Cote d'Ivoire Launches ESG Partnership to Formalize Artisanal Gold Mining

Cote d'Ivoire, the World Bank, and the World Gold Council launched the Multistakeholder Partnership for Sustainable and Responsible Small-Scale Mining (MSPI) to formalize a sector supporting 500,000 livelihoods. The model linking artisanal miners to traceable, standards-compliant supply chains offers a reference point for responsible-sourcing governance in extractive economies including India.

The Government of Cote d'Ivoire joined the World Bank and World Gold Council to launch the Multistakeholder Partnership for Sustainable and Responsible Small-Scale Mining (MSPI) in Abidjan, aiming to formalise the country's artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector supporting approximately 500,000 livelihoods. The tripartite partnership, backed by industrial players Endeavor Mining, Perseus Mining, and the national Chamber of Mines, targets reduced environmental damage, improved safety, and traceable gold trading. An estimated 40 tons of gold worth over $2 billion was smuggled out in 2022 alone, underscoring the governance gap.

The reform affects artisanal miners, industrial mining companies, and gold supply-chain actors across Cote d'Ivoire. It integrates artisanal miners into the formal economy by linking them with industrial miners who provide training and facilitate adoption of international environmental and social standards. Model mine sites will demonstrate compliance with global best practices, supported by certification bodies including the London Bullion Market Association. The World Bank provides governance-framework guidance, while the World Gold Council supports building robust supply chains for traceable, conflict-free gold.

Mining and supply-chain stakeholders should monitor development of model mine sites, certification through the London Bullion Market Association, and replication across other West African nations facing informal-mining challenges. Minister Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly said the initiative will increase transparency and contribute to job creation and inclusive growth. World Gold Council CSO Terry Heymann called it a groundbreaking model of industrial-artisanal cooperation. Tracking how the MSPI excludes illicit actors and enforces environmental safeguards will indicate its value as a replicable governance template.

Key figure — Gold smuggled in 2022: 40 tons (over $2 billion)