Our Ecosystem
Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM)
The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) was established in 2004 and is a leading global expert on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). ARM works to transform the ASM sector into a socially and environmentally responsible activity, while improving the quality of life of artisanal miners, their families and communities. The team at ARM envision a legitimate, responsible and profitable artisanal and small-scale mining sector which promotes inclusive and sustainable development.
ARM facilitates the empowerment of artisanal and small-scale miners, their organization and the adoption of good practices, promoting favorable environments for the inclusion of artisanal and small-scale miners in the formal economy. ARM creates voluntary standard systems for production and trade and support the creation of responsible supply chains.
Levin Sources
Levin Sources are the B Corporation certified, go-to consultancy enabling governments, businesses, investors and civil society to build sustainable, valuable and equitable minerals value chains. Levin Surces help build a just and sustainable sector that generates enduring value for humanity by upholding human rights, protecting the environment, and facilitating sustainable development in line with major voluntary and mandatory Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.
Levin Sources helps companies pursue sustainable production and sourcing ambitions to ensure they minimise harms and generate positive impacts for society and the environment. They also help businesses comply with laws and standards, and go beyond compliance to design a longer-term vision of continuity, conservation of resources and empowerment of actors in their operations and their supply chain.
Veridicor Ltd
At Veridicor Licence To Operate (LTO), the company helps businesses secure the trust and support they need to operate smoothly. It provides a clear, data-driven assessment of stakeholder sentiment, enabling companies to navigate complex environments and build lasting relationships.
Veridicor’s industry-first LTO stakeholder evaluation is a unique tool that rates stakeholder engagement, giving executives and boards a clear snapshot of their standing. This transparent, data-driven assessment allows companies to strengthen relationships, manage challenges, and position themselves for long-term success. More than just numbers, the evaluation is backed by real-world expertise, with the team delivering boots-on-the-ground, real-time insights into key markets.
Unlike traditional desk research, Veridicor brings firsthand field experience, ensuring organizations receive insights that are not only relevant but actionable.
Napier Meridian
Napier Meridian is an independent strategy improvement consultancy, that focuses on delivering concepts for disruptive national-level capability development. Established in 2005 and having its origins in security policy work with HMG and national police services, Napier Meridian has since assisted an ever-widening government and commercial blue-chip client base develop market-influencing Visions, Strategies, Disruptive Propositions, and integrated Stakeholder Management / Communications Plans.
Napier Meridian helps its clients introduce disruptive offerings and reduce risks of entry of new concepts and their associated markets. It does this through rapid focus on core enablers including strategy, innovation, benefit realisation, risk management, access to finance, and identification of critical success factors. Napier Meridian’s offerings are now firmly placed in a number of economic growth areas, such as cybersecurity, public safety, space, and critical mineral supply chains, all at the government and boardroom level.
Innovest Advisory
Innovest Advisory is an impact investment advisory firm helping their clients to become more intentional about impact and embed impact into their processes. Innovest helps their clients to achieve targeted social and environmental outcomes, bringing extensive experience from the development, climate change and broader environmental sectors together with capital markets into the evolving impact investment field.
They work with fund managers, asset owners, companies, international organisations and non-profits across a broad range of sectors including but not limited to infrastructure, financial inclusion, renewable energy, agribusiness, climate change, job creation and women’s economic empowerment.
Investing for Good
Investing for Good was founded in 2004 with a simple belief: the positive use of money can change the world. They remain driven by finance’s power to catalyse social value. Today they drive impact investing by structuring blended capital solutions and corporate bond programs, providing social organisations with unrestricted funding at scale. Their diverse reach spans, but is by no means limited to, women’s healthcare, independent media, artist workspaces, housing, education for young adults, and support for people with disabilities.
Investing for Good pioneered the UK charity bond market, arranging a Bond Programme for disability organisations Scope and Thera. The Scope bond was the first UK operational charity bond listed on an established stock exchange. They also launched the groundbreaking Arts Impact Fund, the first global blended capital unsecured loan fund considering financial, artistic, and social returns.
PeaceGold
PeaceGold is a ground-breaking initiative turning gold into a source of peace and community development in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo. PeaceGold builds on over ten years of partnership working between Centre Résolution Conflits (CRC), a DRC-based non-governmental organisation, and Peace Direct. This collaboration has enabled CRC to accompany artisanal and small-scale mines in Ituri and improve working standards.
Through their work to date, the mines have been able to achieve the necessary protections of labour and human rights to access international standards for legal gold production and sales, all whilst supporting local community development and well-being.
Without support, it is extremely challenging for artisanal and small scale mines to access the legal market. Barriers such as heavy administration, high taxes, lack of connections and knowledge stand in their way. This results in selling to informal markets, creating unreliable sources of income and contributing to illicit activities that can contribute to conflict.
Extended Ecosystem
Fauna & Flora
Fauna & Flora exists to protect the diversity of life on Earth, for the survival of the planet and its people.
planetGOLD
The planetGOLD programme works in partnership with governments, the private sector, and ASGM communities to significantly improve the production practices and work environment of artisanal and small-scale miners. By working to close the financing gap, supporting formalization, raising awareness, and connecting mining communities with mercury-free technology and formal markets, the programme aims to demonstrate a pathway to cleaner and more efficient small-scale gold mining practices that benefit everyone, from mine to market.
Supporting countries’ commitments under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the planetGOLD programme is working to eliminate mercury from the supply chain of gold produced by artisanal and small-scale miners by:
- Supporting efforts to integrate the ASGM sector into the formal economy, society, and regulatory system
- Introducing and facilitating access to mercury-free technologies and best practices in ASGM
- Facilitating miners’ access to formal gold supply chains, in partnership with gold buyers and industrial users
- Piloting a range of models for access to investment and finance for small-scale miners and their communities
Arktouros
Arktouros means “Guardian of the Bear,” from Ancient Greek. The brightest star in the northern hemisphere, aside Ursa Major (the Great Bear). Also called the “night-watcher”: vigilantly circling the northern pole, seeming never to set. Civil Society traces to Aristotle’s koinōnía politike, valuing broad flourishing (eudaimonia) through personal sovereignty, opportunity, and democratic rule of law.
The team at Arktouros are recognized leaders in financial integrity matters, including U.S. economic sanctions compliance and legal challenges to U.S. sanctions actions, anti-money laundering (AML), anti-corruption, asset recovery and forfeiture, and complex cross-border investigations and enforcement. They regularly provide risk management and compliance counseling, crisis management, policy guidance, and criminal and regulatory defense to the DeFi and the crypto community, individuals facing government scrutiny, and financial services organizations.
Arktouros also advise governments on FATF-related matters, including helping governments prepare for FATF evaluations and assessing compliance with FATF guidelines.
IotaOrigin
IotaOrigin is a platform for international trade in conflict-free commodities and goods. Furthermore, IotaOrigin enables the traceability of conflict-free commodities using distributed ledger technology within an application. This allows all parties in the supply chain to comply with the “OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas” without disclosing trade secrets within the supply chains.
IotaOrigin UG addresses the mentioned economic and socially relevant issues. These include the extraction of commodities in a way that is in accordance with human rights and environmentally compatible, in compliance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidelines and the international regulations based on them. The aim is to ensure that the energy transition is ethically responsible and, at the same time, to fulfil the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) of the UN by supporting the local population.
TraceX
TraceX is a blockchain-powered food traceability platform working towards building Climate Resilient Sustainable supply chains for the future.
Businesses today face growing pressure to ensure transparency and compliance across their supply chains, particularly in the face of stringent global regulations and organizations struggle with fragmented data, lack of traceability, and the complexity of managing sustainability efforts. These challenges not only increase the risk of non-compliance but also undermine consumer trust and sustainability initiatives, leaving companies vulnerable in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
TraceX aims to empower businesses with innovative technology solutions that ensure transparency, sustainability, and regulatory compliance, fostering trust and creating a positive impact on the global supply chain.
SOCIALCARBON
SOCIALCARBON has been a recognized standard and promoted the social benefits of carbon projects for over 15 years. They believe that nature-based projects can only be truly long-lasting when they are grounded locally. This is why they pioneer a holistic approach, ensuring projects are embedded in local communities and biodiversity, to foster true permanence.
The SOCIALCARBON Standard was designed to address systemic challenges facing the scaling up of Nature-Based Solutions. All of their methodologies are aligned with best practice and regularly updated, going further than industry and accreditation requirements to ensure highest integrity results, delivering more for local communities and increased confidence for buyers and investors.
Their beyond-carbon approach means all their projects embed and monitor co-benefits (across additional social, human, biodiversity, financial and natural indicators) ensuring delivery of higher quality, resilient/ truly sustainable project outcomes on the ground.
Above Ground Risk Solutions (AG-RS
Above Ground Risk Solutions (AG-RS) is a risk management consultancy with the mission to help heavy industry projects resolve the increasing challenges of operating in fragile and complex environments. They help projects gain and maintain stakeholder acceptance, optimize risks and safeguard project personnel and assets. Leveraging that expertise they also assist heavy industry, energy, infrastructure and development when they face similar challenges.
AG-RS help clients in navigating through non-technical risks so they fully unlock the value within their project portfolio, with their geographic focus, personnel and best practice centered on Latin America & the Caribbean. They deploy solutions with clients that help solve immediate concerns but where possible aim to also identify root causes, empower teams and build capacity to maintain solutions for the long term. They are passionate to help projects benefit all stakeholders, including the people, host communities and areas affected by development.
UNISWEM
UNISWEM has an independent UN system-wide mandate in terms of enabling UN General Assembly Resolutions to evaluate the relevance, effectiveness and impact of operational activities for development of the UN System and the extent to which these operational activities for development of the UN System contribute to the realization of national development priorities including internationally agreed development goals in program countries. In doing so, we provide evidence and accountability to inform greater UN system wide impact in developing countries.
UNISWEM’s mission is to generate independent evidence on the effectiveness of United Nations operational activities for development in order to inform greater system-wide decision-making, improved coherence, learning and accountability at global, regional and country levels. UNISWEM envisions decision-making processes on the effectiveness of United Nations operational activities for development anchored in evidence, learning and accountability.
The International Peace Information Service (IPIS)
The International Peace Information Service (IPIS) is an independent research institute providing tailored information, analysis, capacity enhancement and policy advice to support those actors who want to realize a vision of durable peace, sustainable development and the fulfillment of human rights.
Throughout the years, IPIS has developed a geographic focus on sub-Saharan Africa and a thematic focus on natural resources, conflict motives of armed actors, business and human rights, and international arms transfers. Within this scope, IPIS strives to be a centre of excellence on field-based research.
In order to ensure that our research and expertise reach as wide an audience as possible, IPIS often complements research with capacity enhancement. Increasingly, IPIS offers stand-alone capacity enhancement, designed to meet the needs and knowledge gaps identified by partners and clients.
Industry Associations / Standard Setters
The World Gold Council
The World Gold Council was formed in 1987 by some of the world’s most forward-thinking mining companies. They are a membership organisation that champions the role gold plays as a strategic asset, shaping the future of a responsible and accessible gold supply chain. Their team of experts builds understanding of the use case and possibilities of gold through research, analysis, commentary and insights. They drive industry progress, shaping policy and setting the principles for a perpetual and sustainable gold market.
There are three core pillars to their mission in serving the gold market and its participants: Improving understanding, access, and trust. The World Gold Council’s 31 Members are some of the world’s most forward-thinking gold mining companies. They are headquartered across the world and have mining operations in over 45 countries.
The World Resources Forum (WRF)
The World Resources Forum (WRF) is an international non-profit organisation mobilising concerted action to promote sustainability and fairness in the global use of natural resources. Through WRF’s multi-stakeholder conferences and projects, they strive to scale up knowledge and practical solutions able to make resource use a force for human well-being within planetary boundaries.
Ensuring sustainability in the management and use of natural resources is a global challenge calling for collaborative solutions. WRF’s flagship conferences are an internationally-renowned forum to establish a prolific dialogue among policy-makers, businesses, scientists and civil society leaders. By breaking down silos, they provide a platform to confront experiences, discuss challenges and build a shared commitment towards urgent, collaborative action.
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to fulfill a bold commitment: to create a world where people and the planet thrive.
European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM)
The European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM) is a multi-stakeholder initiative fostering reliable and responsible mineral supply chains through inclusive and knowledge-driven engagement with artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Through dialogue, shared learning, and collaboration, the EPRM serves as a unique platform that brings together governments, supply chain actors, and civil society organisations. It enables the development of innovative partnerships and projects that strengthen due diligence practices, and contributes to building responsible mineral supply chains.
We envision a world where ASM is fully integrated into responsible mineral supply chains delivering reliable access to minerals for companies, improved wellbeing for mining communities, and sustainable development outcomes for mineral-producing countries. To achieve this vision, the EPRM must foster both responsible mining and sourcing of minerals. The EPRM strives to improve mining practices in the ASM sector, advancing social, environmental, and economic conditions for mine workers and local communities. At the same time, the EPRM empowers supply chain actors with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to implement due diligence in line with international standards.
Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)
The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community, an industry that employs more than 711,000 individuals, and contributed $159 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2023 according to Natural Resources Canada. Currently representing over 8,200 members around the world, PDAC’s work centers on supporting a competitive, responsible, and sustainable mineral sector. The work of the association is carried out by a 24-member Board of Directors, 16 committees, and a team of permanent staff. In 2023, the Board of Directors approved a five-year strategic plan for PDAC. The plan builds on the goals and objectives outlined in the previous (2017-2021) plan, while adding a greater focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship, as well as inclusion and diversity.
PDAC 2026: The World’s Premier Mineral Exploration & Mining Convention will take place from March 1-4 in Toronto, Canada. The convention brings together an ever-growing audience of more than 27,000 attendees from over 125 countries for its educational programming, networking events, business opportunities and fun. Since it began in 1932, the annual convention has grown in size, stature and influence. The award winning event is a gathering where familiar faces reunite, new connections are forged, and the future of mineral exploration takes shape one conversation at a time. It is the event of choice for the industry hosting more than 1,300 exhibitors and 700 presenters.
Femina Collective
Femina Collective is a group of bold and ambitious women who are passionate about changing women’s experiences and representation in the Natural Resource space. Their members come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, but share a common goal: to empower each other and transform the industry. They are united by a sense of purpose and a desire to make a difference, and aim to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in the Natural Resource space by coming together.
Women are gaining wealth at a faster rate than ever, and by 2030, are expected to control more than $4 trillion in financial assets in Canada alone. At the same time, mining powers the global economy — from electric vehicles and renewable energy to smartphones and medical devices — yet remains one of the least understood industries. For investors and leaders, this knowledge gap may hinder confidence in interpreting company reports, evaluating opportunities, and making informed decisions.
Femina is closing that gap. Their courses combine education about the mining sector with financial literacy, ESG principles, and investment strategy. They equip women with the insight to understand how resources drive markets, and the confidence to step forward as informed investors, owners, and leaders shaping the future of industry
Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)
The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is the answer to a global demand for more socially and environmentally responsible mining. IRMA offers true independent assessment against a comprehensive standard for all mined materials that provides ‘one-stop coverage’ of the full range of issues related to the impacts of industrial-scale mines.
IRMA envisions a world where the mining industry respects the human rights and aspirations of affected communities, provides safe, healthy and supportive workplaces, minimizes harm to the environment, and leaves positive legacies. Their mission is to protect people and the environment directly affected by mining. They do this by creating financial value for mines independently verified to achieve best practices, and share this value with the businesses that purchase material from these mines.
IRMA’s governance is equally shared by civil society, communities, and organized labor alongside the private sector. What this means in practice is that IRMA has a decision-making process that strives for consensus, and where consensus cannot be achieved they then vote. However, a motion to approve a decision cannot succeed if any stakeholder group is fundamentally opposed. In those cases, discussions must continue so that a resolution may be found.
ICMM
The ICMM vision is a safe, just and sustainable world enabled by responsibly produced minerals and metals. ICMM company members—representing one-third of the global mining and metals industry—commit to upholding ICMM’s Mining Principles as a condition of membership. These principles are dynamic, evolving to set the highest standards for responsible mining and sustainable materials. ICMM works collaboratively with associations and stakeholders to maximize the mining and metals industry’s contribution to sustainable development. Founded on a spirit of open engagement, ICMM champions diverse perspectives to provide bold leadership within the mining industry and beyond.
The transition to a net-zero economy will be metal-intensive. It is ICMM’s fundamental belief that when mined and produced responsibly minerals and metals can be transformational, enabling social progress and sustainable development within local communities and across entire nations. Taxes, jobs, skills, infrastructure, and community services are just some of the ways that host countries have experienced the benefits of mining. ICMM is committed to maximising these, while minimising any potential for harm to people or planet.
Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)
The Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) is the trusted authority and the collective source for advancing knowledge and leading practices within Canada’s minerals and metals industry. CIM provides a platform for knowledge sharing, professional development, collaboration, and strategic industry partnerships through their technical societies and a nationwide network of branches. With more than 10,000 members, CIM are a vital hub for industry professionals at every stage of the minerals life cycle. CIM supports industry excellence through events – including CIM CONNECT, our premier convention and expo – publications, and expert-led training.
CIM unites like-minded professionals in addressing pressing industry issues through conferences, technical resources, networking and social events. CIM brings together individuals, groups and organizations from all disciplines, from different areas of the industry and from all experience levels to learn, mentor and build expertise. CIM supports the industry in its role as a global leader in sustainable and responsible mining. CIM provides continuous technical resources and professional development opportunities.
Copper Mark
The Copper Mark is the leading assurance framework to promote responsible practices across the copper, molybdenum, nickel and zinc value chains. They work with companies and organizations throughout these metals’ value chains to enable them to better understand and meet the increasing demands for independently verified responsible practices, and to contribute positively to sustainable development.
Their vision is a sustainable society, enabled by the responsible production, sourcing, and recycling of metals. To achieve this vision, The Copper Mark applies robust governance, credible standards and assurance, stakeholder engagement, and leadership strategies. Through these strategies, they work to:
- Address past, present, and future critical impacts on people and the environment throughout metal value chains.
- Support the circular economy.
- Contribute to positive legacies and a sustainable society.
Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030
The Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030 is a collaborative investor-led initiative seeking to define a vision for a socially and environmentally responsible mining sector overall by 2030, and to develop a consensus about the role of finance in realizing this vision. It recognizes the mining industry’s important role in society and the transition to a low carbon economy and aims to ensure the sector leaves a positive legacy by addressing key systemic risks holistically.
The overarching mission is to develop a consensus about the role finance has in realising a vision of a socially and environmentally responsible mining sector overall by 2030 that:
- Has a clear social license to operate
- Can meet the needs of society in a responsible manner without driving conflict or corruption
- Operates in a way that respects planetary boundaries
- Positively contributes to social development and the environment, today and tomorrow
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC)
Since 1935, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has been the national voice of the Canadian mining industry. Working alongside our members, MAC promotes the industry nationally and internationally. Working alongside our members, MAC promotes the industry nationally and internationally, works with governments on policies affecting the sector and educates the public on the value mining brings to the economy and the daily life of Canadians.
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) promotes a strong, sustainable mining industry that benefits all Canadians and supports continued prosperity across the country. MAC actively represents the Canadian mining industry on key public policy areas, including: regulatory efficiency, economic competitiveness, northern development, climate change, corporate social responsibility, Indigenous affairs and human resources.