Post-Conflict Transformation of ASM through Education, Organization and Consultation in Colombia

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Colombia has a long history significantly shaped by conflict. An estimated 340,000 Colombians – both directly and indirectly – depend upon the sector, which when left unmanaged may serve as a financial instrument for armed groups and civil conflict. Mining activities in Chocó, Colombia’s second-largest gold producing region, have failed to tangibly benefit the local people due to a lack of formality, control, and surveillance, which invites corruption and creates barriers for equitable benefit sharing.

Political concern over the impacts of illegal gold mining on environmental resources is increasing, especially in areas where the collective land title is held by Indigenous and Afro-Colombian Communities (Comunidades Negras) by virtue of their status. According to recent estimates, most of the gold extracted in the region comes from alluvial operations, yet less than half of Colombia’s gold panners in the region are registered. This presents a major challenge for the Colombian authorities as the majority of miners do not have secure land tenure or access to formal markets.

It is believed by many that a peaceful and collaborative transition of control of ASGM activities (from FARC to government and decentralized local authorities) will be key to addressing the environmental degradation arising from the sectors informality. In Choco, it is estimated that 97% of all small-scale gold mines operate without environmental permits, leading to deforestation, biodiversity loss, chemical contamination and river siltation. While governance reforms over the last 25 years have striven to improve the socioeconomic benefits and minimize the environmental risks of artisanal mining, the potential impacts of regulatory and political reforms have not been fully realized.

Gender

CIRDI has been explicit in its feminist approach with all project stakeholders, which has also ensured local consideration of needs for women’s well-being and economic empowerment. The project continues to include women as key project stakeholders in all activities and to understand gender issues in the ASM pilot communities better. As project activities were defined and refined with community representatives, special attention and consideration were given to women leaders and miners and their expressed interests. Local female stakeholders indicated reservation about any women-only activities; however, stated the desire for the training delivered through the project to include components that are especially relevant for women in the unique roles that they play within the mining cycle:

Environment

CIRDI signed an MOU with the Ministry of the Environment as the main project partner, meaning that environmental stewardship will remain a central tenant of all project activities and objectives. Furthermore, in the design phase of the project, there was clear and strong demand from the community partners for activities which will reduce environmental impact. Key project objectives were determined to be the improvement of techniques for alluvial gold prospecting/exploration and recovery. One of the key tenants of “improvement” in this case, reduction of environmental impact. This came out strongly during all community meeting and stakeholder engagement and the report produced that made recommendations which keep environmental stewardship at the forefront.

Governance

CIRDI’s aim was to make this a Colombian-driven initiative, requiring collaboration between the national government and local communities, and within local communities. This small initiative increased communication between communities of the Medio Atrato by emphasizing that there must be internal agreement on project activities. CIRDI worked to ensure excellent communication between the National Government, other donors in the area, the National University, and local community leadership (including new political parties). CIRDI believes that ensuring strong communication and collaboration across stakeholders is an important pilot strategy for enabling the process of transition and formalization in these small mining communities. Government and governance institutions that the project worked with included: MinAmbiente, MinMinas, Federacion de Mineros del Choco (FEDEMICHOCO), COCOMACIA, FARC, Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Medellin-Bogota), Instituto de Investigaciones Ambientales del Pacífico (IIAP), USAID, UNIDO, GEF GOLD, Canadian Embassy, One Earth Foundation (OEF), and CICAN-Canada.

• CIRDI’s project increased communication between communities of the Medio Atrato by emphasizing internal agreement for project activities. In this manner, the project contributed to a community development plan for the communities of the Atrato River (Bebarama and Bebara). This plan aimed to improve coordination within local communities and between local communities, national government, and international donors for improving extractive resource governance and environmental stewardship in areas of ASM activity. Unfortunately, CIRDI was unable to support the implementation of this plan given heightened security risks, particularly as of 2018. Given these risks, the project had to be scaled down and adapted.
• Another outcome of the project was the technical report “Improvement of geological exploration and gold recovery from gold alluvium carried out by the black communities of the Bebará and Bebaramá river basins, Medio Atrato (Beté), Chocó, Colombia,” which was finalized and distributed to multiple stakeholders in April 2018. This report was elaborated by 11 members of the Rio Bebara and Rio Bebarama communities and 6 CIRDI representatives. This technical report was disseminated to the government partners (Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Mines and Energy, National Mining Agency, Geological Survey of Colombia, National Vocational Training Service) and it was also sent to representatives of eight communities in the Medio Atrato. According to feedback from the 13 160 recipients, this report increased their access to information on observations and recommendations for improved exploration and processing practice for alluvial mining in the Choco. This report was crystalized due to the extensive efforts made for stakeholder engagement throughout the implementation of the project.
• CIRDI supported the dialogue between the mining associations, civil society, and community representatives. Government institutions participated in more than ten meetings and round tables to inform the project implementation strategy and to discuss extractive sector policies, regulatory frameworks as well as gender-sensitive and sustainable extractive sector leading practices. In 2016 CIRDI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Environment.
• This project set the foundations for future collaborations with the Colombian government and organizations, one of recent example is the training workshops that were delivered in El Choco in coordination with Cocomacia and CIRDI (see the details here).