Reducing Mercury Use and Release in Francophone West Africa Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs’ (OES) Office of Environmental Policy at the Department of State announces the Request for Applications for Reducing Mercury Use and Release in Francophone West Africa Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM). The purpose is to stimulate actions that will lead to a higher awareness of mercury issues among stakeholders and the sustained reduction of mercury use and release in the ASGM sector. Preference will be given to countries where previous ASGM projects have already been initiated, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. The agreement awarded will use FY 2010 Economic Support Funds. Although similar challenges to the reduction of use and release of mercury are encountered across the ASGM sector globally, each region has its unique ASGM features. An appropriate ASGM project for a particular area will need to consider the level of awareness among stakeholders, government engagement, effectiveness of previous ASGM projects in the area, the type of mining used, and other factors. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the ASGM dynamics in a particular country and effectively link their proposed project’s activities on the reduction of the use and release of mercury to the corresponding state of evolution of the ASGM sector in the country selected.