After nine years of valuable service as Project Advisor with SDC’s Sustainable Artisanal Mining (SAM) Project, Patience Singo is bidding farewell to Mongolia.

Mr Singo has extensive experience in the mining sector, having worked in Botswana, Sudan and Niger. He has a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from the University of Mining and a master’s degree from Delta in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In his years with the SAM Project, Mr Singo Patience Singo worked as manager, director and advisor, leading the team, providing technical and management leadership, ensuring effective evaluations, monitoring and reporting, and ensuring the project was aligned with government and donor organisation operations.

During his time in Mongolia, he worked to create a legal environment for artisanal and small-scale miners, regulate the extraction process in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and mandatory formation, introduce ore-enriching technology, mainstream a human rights-based approach to mining operations, raise awareness on issues related to human rights, use best practices from across the globe to develop ASM mining policies, and build close relationships with officials from decision-making organisations.

He was also dedicated to developing natural resources management in Mongolia, increasing jobs in rural areas by maintaining responsible mining practices, ensuring equality on minerals resources, and reducing poverty.

From the outset, Mr Singo has ensured the SAM Project creates benefits for target beneficiaries, working with rural municipalities, small-scale miners, and organisations of small-scale miners, providing them with technical support.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution, the Government of Mongolia awarded him the National Human Rights Commission’s highest honour, the “Human Rights” medal, the “Best Miner” medal from the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry, an Honors Certificate from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and an Honorary Certificate from the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority of Mongolia.

Mr Singo has made tremendous contribution in creating a legal environment for small-scale miners, building small-scale miners’ formation, launching a nationwide small-scale miners’ association, beginning rehabilitation work at sites after extraction, introducing minerals extraction practices that ensure minimal environmental harm, and building the capacity of government officials in urban and rural areas.