Artisanal Mining, Property Rights, and Development

Dec 13, 2016 | USAID LandLinks
Webinar
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Join USAID LandLinks and leading experts in artisanal mining for an interactive online discussion about the challenges faced by small-scale and artisanal miners around the world, as well as emerging lessons from global development programs that work with artisanal mining communities across different sectors.

While in the U.S. the term ‘artisanal’ is generally associated with high-quality, specialty products, the reality for small-scale miners in the developing world is vastly different. Worldwide, between 20 and 25 million artisanal miners labor under generally archaic and difficult working conditions. Many live in extreme poverty, often receiving less than nine percent of the retail price of the stones they extract. The production and commercialization of minerals has driven conflict in countries like Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Peru, and Sierra Leone with property rights struggles often at the core of these conflicts.

This online event will explore the key issues around artisanal mining, including its relationship to land rights, conflict, economic growth, as well as how artisanal mining may have devastating environmental consequences. And we’ll delve into how local and regional contexts for different mining commodities—such as diamonds and gold—may change how development practitioners address issues faced by artisanal communities. Register today to attend this event.

Join the discussion live on Tuesday, December 13 at 10 am EST and connect on Twitter using the hashtag #ArtisanalMining.