Status: Ongoing

Duration: 2022 - 2027

Budget: USD5,250,000

Donor: Global Environment Facility 

Beneficiaries: 

Direct beneficiaries: At least 91,182 people (45,446 women and 45,736 men), including miners, local community members, and ASGM sector workers, whose risk of mercury exposure will be reduced.

Indirect beneficiaries: Rural communities, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (ITP), Maroon communities, women, youth, and downstream service providers in mining districts.

Special focus: Women, children, and vulnerable groups in mining communities, with gender-responsive measures and a Gender Action Plan integrated throughout the project.

Focus Area: 

Sector: Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM)

Geographic focus: Mining districts in Suriname, especially Tier 1 sites (Njoen Jacobkondre, Sarakreek) and Tier 2 sites (Lawa, Selakreek).

Thematic focus: Formalization, mercury reduction, financial inclusion, responsible supply chains, technology transfer, knowledge sharing, and gender equality.

Partners:

Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) – Implementing Partner, International Organizations, Private sector, NGOs and Civil Society and Academia.

Project Document: GEF GOLD+: Advancing Formalization and Mercury-Free Gold in Suriname

See more information about the project on the transparency portal

Project Summary:

GEF GOLD+: Advancing Formalization and Mercury-Free Gold in Suriname is a five-year initiative (2022–2027) led by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) with support from UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project aims to help Suriname meet its obligations under the Minamata Convention by formalizing the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector, reducing mercury use, and improving livelihoods through environmentally sustainable practices.

Objectives:

Minimize risks to human health and the environment from mercury use in the ASGM sector, in compliance with the Minamata Convention. Create an enabling environment for ASGM formalization through multi-sectoral, holistic, and integrated approaches. Extend access to financial services and responsible supply chains for ASGM miners. Promote and scale up mercury-free technologies and best environmental practices. Develop and implement communication strategies to support formalization and mercury reduction.