Mining and Minerals: Communities for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (CASM)

The Millennium Development Goals and Small-Scale Mining: A Conference for Forging Partnerships for Action

"The Millennium Development Goals and Small-Scale Mining: A Conference for Forging Partnerships for Action" was convened June 16-17, 2005 at The World Bank in Washington, D.C. by Communities for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (CASM), a networking and coordination facility focused on the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. In support of this event, FESS produced a 65-page conference report highlighting the key themes and discussions essential for designing future development strategies for the ASM sector.

TThe purpose of the conference was to: 1) discuss how to raise awareness of the relevance of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector to development processes; and 2) generate interest in the sector's potential to contribute to the achievement of a wide array of development goals. The conference brought together a diverse set of interested parties, including development planners, policymakers, donors, members of the business community, and research scholars. Over the course of the conference, more than 80 attendees participated in formal presentations, break-out sessions, and informal conversations designed to promote detailed discussion of issues and strategies related to investment in ASM. The overall consensus was that, while lack of awareness of the ASM sector is surprisingly pervasive, artisanal and small-scale mining is an important sector and a promising conduit for addressing a range of development issues. Accordingly, the conference report concludes with recommendations on how to bring more attention to the significance of the ASM sector, especially through highlighting its potential contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction initiatives.

Website: http://www.casmsite.org/