This guidance document outlines a framework of interventions that, taken together, provide governments with the tools to support the development of the ASM sector in a holistic and sustainable manner. These interventions are not discrete, “either/or” options; rather, they represent a body of measures that are most effective when implemented in combination. Experience across a wide range of contexts has shown that fragmented approaches often fail to achieve their intended results. Without a holistic strategy, interventions risk pushing ASM further into informality and beyond the reach of state oversight, thereby undermining development goals and reducing opportunities for positive sectoral transformation.
The framework presented differs from existing literature, which has often approached ASM primarily through a risk-management lens (as have most governments). Such perspectives have led to interventions that focus narrowly on controlling or mitigating the perceived adverse impacts of ASM but do little to address the structural conditions that perpetuate these issues. This guidance sets out a more ambitious approach, showcasing “good practice”, informed by evidence of what is required to enable ASM to contribute to inclusive growth and sustainable development.
ASM sector development requires state leadership in creating and maintaining the enabling conditions for miners to professionalise. While the framework set out here draws on global experience, it does not prescribe a single model. There is no example of a government that has successfully implemented all of these interventions in full, continuously, reaching all intended outcomes. Instead, this guidance document presents the conceptual framework from different countries where interventions have been trialled or scaled.
