Dialogue on De-risking Financing for ASMEs in Development Minerals

Artisanal miners encounter challenges in securing funding: as they operate informally and are involved in a sector often perceived as high-risk. However, access to finance is crucial for artisanal miners to transition from subsistence-level operations to more responsible and productive mining practices and engage in value-adding activities. In October 2024, the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme  hosted a dialogue on de-risking financing for Development Minerals value chains in Uganda. With over 40 participants from the public and private sectors, the event secured government commitments to create financial products suitable for artisanal miners and support cooperative registration to enhance access to finance, and guidance from banks for ASMEs to adopt ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance Standards) compliance for funding eligibility. Key stakeholders included UNDP, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, and the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum.