Republic of Sierra Leone
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Republic of Sierra Leone National Action Plan for Reducing Mercury Use in the Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Sector in Sierra Leone April 2020 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY SIERRA LEONE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone (GoSL), through the Environment Protection Agency-Sierra Leone (EPA-SL), would like to thank the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for funding the development of this National Action Plan (NAP) for the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector. GoSL would also like to thank the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment), the implementing agency, for the support and the advice it has provided under the NAP Global Component. Moreover, GoSL would like to express its gratitude to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) for the technical assistance it has provided to EPA-SL in executing the NAP project. GoSL would like to acknowledge that the NAP document has been developed by the following individuals: - Jorden de Haan, International Expert - Mohamed Abdulai Kamara, Ag. Manager, Northern Province - Bunting Kayode Williams, Lecturer at Fourah Bay College - Peter Kapr Bangura, Director of Mines, National Minerals Agency (NMA) The process of NAP development has greatly benefited from the guidance and advice provided by Mr. Alie Dukuray Jalloh, Assistant Director, Chemicals Control and Management, EPA-SL. In addition, the NAP document has greatly benefitted from the inputs of a variety of experts and key stakeholders that have been engaged throughout the NAP development process, notably: - Prof. Foday Moriba Jaward (PhD) - The Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the National Coordination Mechanism - Chiefdom authorities, NGOs, universities and donors - Press and civil society organizations (CSOs) - Private sector stakeholders, such as financial institutions and mining representatives - The national and international consultants who have developed the NAP’s ASGM overview Finally, and most importantly, GoSL would like to express its sincere acknowledgements to the gold miners, traders and local communities that are directly involved in the ASGM sector, some of whom are directly exposed to the use of mercury and other hazardous substances. The intimate insights that these stakeholders have provided in their livelihood activity have been invaluable for the successful development of the NAP. It is GoSL’s intention that the implementation of this action plan will significantly enhance their quality of life, as well of those of other Sierra Leoneans that are directly or indirectly affected by ASGM activity and/or exposure to mercury emissions and releases. 2 FOREWORD The New Direction Government of His Excellency, Rt. Brigadier Dr. Julius Madda Bio, recognizes that Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is an important source for job creation, poverty allevi- ation and broad-based socio-economic development in Sierra Leone and in other parts of the world. However, the sector, which is largely informal, is associated with various environmental and health is- sues. Most notably, it has been identified as the major source of the anthropogenic release of global an- thropogenic atmospheric mercury emissions to the environment. Mercury is a heavy metal which, due to its high mobility, bioaccumulation and persistence in the environment, constitutes a global menace to human health. As a responsible member of the global community, Sierra Leone has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury on the 1st November, 2016. With technical support from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Environment Protection Agency-Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) has embarked on a journey to develop Sierra Leone’s National Action Plan (NAP). The project was funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The NAP’s goal is to formalize, sensitize and assist miners, traders, their communities and other rele- vant stakeholders in an inclusive and comprehensive manner, in order to mitigate the sector’s negative social, environmental and health impacts and to unlock the sector’s full development potential. The reduction of mercury use and the mitigation of its harmful impacts is among the NAP’s key priorities. In a nutshell, the NAP presents an overview of Sierra Leone’s ASGM sector, which is followed by a map- ping of the sector’s positive and negative impacts and the articulation of a national vision for the sector. Based on this vision, various objectives are set to address the sector’s key issues. Subsequently, a set of mutually reinforcing implementation strategies are presented. Finally, a detailed workplan is put for- ward. It would not have been possible to develop this document without critical inputs obtained from various stakeholders. Ranging from miners, traders and Chiefdom authorities at the local level, to key Gov- ernment Ministries, Departments and Agencies and donors at the national level – each of the sector’s stakeholders have been engaged during the NAP’s field study and during consultation workshops. To conclude, the NAP serves as an unprecedented opportunity to transform the ASGM sector in a sus- tainable and an inclusive manner. Along with the Minamata Initial Assessment, it will serve as a road- map for guiding Sierra Leone’s compliance with the Minamata Convention on Mercury. And indeed, it will support Sierra Leone in addressing wider national development priorities as identified in the Medi- um-term National Development Plan 2019-2023, Vision 2035, UN Agenda 2030 and AU Agenda 2063. Prof. Foday Moriba Jaward (PhD) Minister Ministry of the Environment – Sierra Leone His Excellency Rt. Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio President of the Republic of Sierra Leone 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2 Foreword �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3 Acronyms ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6 Glossary of terms ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8 1� Executive summary �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9 2� Introduction and background ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 12 3� National ASGM overview ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15 3.1. Methodology ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������15 3.2. Previous experiences in addressing ASM ...................................................................................................17 3.3. Demographic, social and economic information ......................................................................................17 3.4. Size and geographical distribution of the ASGM sector .......................................................................18 3.5. Legal and regulatory status ..............................................................................................................................19 3.6. Leadership and organization of artisanal gold mining at the local levels .......................................20 3.7. Gold trade ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������21 3.8. Mining and processing information ..............................................................................................................23 3.9. Baseline estimates of mercury use in ASGM .............................................................................................23 3.10. Mercury supply, trade and demand ...........................................................................................................25 3.11. Impacts on local development .....................................................................................................................25 3.12. Women in ASGM ................................................................................................................................................26 3.13. Youth in ASGM ....................................................................................................................................................27 3.14. Children in ASGM .............................................................................................................................................28 3.15. Environmental and health impacts .............................................................................................................28 3.16. Access to health care, sanitation & clean water ....................................................................................29 3.17. Formalization and access to financial and technical assistance