Engaging Stakeholders in Environmental Conservation Phase II (ESEC II)

Project completed
environmental-conservation
Artisanal miners rehabilitate mined lands. © SDC © SDC

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a poverty-driven phenomena that contributes importantly to rural job creation, income generation and poverty reduction. However, ASM’s contribution to sustainable local development is limited by its past and current practices leading to significant environmental degradation. ESEC II therefore aims to enhance ASM’s contribution to local development by making it an environmentally responsible activity, thereby benefitting 230,000 rural citizens with a healthier and improved environment.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Mongolia
Climate change and environment
Human rights
Rule of Law - Democracy - Human rights
Environmental policy
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
01.08.2013 - 31.12.2016
CHF 3'325'000
Background

Formerly a socialist country, Mongolia has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world due to mining. But the economic transition period, coupled with natural disasters, has resulted in widespread unemployment and poverty in the 1990s. As a consequence, many former herders had no alternative survival options other than turning to ASM. Today ASM contributes importantly to rural job creation, income generation and poverty reduction. But ASM’s contribution to local economic development has been accompanied by significant environmental degradation. The government has recognized the environmental costs of mining, and has put new emphasis on environmental conservation.

Objectives

Mongolia's artisanal mining sector contributes to sustainable local development, including the realization of the right to a healthy environment and the right to decent work.

Target groups

230,000 rural citizens of ASM impacted soums will be the main beneficiaries of a healthier and improved environment. Other beneficiaries include: ASM miners, soum governments, large scale mining companies, local entrepreneurs, and central government.

Medium-term outcomes
  1. The competent authorities endorse sustainable green ASM rehabilitation approches;
  2. Local stakeholders agree on co-financed soum level ASM environmental action plans; and
  3. Local stakeholders jointly implement and finance the agreed soum level ASM environmental action plans.

 

Results

Results from previous phases:  

SDC’s experience with ASM in Latin America has shown that formalization is key to making it a responsible and sustainable economic activity that is benefitting the poor. SDC’s Sustainable Artisanal Mining (SAM) Project therefore aims at getting ASM recognized as a formal sub-sector contributing to Mongolia’s economic development. However, stakeholders agree that environmental degradation by past and current ASM continues to limit its contribution to sustainable local development. It is therefore critical to adress the environmental aspects of ASM through a separate intervention. ESEC is ideally placed to complement SAM, as its Local Multi-Stakeholder Councils have proven to be an effective tool to adress mineral resources related conflicts and establish soum environmental action plans.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • The Asia Foundation (TAF)


Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF   3'325'000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF   3'287'089
Project phases

Phase 1 01.08.2013 - 31.12.2016   (Completed)

Links

For more information, please visit project website: www.esec.mn