Artisanal Gold Council to Execute GEF-Funded planetGOLD Senegal Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 March 2026

Dakar, Senegal – The Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) is proud to announce its role as the executing agency for the newly approved planetGOLD Senegal Project (Global Opportunities for the Long-Term Development of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector), part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded planetGOLD programme, which spans 27 countries worldwide. The project is implemented under the coordination of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and GEF Chemicals and Green Chemistry Unit.

The project will be executed in partnership with key government institutions, including the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition and the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mining, aiming to promote safer, environmentally responsible, and socially inclusive artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Senegal.

Transforming Senegal’s ASGM Sector

ASGM is a vital socio-economic activity in Senegal, especially in the Kédougou and Tambacounda regions along the Birimian geological belt. According to a 2019 assessment of the ASGM sector in Senegal conducted by AGC and UNEP:

• 31,359 people are directly involved in ASGM, including 14,503 women and 1,994 children under 15.
• The sector produces 3.9 tonnes of gold annually: 77% from Kédougou and 23% from Tambacounda.
• The sector faces serious environmental and health risks due to 5.2 tonnes of mercury use annually, impacting miners, communities, and ecosystems.

In response, the Government of Senegal has adopted a National Action Plan under the Minamata Convention to reduce and eventually eliminate mercury use in ASGM. The planetGOLD Senegal Project (2026–2031) will support this through four key components:

1. Formalization of the ASGM sector – strengthening legal frameworks and cooperative structures.
2. Access to finance and markets – facilitating credit, savings, and investment opportunities for miners and cooperatives.
3. Mercury-free technologies and capacity development – promoting safer, environmentally responsible gold processing techniques.
4. Knowledge management and communication – sharing lessons, best practices, and raising awareness about responsible mining.

AGC’s Proven Track Record

AGC has extensive experience supporting responsible gold mining worldwide. Previous engagements in Senegal include:

• 2012–2016: Creation of a Fair Gold Supply Chain and Reduction of Mercury Use in Artisanal Gold Mining in West Africa – introduced mercury-free processing, supported miner organization, and developed responsible supply chains.
• 2018–2020: Development of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Mercury in ASGM in Senegal – conducted a national mercury inventory, assessed environmental and socio-economic impacts, and facilitated multi-stakeholder consultations that validated Senegal’s NAP.

AGC is also the executing agency of other planetGOLD initiatives, including projects in Burkina Faso, the Philippines, and Mongolia, which have concluded in 2025, as well as the ongoing project in Zambia, demonstrating AGC’s strong technical expertise and track record in project execution.

Official Launch and Timeline

The project will officially start in April 2026, following the approval of the GEF Secretariat .  

Roger Tissot, Executive Director of AGC, said:
We are honored to execute the planetGOLD Senegal Project, helping artisanal gold miners adopt safer, cleaner, and more responsible practices. The project strengthens livelihoods, empowers men and women, protects communities and the environment, and formalizes mining operations to support sustainable development in Senegal.

AGC thanks the GEF, UNEP, and the Government of Senegal for their trust and looks forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to professionalize the sector while working towards a safer, cleaner and more responsible ASGM.

For media inquiries:

• Roger Tissot, Executive Director, Artisanal Gold Council - rtissot@artisanalgold.org
• Saidou Kabre, Regional Manager, Artisanal Gold Council - skabre@artisanalgold.org

Follow the project on social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/pGOLDSenegal
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/planetgold-senegal-project/

This post is also available in French.