Sustainability Transformations in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining: A Multi-Actor and Trans-Regional Perspective (ST-ASGM)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Sch of Agriculture Policy and Dev
Abstract
The objective of the ST-ASGM project is to consider whether a transformative approach towards sustainability can arise in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM). Supporting the livelihoods of millions of people in low and lower middle income countries, ASGM has potential to contribute to sustainable development across the 17 SDGs. However, negative impacts generate critical barriers to sustainability. Anthropology is an entry point for an interdisciplinary approach to better conceptualize the dynamic, heterogeneous reality of ASGM and to identify potential for sustainable transformations in these shifting social settings. Capitalizing on existing ASGM partnerships, this research forms the basis for a trans-continental and trans-national project organized within 7 Work Packages for integrated comparative sustainability tracking between South America, West Africa and East Africa. To add value to global research efforts, 'Sustainability Conversations' will enhance impact, co-producing knowledge with mining actors to understand sustainability from miners' own perspectives. A strategic evidence-based summary 'Visions and Vistas for Sustainable Futures in ASGM' will contribute to policy influence. Giving creative expression to people's understandings of sustainable mining futures and building impact, is an exciting collaboration between African photographers from NUKU studios, Ghana, and the Museum of Ethnography of Material Culture, the Netherlands. This incorporates the co-production of visual images with African and Brazilian gold miners, as the basis of a travelling exhibition 'Moving Mine Matters' between West and East Africa, Brazil and Europe.
Planned Impact
Our Theory of Change (TOC) challenges assumptions that Transformations to Sustainability in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (T2S-ASGM) could emerge from a normative approach to sustainability that is top-down and technology-led, or that assumes spatial and social fixity within set governance hierarchies. Instead, we propose that change towards alternative mining futures, which includes potential for a transformative approach to sustainability, needs to evolve iteratively from regional and local contexts. Moreover, that it is vital to include co-production with mining actors, and to reflect cognisance of the mobile, heterogeneous, dynamic nature of ASGM. Therefore, the TOC incorporates the assumption that our Pathways to Impact require a three-pronged approach: firstly, excellent academic social science contributing new evidence on sustainability; secondly, engagement with government policy makers, representatives of civil society organisations, and market actors to influence policy decisions; and thirdly, public communication to stimulate debate on ASGM and sustainability in ways that profile the voices of miners and their communities, which are all-too-often absent from ASGM debate.
Central to evidence gathering, to policy dialogue, and to public communication, our methodology proposes "Sustainability Conversations", an ambitious programme co-produced with mining actors' - photographs, maps, geo-referenced spatial analysis, DIY aerial images, underground down-pit videos, alongside oral and textual accounts. These forms of representation will facilitate the process of composing the portrait of mining futures.
Central to evidence gathering, to policy dialogue, and to public communication, our methodology proposes "Sustainability Conversations", an ambitious programme co-produced with mining actors' - photographs, maps, geo-referenced spatial analysis, DIY aerial images, underground down-pit videos, alongside oral and textual accounts. These forms of representation will facilitate the process of composing the portrait of mining futures.
Organisations
- University of Reading (Lead Research Organisation)
- Universidade de São Paulo (Collaboration)
- Leiden University (Collaboration)
- Mbarara University of Science & Technology (Collaboration)
- Universität Hamburg (Collaboration)
- Nuku Studio (Collaboration)
- Free University of Amsterdam (Collaboration)
- Nordic Africa Institute (Collaboration)
- Insuco (Collaboration)
- Environmental Women in Action for Development, Uganda (Collaboration)
- State University of Campinas (Collaboration)
Publications

D'Angelo L
(2024)
'Working for the stomach': sustaining peasant mining in south-western Uganda
in Africa

D'Angelo, L
(2022)
The Anthropology of Resource Extraction: An Introduction

D'Angelo, L
(2022)
The Anthropology of Resource Extraction

Fisher E
(2021)
Transforming matters: sustaining gold lifeways in artisanal and small-scale mining
in Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability


Fisher E
(2022)
Critical social science perspectives on transformations to sustainability.
in Current opinion in environmental sustainability

Fisher E
(2023)
The lifeways of small-scale gold miners: Addressing sustainability transformations
in Global Environmental Change

Fisher E
(2018)
Solidarities at a distance: Extending Fairtrade gold to east Africa
in The Extractive Industries and Society


Fisher, E.
(2021)
#Reset2021 Maintaining Transdisciplinary Teamwork through a Pandemic
Title | Community 'pop-up' travelling exhibition curated by photographer Mr Nii Obodai |
Description | An exhibition of photography of artisanal and small-scale gold mining from Uganda, Tanzania, Brazil, Suriname, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Guinea. |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Impact | Public debate on artisanal and small-scale gold mining. |
URL | http://gold-matters.org/ |
Title | Community artwork led by painter Mr Christopher Sawadogo |
Description | A community artwork in Kejetia, Northern Ghana, to remember miner's killed in a recent mine collapse in locality. The activity was led by a painter from Burkina Faso, Mr Christopher Sawadogo, and participants were a group of women from Kejetia community. |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Impact | Public debate over mining activities in Kejetia. |
URL | http://gold-matters.org/ |
Title | Exhibition: Gold Matters |
Description | An online exhibition. The Gold Matter's project activities include research with miners to understand how they see the future and sustainability in gold mining. This has involved photography, painting and sculpture to find ways to express people's lives and futures in mining. At the start, the intention was to have an exhibition that could travel and 'pop-up' in mining communities, including artwork created in these communities, to stimulate debate about gold mining. Photos show how the exhibition began like this in Kejetia, northern Ghana, in January 2020. However, the Covid-19 pandemic put a halt to plans for the exhibition to pop up in other communities or countries. Now it pops-up virtually as the Exhibition Gold Matters. The Exhibition takes the audience down on a journey moving from 'Exhibition of the Exhibition in Kejetia' to visual results from all the three regions organized around the themes: Co-labouring, ARTistic and ARTisanal, In-depth terrains, Gold Lifeways and Moving Matters. The exhibition includes work by the photographer Nii Obodai and images by the painter Christophe Sawadogo. All the other visual materials result from research collaborations, often involving members of mining communities. We have taken care over consent; also, in order to protect individuals, names of people and places are not always specified. The exhibition is a collaborative effort of the Team and members of mining communities. The Gold Matters Team would like to acknowledge gratitude to the miners and community members who have made this exhibition possible. Principal curator: Sabine Luning Art Direction and Graphic Design: Rose van Zijl Web development: Niels Hofsteenge |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | The on-line exhibition has been used to engage with the public over mining matters, including in mining communities. While there has been positive feedback from engagement activities, to-date specific impacts in terms of lasting perception change are hard to attribute. |
URL | https://www.exhibitiongoldmatters.com/ |
Title | Gold Matters in Kejetia (Gbane, Ghana) - Future makers |
Description | A film on gold mining in Kejetia, Ghana, from the perspectives of artisanal gold miners. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | - Miners have co-created knowledge to portray their mining work and lives in nuanced ways - Mining stakeholders, including policy makers, have gained greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining, including futures in mining - The public has gained greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining |
URL | https://t2sresearch.org/output/gold-matters-in-kejetia-gbane-ghana-future-makers/ |
Title | Have You Ever Seen Gold? Mining in Southwestern Uganda Past and Present |
Description | Short ethnographic film on gold mining in Uganda |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | Public awareness-raising |
URL | https://www.exhibitiongoldmatters.com/arts-of-co-labouring-2/uganda |
Title | NUKU Studio presents the Gold Matter's Exhibition |
Description | A photography exhibition showcasing the work of acclaimed photographer Nii Obodai |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | - The public has gained greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining through the use of an exhibition |
Title | O ouro surpreende a gente - Gold surprises us |
Description | A film. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | - Miners have co-created knowledge to portray their mining work and lives in nuanced ways - Mining stakeholders, including policy makers, have gained greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining, including futures in mining - The public has gained greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining |
URL | https://t2sresearch.org/output/o-ouro-surpreende-a-gente-gold-surprises-us/ |
Title | Transforming a destructive industry into a sustainable human and economic activity |
Description | An opinion piece (video) |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | - The research has generated greater understanding of issues of sustainability transformations in relation to artisanal and small-scale gold mining. |
URL | https://stories.council.science/sustainable-gold-mining/ |
Title | https://t2sresearch.org/output/gold-matters-in-tarkwa-ghana-taking-small-scale-mining-to-the-next-level/ |
Description | A film |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | - Miners have co-created knowledge to portray their mining work and lives in nuanced ways - Mining stakeholders, including policy makers, have gained greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining, including futures in mining - The public has gained greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining |
URL | https://t2sresearch.org/output/gold-matters-in-tarkwa-ghana-taking-small-scale-mining-to-the-next-le... |
Description | In countries across the Global South, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is associated with environmental harm and social conflict. Yet, it provides a livelihood for millions of people. Likewise, contemporary society has many uses for gold, including for low-carbon transition. Hence, the need to address sustainability issues as a basis for systemic transformation. This raises challenges bound to the choices societies' make about extractives-led development and sustainable futures, including whether these choices encompass equitable mineral governance. We asked what potential is there for progressive sustainability transformations in ASGM. Further, we questioned how small-scale gold miners could contribute to policy visions for transformation. Our methodology was social science-led and transdisciplinary, including the innovative application of a visual methodology to gold mining research. We developed comparative case studies in two continents, Africa and South America, covering six countries, Suriname, Brazil, Uganda, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Guinea Conakry. Our study found that the politicized nature of ASGM in country contexts, combined with how structural inequalities reinforce precarity for gold miners, generates significant barriers to sustainability transformations. Tracking sustainability, we observed how mining is associated with high levels of mobility, and associated technology change. It is also connected to significant insecurity in access to mineral-rich land and the changing industrial dynamics in the gold mining sector. Nevertheless, there are many examples of miners innovating in ASGM, including taking action to generate greater sustainability. The study found that to build equity, and to tackle structural inequalities shaping the dynamics of change in mining communities, gold miners and related stakeholders need to be empowered to contribute to policy visions on sustainable mining futures. Outputs produced through innovative visual methods demonstrate what potential there is for engaging miners in developing new visions for the future, although this is challenging given the inequalities and power dynamics embedded within these processes. Targeted practical actions - such as those inspired by the paradigm of 'formalization' - can generate sustainability-related improvements, but it is necessary to address sustainability transformations through a different vista, which considers the logic of ASGM in light of broader societal transformation and embeds action on small-scale mining by addressing equity in mineral resource governance. Our conclusions have wider relevance, both for small-scale miners of other minerals and gemstones, and for framing the imperative of transformation in ways that give equity for the two billion people who are informal workers worldwide. |
Exploitation Route | The outcomes of this funding might be taken forward in the following ways: - Stakeholders working with miners have demonstrated methods to co-create knowledge with miners to portray their mining work and lives in nuanced ways. - Mining stakeholders, including policy makers, can build on the insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining, including futures in mining, in order to address sustainability related issues in project and programme design. - Mining practitioners can draw on insights produced by the project to address sustainability issues, health issues, gender and mining futures - There is a legacy in relation to the creative arts and how the co-creation of knowledge between artists, researchers and miners can be a basis to give publics greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining through the use of exhibitions, social media, and media interviews - The generation of new knowledge on issues of sustainability transformations in relation to artisanal and small-scale gold mining can form the basis of a future research agenda |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Environment Government Democracy and Justice |
URL | https://stories.council.science/transformations-sustainability-gold-matters-mining/ |
Description | - Miners have co-created knowledge to portray their mining work and lives in nuanced ways - Mining stakeholders, including policy makers, have gained greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining, including futures in mining - Mining practitioners have learned from insights produced by the project on sustainability issues, health issues, gender and mining futures - The public has gained greater insight into artisanal and small-scale gold mining through the use of exhibitions, social media, and media interviews - The research has generated greater understanding of issues of sustainability transformations in relation to artisanal and small-scale gold mining |
First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
Description | Covid-19 Impact Reporting |
Geographic Reach | South America |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Impact | Monitoring of Covid-19 impact to (i) inform international support (ii) design Health & Safety measures and disseminate information via co-operative structures. |
URL | https://delvedatabase.org/data/countries/brazil |
Description | Delivering sustainable approaches to elements of the nexus. |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Membership of a guidance committee within international policy influence |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
URL | https://10insightsclimate.science/ |
Description | Stop Child Labour (in Artisanal and Small-scale Mining), Uganda |
Geographic Reach | Africa |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Measures to prevent child labor practices in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in 7 villages (2 sub-counties), Busia District, Uganda |
Description | Building Systematic Resilience against Climate Variability and Extremes |
Amount | $391,518 (USD) |
Organisation | International Rice Research Institute |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Philippines |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 12/2024 |
Description | Gold Matters - Exploring Sustainability Transformation in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining from Under, On and Above Ground |
Amount | € 20,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Department | Horizon 2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 06/2019 |
End | 07/2021 |
Description | Gold Matters in Burkina Faso: Film Production |
Amount | 60,000 kr (SEK) |
Organisation | Nordic Africa Institute |
Sector | Public |
Country | Sweden |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 07/2021 |
Description | Collaboration for film production |
Organisation | Free University of Amsterdam |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of a film, engagement with stakeholders to realise film. |
Collaborator Contribution | Technical production; stakeholder involvement in film. |
Impact | A film - O Ouro Surpreende A Gente - Gold Surprises Us |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Collaboration for film production |
Organisation | Leiden University |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of a film and engagement with miners and mining stakeholders to realise the film. |
Collaborator Contribution | The technical production of the film; stakeholders on camera. |
Impact | A film - Gold Matters in Tarkwa, Ghana - Taking Small-scale Mining to the Next Level |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Collaboration for film production |
Organisation | Leiden University |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration between Leiden University, IFSRA, NUKU Photography Studio, SEM Films, and mining stakeholders. |
Collaborator Contribution | The production of a film. |
Impact | A film - Gold Matters in Kejetia Gbane, Ghana - Future Makers |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Collaboration for film production |
Organisation | Leiden University |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of a film and engagement with miners and mining stakeholders to realise the film. |
Collaborator Contribution | The technical production of the film; stakeholders on camera. |
Impact | A film - Gold Matters in Tarkwa, Ghana - Taking Small-scale Mining to the Next Level |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Collaboration for film production |
Organisation | Nordic Africa Institute |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Creative design, oversight of production |
Collaborator Contribution | Financial and in-kind support for film production |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary: art, anthropology, film-making, development Output: film (see URL) Engagement activities x 2 (to-date March 2022) |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Collaboration for pop-up exhibition |
Organisation | Nordic Africa Institute |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Design and realisation of pop-up exhibition |
Collaborator Contribution | Uppsala Konstmuseum: exhibition space for pop-up exhibition, auditorium for public debate, webpage advertising |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary: art, anthropology, geography, photography, museum curation, filming Pop-up exhibition Public debate |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Collaboration for pop-up exhibition |
Organisation | Nuku Studio |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Design and realisation of pop-up exhibition |
Collaborator Contribution | Uppsala Konstmuseum: exhibition space for pop-up exhibition, auditorium for public debate, webpage advertising |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary: art, anthropology, geography, photography, museum curation, filming Pop-up exhibition Public debate |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Gold Matter's Exhibition |
Organisation | Nuku Studio |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Artistic realization; intellection leadership; social scientific understanding |
Collaborator Contribution | Art; exhibition curation; audience engagement |
Impact | A public exhibition of photographs by internationally acclaimed photographer; curation of exhibition; audience knowledge and understanding; capacity building of juniors; media outreach. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | Environmental Women in Action for Development, Uganda |
Country | Uganda |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | Free University of Amsterdam |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | Insuco |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | Leiden University |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | Mbarara University of Science & Technology |
Country | Uganda |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | Nordic Africa Institute |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | Nuku Studio |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | State University of Campinas |
Country | Brazil |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | Universidade de São Paulo |
Country | Brazil |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gold Matters trans-disciplinary team collaboration |
Organisation | University of Hamburg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The UKRI/ESRC project is part of a trans-disciplinary collaboration between 10 organisations. As Principle Investigator Professor Fisher provides intellectual leadership, project management, subject expertise, and ECR capacity building. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is organised into 7 work-packages (WP), with partners taking responsibility to realize outputs, outcomes and societal impact. These WP are: WP#1 Framework for integrated transnational comparison (theory, methodology, review). WP#2 Participatory photography with mining actors; curated as travelling 'pop-up' international exhibition "Moving Mine Matters" (Ghana, Uganda, Brazil, Netherlands). WP#3 Reconstructing notions of sustainability with mining stakeholders, Brazil and Suriname. WP#4 Imagining and Governing Sustainability in West Africa (Ghana and Burkina Faso). WP#5 Building sustainability through understanding technological change, resource access and ownership in West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea). WP#6 Transforming matters: sustainability in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in East Africa. WP#7 Sustainability conversations across continents and regions: delivering impact. |
Impact | The collaboration is trans-disciplinary: social anthropology, development studies, industrial ecology, environmental management, mining engineering, sociology, photography, painting, civil society action. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Book Launch: The Anthropology of Extraction |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Launch of The Anthropology of Resource Extraction (Routledge, 2022) hosted by the Nordic Africa Institute in collaboration with the Gold Matters project and the European Association of Social Anthropologists´ Anthropology of Mining Network. The launch brought together chapter presentations by all contributing authors together with discussants Professor Jessica M. Smith, Colorado School of Mines, USA, and Dr Jerry Jacka, University of Colorado Boulder, USA. Moderator: Eleanor Fisher. The Anthropology of Resource Extraction synthesizes and analyses a range of anthropological debates about the ways in which different actors extract, use, manage, and think about resources. Resources play a crucial role in the contemporary economy and society, are required in the production of a vast range of consumer products and are at the core of geopolitical strategies and environmental concerns for the future of humanity. Scholars have widely debated the economic and sociological aspects of resource management, however, anthropologists offer different and fresh perspectives based on field research conducted in close contact with those actors that manipulate, anticipate, fight for, or resist the extractive processes in many creative ways. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://nai.uu.se/news-and-events/events/2022-02-03-book-launch---the-anthropology-of-resource-extra... |
Description | Community engagement activity |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The activity was held in Kejetia, Northern Ghana. Its aim was to challenge negative stereotypes of artisanal and small-scale mining. The activity combined five components: - Photography activities with school children in the mining community - A participatory mapping exercise between miners and researchers - A community photography exhibition - An artist-led community painting collaboration with local women - Peer visit of 3 miners from the south to the north of Ghana |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | http://gold-matters.org/ |
Description | Critical Social Science Perspectives on Transformations to Sustainability - Emerging Framings & Approaches |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Co-convenor of panel with International Science Council at Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress, 12-15 June 2021 (a joint initiative of Future Earth and the Belmont Forum). Panel brought together representatives of Transformations to Sustainability programme. Outcomes included awareness raising through sharing of knowledge from research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://sri2021.org/ |
Description | Gold Matter's exhibition launch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Live launch of on-line exhibition and recording of launch |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://nai.uu.se/news-and-events/events/2021-09-14-gold-matters---from-africa-to-the-amazon.html |
Description | Interview for international arts magazine |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Interview with ZO Magazine, Christophe Sawadogo (team member and project artist in residence) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://zoes.fr/2021/02/17/interview-burkina-faso-christophe-sawadogo-nous-sommes-en-train-de-le-viv... |
Description | NUKU Studio Gold Matter's Exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 200 people attended the launch of the Nuku Studio Gold Matter's exhibition in Tamale, Northern Ghana. A panel discussion was held; stakeholders from community attended; interviews were given to the local press. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Policy dialogue; Covid 19 and sexual & gender-based violence against girls (mining communities) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Thirty one policy makers from Uganda, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands engaged in a policy dialogue about how to reduced sexual and gender-based violence against girls in Uganda, which has escalated in mining communities (and more broadly) with Covid-19. Policy makers included ambassadors, religious leaders, representatives of national key line ministries, a Ugandan member of parliament, representatives of district government, third sector organizations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://nai.uu.se/news-and-events/news/2021-11-29-covid-reveals-flaws-in-the-protection-of-girls-in-... |
Description | Policy dialogue; Insecurity in Burkina Faso - the complex links between artisanal gold mining and violence in Burkina Faso |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Twenty seven policy makers from Burkina Faso, Sweden and the Netherlands engaged in a policy dialogue hosted by the Nordic Africa Institute in Sweden. Policy makers included ambassadors, representatives of national line ministries, third sector organizations, miner representatives. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://nai.uu.se/news-and-events/news/2021-09-21-insecurity-in-burkina-faso---beyond-conflict-miner... |
Description | Social media: Twitter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Regular Tweets reaching professional practitioners working in extractives sector |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021 |
URL | http://twitter.com/@gold_matters |
Description | Social media: blogs |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Blogs to engage with practitioner audience on Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021 |
URL | http://gold-matters.org/ |
Description | Social media: findings dissemination, International Science Council |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | "Knowledge dissemination via International Science Council" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
URL | https://t2sresearch.org/outputs/ |
Description | T-Lab: Exhibition Gold Matters |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Co-convenor, Transformation's Lab (T-Lab), presenting the Gold Matter's on-line virtual exhibition to the Transformations Community of researchers and practitioners, Transformations:: Enabling Positive Tipping Points in an Uncertain World, June 2021 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.transformationscommunity.org/conference-2021 |
Description | User group workshop, Global Earth Matters |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Professional practitioners (artists, museum exhibition curators) and researchers attended this workshop to share transdisciplinary learning and best practice, taking forward ideas for exhibition to raise public understanding. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://gold-matters.org/ |