Working Together: How large-scale mining can engage with artisanal and small-scale miners

The relationship between large-scale mining (LSM*) and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM**) is undergoing a largely positive evolution, but the fact remains that the ASM challenge is deepening and often outrunning corporate and institutional learning capacity. In the context of rising expectations related to corporate social responsibility (CSR), mining companies need to understand the importance of engaging constructively with ASM and need to learn more from others about the experiences and lessons learned in the field.The LSM-ASM relationship is inherently unique. This document seeks to provide an understanding of the main issues and a conceptual framework for appropriate actions when engaging with ASM. It is intended as a practical and informative overview and is aimed at senior executives, corporate responsibility professionals, mine-site managers, and others who are seeking to understand the issues, dynamics, and key concepts of, as well as evolving approaches to, ASM.

The publication of this document is part of the ongoing effort to develop a Large-Scale and Artisanal Mining Toolkit that will be published jointly by CASM and IFC/CommDev. It is being reviewed by widely acknowledged specialists.