Compassionate Gold in the Philippines’ Benguet and Mountain Provinces

Project period:

01.08.2025 - 31.07.2028

Granted amount:

3,137,849,- DKK

Total budget:

3,320,589,- DKK

Organization:

Dialogos

Partners:

BAN Toxics! National Coalition of Small Scale Miners in the Philippines, Inc

Pool:

Civilsamfundspuljen

Grant type:

Programme Small

World goals:

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Efforts take place in:

Philippines

Resume

Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is driven by poverty, with most miners living in hazardous conditions and remaining in poverty. Formalizing ASGM is crucial for improving living conditions in ASGM communities. However, a main requirement for formalisation is that the mining activities are carried out without the use of mercury. The purpose of the program is to eliminate the use of mercury in ASGM, obtain formalisation of ASGM in the program area, and use the change as an example for advocacy for more ASGM communities to go mercury-free and become legal. It involves raising awareness about mercury hazards. Furthermore, the program will capacity-build the target communities’ miners to perform mercury-free ASGM, and capacity-build local stakeholders to advocate for mercury-free ASGM and formalisation locally and on a national level. Stakeholders include gold and mercury traders, ASGM organisations, local healthcare professionals, local authorities, and political stakeholders.