Africa Moves to Strengthen Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Enterprises

African stakeholders will meet in Accra, Ghana, on October 21, 2026, to discuss the development of a dedicated hub aimed at strengthening artisanal and small-scale mining enterprises across the continent.

The proposed Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Enterprises (ASME) Hub will be discussed during a side session of Africa’s Mineral Policy Forum. The initiative seeks to improve coordination, dialogue and value retention within a sector that plays an important role in employment, mineral production and rural economies.

Artisanal and small-scale mining is estimated to directly employ about 13.2 million people across Africa, although other estimates are significantly higher. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), for example, estimates that more than 40 million people are directly employed in the sector.

The subsector is also estimated to contribute between $3 billion and $5 billion in foreign exchange earnings. Its importance extends beyond mineral production, particularly in rural communities where mining can provide employment and income opportunities.

Despite its economic contribution, artisanal and small-scale mining continues to face challenges related to informality, environmental degradation, health and safety risks and limited integration into formal mineral value chains.

The proposed ASME Hub is intended to help address these challenges by creating a platform where governments, mining companies, financiers, communities, development institutions and other stakeholders can coordinate efforts to improve the sector.

During the Accra session, stakeholders will consider findings from a comprehensive assessment of artisanal and small-scale mining in Africa. The assessment will examine the sector’s role in mineral value chains, regulatory and policy frameworks, financing, trade and opportunities to increase the value of ASM commodities and processed products.

Discussions will also focus on how the proposed hub could operate. Current proposals include establishing a web portal containing information and resources related to artisanal and small-scale mining, supported by a governance structure consisting of a Steering Committee and Technical Working Group.

The proposed framework will also consider meeting schedules, financing arrangements and mechanisms for maintaining the hub’s digital platform.

A panel discussion will bring together representatives from governments, artisanal and small-scale mining companies, large-scale mining operations, downstream businesses, financial institutions, multilateral development banks, communities, civil society and philanthropic organisations.

The session is intended to build consensus among stakeholders on the proposed hub and secure their participation in its development and operation.

Among the key objectives will be validating the findings of the assessment of ASM across Africa, reviewing the proposed operating structure of the ASME Hub and gathering stakeholder input on financing and revenue mobilisation.

Stakeholders will also discuss the services that the hub should provide and how it can support greater value creation within Africa’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector.

The initiative reflects growing attention to the need to move ASM beyond informality and limited value addition towards more coordinated, sustainable and commercially integrated operations.

By creating a common platform for information, financing, policy dialogue and collaboration, the proposed ASME Hub could provide a mechanism for stakeholders to address some of the structural challenges limiting the sector’s contribution to Africa’s mineral economies.