Covered in this Briefing Note:

Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) – also known as informal or even ‘illegal’ mining – accounts for 20 percent or more of the global gold supply. In East Africa alone, millions of people directly or indirectly rely on the ASGM economy, including many in rural communities with few alternative livelihood sources.

Here’s the catch: the regional ASGM trade is deeply intertwined with the illicit economy, often providing funding (either directly or via excessive taxation) to armed groups and corrupt political elites. Read our latest briefing note to learn about East Africa’s illicit gold trade and Themis’ high-level recommendations for replacing the ASGM illicit trade with a sustainable alternative.