Education for the Transformation of Artisanal to Small-scale Mining, Ecuador (TransMAPE) |

Countries

Ecuador

Focus Area

Transforming
Artisanal and Small-scale Mining

Status

Active

Contact

Francisco Gallegos-Lemos

sustainable development goals

Budget

$700,000 CAD

Funders

Global Affairs Canada

Who Benefits

Direct:

Ecuador Ministry of Mines

Small-scale miners in Ponce Enriquez and Portovelo-Zaruma

Ultimate:

Mining communities

Delivery Partners

Ecuador Ministry of Mines

Mine shaft opening in Portovelo:MIKE ELLERBECK

The Challenge

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the primary source of gold production in Ecuador, accounting for 85 per cent of total national production. Ecuador ranks fourth in Latin America in both estimated gold production and total number or artisanal and small-scale gold miners. The Government of Ecuador has prioritized formalizing and professionalizing the sector to maximize its benefits while addressing the environmental and social challenges associated with ASGM. In keeping with Ecuador’s 2009 Mining Law Chapter II on Small Scale Mining, the Ministry is taking a two-pronged approach: legalize and educate. The Ministry’s commitment to small-scale mining includes promoting special technical assistance programs, environmental management, mining safety, and training and professional education.

CIRDI's Approach

CIRDI believes that education is an essential entry point for better organization of the ASM sector and that it will ultimately support the political process of formalization. This is in line with Ecuador’s Ministry of Mines approach for transformation of the sector, which includes an emphasis on technical training and education for both miners and regulators. Therefore, CIRDI is working directly with the Government of Ecuador through the Ministry of Mines to develop a long-term education and training program that will blend Canadian and Ecuadorian technical expertise and experience to contribute, through education, to the development of a more socially and environmentally responsible small-scale mining sector.

Small scale miners hauling rock in Zaruma BERNARDO RANIERI

Project Details

Through data collection, consultative dialogue and pilot training modules, the project will work collaboratively with Ecuadorian counterparts to develop a locally appropriate ASM training program, and an inter-ministerial action plan to scale-up pilot training activities. The project aims to be adaptive and participatory, by engaging stakeholders at both the national and local level, and responding to local needs. The four key project components include:

Applied research

On locally-appropriate gold recovery processes to eliminate mercury use
On key leverage points for improving current tailings management practices
On the role of the Ecuador’s National Research Institute on Geology, Mining and Metallurgy in supporting the ASM sector

Multi-stakeholder consultation for training program design

Identifying socio-economic dynamics of target mining communities
Participatory training model design

Pilot training

Locally-appropriate gold recovery processes to eliminate mercury use
Leverage points for improving current tailings management practices

Sustainable action planning

Political sustainability
Fiscal sustainability
Technical sustainability

Cross-cutting Themes

Gender

The project measures gender-disaggregated impacts for vulnerable groups such as women and children to ensure gender-specific issues are addressed in educational design and to ensure equitable access to education, resources and opportunities.

Environment

The project aims to empower local and national level actors to manage chemical pollution through reduced or eliminated mercury use and improved tailings and waste management.

Governance

This project works directly with the Ministry of Mines and its research and regulatory institutions to help them fulfill their mandate under the 2009 Mining Law.

Consultation with processing plant owners in Zaruma:LISS RAMIREZ

Activities to Date

Engaged over 20 government officials and 20 community members to prioritize educational needs for ASM sector
Developed partnership with Alliance for Responsible Mining to conduct ASGM stakeholder analysis, supply chain mapping and educational needs assessment of target regions
Developing methodology for participatory assessment of current gold-recovery processes and tailings management techniques in target regions
In collaboration with the Ibero-American Association of Geological Surveys (ASGMI) and Ecuador’s National Research Institute on Geology, Mining and Metallurgy (INIGEMM), will host a regional workshop in April 2017 with 15 Latin American Geological Surveys to explore the role of public geoscience institutions in addressing ASM

Intended Impact

Increase collection and use of ASGM data for decision-making regarding ASGM training interventions in Portovelo-Zaruma and Ponce Enriquez, Ecuador
Improve integration into national objectives of an evidence-based training program for Southern Ecuador, aimed toward building capacity in environmentally sound, safe and economically efficient mining practices
Reach a minimum of 40 government officials across three ministries for capacity building and 200 miners through pilot training modules

project team

Colón Velásquez
Project Lead, TransMAPE

Mike Ellerbeck
Associate Director, Programs

Francisco Gallegos-Lemos
Program Manager

resources

Guidance Document - Environmental Assessment and Management for Artisanal and Small-scale Mining

updates and news

Technical Team Visits Ecuador for Tailings Management Assessment

As part of the CIRDI TransMAPE’s objective to provide technical assistance for improved tailings management in small-scale mining operations in southern Ecuador, CIRDI recently completed a technical mission to Portovelo-Zaruma […]

CIRDI Facilitates Two Panels on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining at IGF

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is the focus of the 2017 AGM of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), held October 16-20 in Geneva. CIRDI […]