The Association for Responsible Mining is an independent, global-scale effort, and pioneer initiative established in 2004 seeking to enhance equity and wellbeing in Artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) communities through improved social, environmental and labour practices, governance and the implementation of ecosystem restoration practices. ARM is committed to the values of social justice and environmental responsibility as drivers for the transformation of ASM.
 ASM becomes a formalised, organised and profitable activity that uses efficient technologies, and is socially and environmentally responsible, and increasingly develops in a framework of good governance, legality, participation and respect for diversity, driven by a growing consumer demand for sustainable and fair-trade jewellery and mineral commodities.
ARM 's mission is to work towards the transformation of artisanal and small scale mining into a socially and environmentally responsible activity, facilitate an economically just supply chain and educate the consumers as to their power to directly improve the quality of life of artisanal miners by purchasing fair trade jewellery and minerals.
 ARM works with ASM organisations and other players of the supply chain; it builds from the bottom up on local traditional knowledge and seeks to respond to community initiatives towards poverty reduction and local management of its own natural resources. At the heart of this effort, is the objective of contributing in a substantial manner towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in ASM communities, and bringing economic justice to the development and marketing of mineral resources.
How did ARM get started?
 ARM was initiated by a network of independent organizations to promote responsible standards and criteria for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Based on the success of the Green Gold experience (www.greengold-oroverde.org) in Colombia, where ecological restoration of mined areas is a key piece of certification, ARM seeks to expand it, both in terms of scalability and replicability, in response to a growing consumer demand for responsibly produced minerals and metals, especially from fair trade and ethical markets around the world.
An international group of community centered miners, environmentalists, business people and certification specialists from Colombia, Ecuador, Holland, Peru, Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, United States and the United Kingdom officially launched the Association for Responsible Mining in July of 2004 in Quito, Ecuador, at the offices of Rainforest Rescue International(FURARE) www.sniaecuador.org/internas/orga/org.nacionales/microinfo/furare.html).
Mining activity today is increasingly coming under pressure to internalize social and environmental responsibility. This pressure is part of a greater demand from consumers for evidence that the products they purchase are ethically sourced, that their extraction contributes to local sustainable development, poverty reduction, and that the basic human rights of workers and communities are being respected. The push for greater social and environmental responsibility has been focused primarily on industrial-scale mining, and on the activities of multinational companies operating in developing countries.
By the same token, the global jewellery industry has also become the focus of consumer concern. Critics point to the industry's general lack of transparency and accountability, to specific concerns related to the social and environmental impact of the extraction of precious metals, diamonds, gems and coloured stones, all highlighted by the conflict diamonds of West Africa and the No Dirty Gold Campaign led by Earthworks and Oxfam America. The recent creation of the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices (CRJP) is a reaction of the industry to protect its integrity. Council Members are committed to promoting responsible business practices in a transparent and accountable manner throughout the industry from mine to retail. Their commitment aims to maintain consumer confidence in diamond and gold jewellery products and the trust of all interested stakeholders in their industry, through responsible sourcing and application of ethical standards in their operations.
While these steps towards improving the performance and transparency of the major players in the mining and jewellery industries are critical, they nevertheless exclude millions of artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) included in the small-scale mining economy.
Artisanal and Small Scale Mining is Here to Stay
 Artisanal and small scale mining today employs some estimated 11 to 13 million people, although according to the ILO between 80 and 100 million depend on it as part of their diversified or seasonal livelihood strategies for survival.
ASM are found extracting precious and base metals, non--metallic minerals, precious and semi-precious gems and colored stones, coal, building materials and aggregates. ILO data from 2004 indicate that ASM produces between 20-25% of all non-fuel minerals. In Africa it provides close to 2 billion worth in gold and gems, it produces more that 200 million worth of gold in more than 6 countries and it is responsible for 15% of all diamonds, worth some $1.2 billion dollars.
In recent years the rising price of precious metals and gems has generated an increase in artisanal and small scale mining activity all over the world.
Artisanal and small scale mining usually takes place in fragile ecosystems characterized by cultural and biological diversity. Widespread material poverty in artisanal and small scale mining regions is aggravated by environmental impacts that directly affect ecosystem and human health.
Artisanal and small scale mining faces significant governance challenges and is often limited by the technical and financial capacity of governments to effectively manage the activity, despite ongoing efforts in many countries.
In many regions of the world artisanal and small scale mining offers a livelihood to populations displaced in the midst of war, and to other highly vulnerable groups. Unfortunately, because of the high value of artisanal and small scale mining products, precious metals and gems are often under the control of illegal armed groups and are used as a source of finance for ongoing conflicts.
Despite the challenges, many institutions today believe that artisanal and small scale mining can be profitable, productive, and safe; it can be a contributor to sustainable livelihoods, a source of decent work, environmentally acceptable, and child-labour free.
Artisanal and small scale mining can be a catalyst to sustainable economic and social development at the local level if well managed.
The improvement of the social and environmental performance of artisanal and small scale mining would have positive impacts on many of the poorest families in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Ignoring it will only postpone the problem and deepen poverty, illness, inequity and environmental degradation in the many regions of the world.
Efforts to address the complexities of ASM have been made over the past 30 years by international cooperation agencies, national governments and NGO's alike, with variable results. Indeed, a number of good practice examples such as the Oro Verde Initiative in Colombia and the GAMA project in Peru, indicate that with appropriate incentives and support, ASM can become responsible and sustainable.
ARM is convinced that providing incentives for communities and artisanal and small scale miners offers a promising opportunity for the improvement of the quality of life of mining communities and the restoration of important ecosystems
ARM understands that working in this sector is a long-term and complex challenge. As it evolves, ARM is developing a diversified strategy combining communications, applied research, capacity building, networking, partnerships and lobbying, in order to articulate stakeholders from all the productive chain of metals and minerals.
ARM has 3 strategic areas of work:
1. Standard Setting.
2. Producer Support.
Develop programs to provide producer support to ensure progressive compliance with the fair trade standards through building the capacity of a network of local partners in developing countries.
Facilitate enabling market conditions for fair trade jewellery.
3. Communications and Lobby for Improved Market Access and Public Policies for
Artisanal and Small Scale Mining.
Create awareness and facilitate access to knowledge and information to consumers and producers regarding the potential of fair trade certification to improve the lives of mining communities.
Lobby for improved public policies to enable the recognition of artisanal and small scale mining as a legitimate economic activity that contributes to the increased wellbeing of mining communities and the economic development of the country.
Over the next 5 years ARM will continue developing standards for precious metals and gems, first testing them in Latin America and then outreaching to Africa and Asia by forming partnerships with organized miners and producer support organizations in those continents to ensure that the standards developed are inclusive and context sensitive, and that through the process a broad network of national support organizations can be developed to ensure that producer support can be delivered by local organizations.
 Colombia
Ervin Renteria, Las Mojarras Foundation (Fundamojarras) and Green Gold Corporation: www.greengold-oroverde.org
Las Mojarras Foundation (Fundamojarras):
The Foundation is based in Condoto and has as its aim, the environmental, ethnic and territorial integration of Chocó. It gives support to the grassroots organisational work of the Community Councils.
Corporacion Oro Verde was born in 2000 as an alliance between the Community Councils of Tadó and Condoto, fundación Las Mojarras and fundación Amigos del Chocó. Under a livelihoods and fair trade framework, the Green Gold initiative seeks to promote responsible mining practice in one of the world's biodiversity hot spots. It does so by providing economic, social and productive incentives to mining families who comply with rigorous certification criteria on mining and ecological restoration methods.
Catalina Cock ( Chairperson) , Amigos del Choco: www.amichoco.org
Fundación Amigos del Chocó is a NGO, which furthers community processes that develop sustainability and enhance quality of life in the Chocó Bioregion of Colombia. Its main fields of action are environmental communication and education, green and fair markets and research. In 1999, Amichocó invited the Instituto de Investigaciones Ambientales del Pacífico and the communities of Tadó and Condoto in Chocó to find sustainable livelihood alternatives for artisanal and small-scale mining communities, while protecting this privileged ecosystem. It is from this open dialogue that The Green Gold initiative emerged.
United
Kingdom
Greg Valerio (Vice chair),
CRED Jewellery and foundation.
greg.valerio@credjewellery.com
Cred Foundation - Justice for the Poor. www.cred.org.uk Cred Jewellery - Fair
Trade Company.www.cred.tv
CRED is Fair Trade
jewellery company that supplies customers
with excellent quality, competitively priced,
design led wedding jewellery that also addresses
the social and environmental issues that
are present in the jewellery world. The inherent
value and beauty of a piece of jewellery
must be judged by the impact it has on the
whole supply chain, from miners to customers.
Therefore we have developed relationships
with small-scale miners who work to strict
environmental criteria. CRED foundation has
the mission to research, teach, advocate
and partner with the global poor to release
practical resources, helping to empower poor
communities to establish productive and self-sustainable
livelihoods.
France
Patrick Shein, SP Trading
 Created in Paris in1992, S&P Trading acts in precious metals trading, including gold and platinoids in most of their existing forms (alluvial, bars, dross, earths, wastes). Our service is to unite the producers with markets by offering collaboration in technical, logistic, commercial and financial levels. Through our suppliers we have come close to the artisanal mining world, for which we are trying to apply Fairtrade mechanisms and philosophy. Almost a year ago we invested in a platinum and gold refinery in the heart of Paris, where we offer refining services to our providers and, since recently refining service to fairtrade gold, guaranteeing the metal’s origin so we can offer a metal that reflects a small producer in each gram.
Mozambique (African Observer to the ARM Board of Directors)
Salvador Mondlane Jr, University Eduardo Mondlane. www.uem.mz
 The University Eduardo Mondlane seeks to be an excellence institution in the context of education, science, culture and technology, assuming responsibilities with innovation processes, knowledge transference and sustainable development. Situated in a transitional social context directed to a market economy and the democratization of structures, is imperative for the UEM to “Rethink” national, regional and international levels that allows it to adapt in the local needs and at the same time met international challenges.
ARM is coordinated by
a Secretary General elected by the board:
Cristina Echavarría is a Colombian researcher and international
consultant with experience in extractive industries and sustainable
communities, ex director of the Mining Policy Research Initiative –MPRI-
of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), regional
coordinator for the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development
Project (MMSD) in South America , and coordinator of knowledge
networks.
BOTH ENDS functions
as a go-between to support individuals
and social organisations all over the world
whose specialisation is ecological sustainability
and social justice. The main focus is the
realisation of sustainable forms of natural
resource management and to promote policymaking
in the Netherlands as well as worldwide.
Both ENDS supports organisations through
information, research, advocacy, campaigning,
networking and capacity-building.
Novib's objective is to promote a
global society where the socio-economic inequalities between
rich and poor are eradicated, where the world's prosperity
is distributed more justly and where people and sectors
of the population can learn about and respect each other's
culture, while working together on their development on
the basis of shared accountability and mutual solidarity.
Novib is a member of Oxfam International, a growing group of
development organisations that co-operate and support partner
organisations in the entire world.
DOEN Foundation fund strives to make the world a livable place. To this end, it provides funding to organizations and projects in the fields of Sustainable Development, Welfare and Culture. DOEN Foundation achieves its objective through the revenues it receives from the Dutch National Postcode Lottery, the Sponsor Lottery and the BankGiro Lottery
 Oxfam International is an international confederation, comprised of 13 independent non-government organizations dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world. Our mission is a just world without poverty and our goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives.
The Iberoamerican Program for Science and Technology Development, CYTED, was created in 1984. It is define as an international program of scientific and technological cooperation in a multilateral way, with horizontal character and in an iberoamerican ambit. Its main objective is to contribute in the harmonic development of the region trough establishing cooperation mechanisms between universities research groups, I+D Centers and innovative enterprises, that seek for scientific and technological results that can be transfer in to productive systems and social politics.
 Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM) is chaired by the UK government’s Department for International Development and is housed at the World Bank in Washington D.C. It was launched in March 2001 in response to international recognition of the need for an integrated approach to address the challenges facing ASM communities and for improved coordination between institutions funding and executing assistance. CASM began as a multi-donor networking and coordination facility that would engage with practicing miners, their associations and communities, governments and non-governmental organizations, and development assistance agencies
 PSO aims to contribute to the structural alleviation of poverty throughout the world by strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations in developing countries. PSO achieves this by supporting Dutch organisations and their partners in developing countries. It does so by funding these activities and helping the local organisation to extend its knowledge and strengthen its capacity.
Solidaridad is a cooperation organisation for the development of Latin America, Africa and Asia. We work with two programmes: Sustainable Economy & Fairtrade and Society Strengthening & Human Rights. Inside this previous programme there is special attention to Pastoral, Ethics & Culture.
 The Fairtrade Foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, New Consumer, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement. These founding organisations were later joined by Britain's largest women's organisation, the Women's Institute. It is the UK member of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO), which unites 21 national initiatives across Europe, Japan, North America, Mexico and Australia/New Zealand. They are in charge of license the FAIRTRADE Mark, Raise awareness and Develop Fairtrade Criteria.
This site was launched
in August 2005 thanks to support from NOVIB and under the
direction of Cristina Echavarria Usher, Secretary General
of ARM.
Web Edition Laura Escovar Jaramillo arm@communitymining.org
Graphic design by Geraldine
Morales (webmaster) gemorales@une.net.co
Banners donated by Colombian
artist Alejo Santa Maria www.alejosantamaria.com
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