SAM project is implemented over the past 12 years. During this time, the project has collaborated with soums to ensure that artisanal and small-scale miners operate responsibly, supporting fair extraction, formalisation and the organisation of illegal miners. With the signing of a contract on collaboration at the aimag level this year, the project will advance the formalisation of small-scale mining operations, and address issues related to ASM miners’ land for mining purposes through the signing of tripartite contracts. It will also ensure all parties’ involvement in the rehabilitation process and, through project joint financing, promote land rehabilitation, strengthen the capacity of the stakeholders in the supply chain process, and draft aimag development policies and programmes on the contribution of small-scale mining to local economies. The project is also a signing a contract with the mayors of 14 aimags - Khovd, Bayan-Ulgii, Govi-Altai, Zavkhan, Bayankhongor, Uvurkhangai, Darkhan-Uul, Tuv, Bulgan, Selenge, Khentii, Dundgovi, Umnugovi and Uvs - to strengthen the structural capacity for artisanal and small-scale miners to work with aimags and municipal officials.

Within the framework of this task, the project conducted a workshop in Ulaanbaatar for 31 people, including municipal chairs, representatives from finance departments, and policy, planning, investment and development department specialists. Among the participants were the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry, the Mining Rescue Unit of National Emergency and Management Authority, the National Human Rights Committee and the Mongolian ASM National Federation.

During the workshop, Bayan-Ulgii aimag mayor A. Gilimkhan said: “Artisanal mining is a very important issue in our province. Although there is gold and flourspar , there is also an abundance of wolfram. Our aimag’s authorities and soum mayors will work to make sure that artisanal and small-scale mining becomes more responsible.”