This report by Levin Sources for The Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030 explains how ASM fits into mineral value chains and identifies mechanisms for its responsible integration. It analyses ASM’s current landscape, challenges, opportunities, and the role of key stakeholders to inform policies and strategies that advance sustainability, inclusivity, and economic viability.
Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (“ASM”) plays a vital role in the global mineral supply chain, contributing significantly to employment, economic development, and resource extraction, particularly in developing countries. Despite its economic importance, ASM has traditionally been marginalised within international policy discussions, often overshadowed by concerns about its environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) impacts. Historically, discourse surrounding ASM has focused on issues such as poor working conditions, child labour, environmental degradation, and weak regulatory frameworks, while its positive contributions to local economies and sustainable development have been comparatively overlooked. However, in recent years, ASM has gained increased recognition as a key player in the supply of minerals essential for the global energy transition, technology, defense, and jewellery industries.
As the demand for responsibly sourced minerals continues to grow, integrating ASM into formal value chains has become a critical priority for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and international organisations. Efforts to enhance the sector’s legitimacy through formalisation, access to finance, and responsible sourcing initiatives are reshaping the narrative around ASM. The sector’s role in fostering rural livelihoods, empowering women miners, and supporting economic resilience in vulnerable communities is increasingly acknowledged. However, significant challenges remain, including limited access to markets, weak governance and accountability structures, and ongoing concerns about human rights violations, environmental impacts and connections to transnational organised crime.
This report is designed to support the Global Investor Commission for Mining (“GICM”) 2030 by helping investors understand how ASM contributes to the value chain and identifying key mechanisms for its integration into responsible value chains legitimately. It examines ASM’s role within supply chains, analyses the sector’s current landscape, and explores both challenges and opportunities for sustainable development.
The report highlights critical levers of influence—such as financial access, regulatory frameworks, responsible sourcing initiatives, and technological advancements—while also assessing the role of key stakeholders, including international financial institutions, supply chain actors, policymakers, and civil society organisations.
By providing a comprehensive analysis of ASM’s evolving position in the mining sector, this report aims to inform policy discussions and strategic interventions that promote sustainability, inclusivity, and economic viability.
