gathers this week in Toronto for Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), there will be lots of talk about investment in #sustainability and responsible #criticalmineral #supplychains. Not on the agenda, but I’m sure part of many side conversation – how to navigate the chaotic political landscape we’re all facing that’s bringing consistently shifting laws and regulations. Amidst the upheaval this is the moment for true leadership from the private sector. This isn’t the time to back-track investments in #ESGs & #SDGs and erode progress on #responsiblesourcing. No matter which way the political winds shift, we know that #supplychaintransparency and community-well being builds consumer trust, mitigates risks, and provides stability that both investors and communities depend on. Embracing sustainability best practices isn’t just about meeting legal obligations. It’s a strategic move that enhances efficiency, credibility, and resilience in an increasingly complex global economy. I hope that this is the message industry leaders will be taking back to their boardrooms.

Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer que Julie Mahako a rejoint IMPACT en tant que Responsable Programme Adjointe à Kolwezi, en République démocratique du Congo. Veuillez vous joindre à nous pour accueillir Julie ! 😁 Nous sommes impatients de tirer parti de son expertise alors que nous poursuivons notre mission de transformation de la gestion des ressources naturelles dans des régions où la sécurité et les droits humains sont menacés

Afuwa Mutesi leads 68 artisanal miners—men and women—as chairperson of the Kyoyimamuto Namayingo Gold Miners Cooperative in Uganda’s Namayingo District. However, her journey began in 2016 under harsh conditions—using mercury, working without protective gear, and wading knee-deep in ponds with her child on her back. "We thought, ‘Without mercury, we can’t get gold,’” she recalls. Change came gradually, but a turning point arrived when the planetGOLD Uganda project stepped in. With training on mercury-free mining, formalization, and gender inclusion, her women’s association evolved into a fully registered cooperative. "planetGOLD Uganda discovered our women-only association and saw our potential. They encouraged us to include men in our groups since we were all in the same business." With support from the project and Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, the miners gained critical knowledge about the gold value chain, tax obligations, and licensing—key steps toward responsible sourcing and safer livelihoods. The planetGOLD Uganda project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), led by the UN Environment Programme, and executed by IMPACT, in partnership with National Environment Management Authority Uganda (NEMA) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development under the Department of Mines. #MakeMercuryHistory

📢 Nous embauchons ! IMPACT est à la recherche d’une agente ou d’un agent de communications pour appuyer la visibilité et la diffusion de nos projets en République démocratique du Congo. Basé·e à Kinshasa, ce rôle consistera à mettre en œuvre des stratégies de communication, mobiliser les parties prenantes, produire du contenu pour le web et les réseaux sociaux, et assurer la liaison avec les médias pour mettre en avant nos activités et leur impact. 🔗 En savoir plus et postuler : https://bit.ly/2P6XwkT #Recrutement #Communications #RDC #RessourcesNaturelles #IMPACT

We’re thrilled to welcome Mollin Siwella (Pr. Eng) to IMPACT’s team as the ASGM Technical Specialist for the planetGOLD project in Zimbabwe.😁 With over a decade of experience in the mining industry, Mollin is deeply passionate about advocating for practices that prioritize ecological stewardship and long-term sustainability. We are excited to have her on board and look forward to her contributions as we continue to transform natural resource management in areas where security and human rights are at risk.

Justice for all starts with action. On this World Day of Social Justice, we’re underscoring the need for equitable systems that empower communities. From advocating for fair resource management to supporting marginalized groups in artisanal mining, our work focuses on creating opportunities for lasting change. Social justice goes beyond words—it’s about dismantling systemic barriers and ensuring that everyone has an equal stake in their future. #SocialJustice #Equity #FairResourceManagement #ArtisanalMining

As the Publish What You Pay (PWYP) members gather in the Philippines, IMPACT is marking 10 years since the Government of Canada adopted the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA) - a key legislation that helped pave the way for greater transparency of the oil, gas and mining sectors in Canada and internationally.    This milestone was made possible through the advocacy work of Publish What You Pay Canada – hosted by IMPACT up until its wind-down in 2024 – alongside strong support and collaboration from the Mining Association of Canada, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI).    IMPACT continues to push for transparency in natural resource supply chains, including by hosting the #EndSnowwashing campaign to end the use of secret companies in Canada. By creating public beneficial ownership registries, governments – including Canada – can help mitigate against the use of corporate structures to hide criminal or corrupt activity, including as linked to natural resource extraction.