World Gold Council and Artisanal Gold Council Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Responsible ASGM

London and White Rock, BC, Canada, 12 August 2026 – The World Gold Council (WGC) and the Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a long-term strategic partnership to support the formalization of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities and expand access to responsible international gold supply chains.  

Under the agreement, AGC will serve as a technical implementation partner for the World Gold Council’s Gold Processing Initiative (GPI), a program designed to support practical and scalable ASGM formalization through the introduction of centralized processing plants, traceability solutions, origin verification technology, and stronger market access for responsibly produced gold.  

The partnership brings together the World Gold Council’s industry leadership and convening power with AGC’s internationally recognized expertise in ASGM formalization, environmental management, mercury elimination, traceability and community engagement. The organizations share a common vision of responsible ASGM communities operating legally, safely, transparently, and profitably while participating in formal international gold supply chains.  

Through the partnership, WGC and AGC will work with governments, mining organizations, financial institutions, responsible buyers, and other stakeholders to:  

• Prepare artisanal miners and organizations to access responsible gold markets.  
• Promote mercury-free gold production and support the introduction of centralized processing infrastructure.  
• Strengthen traceability, including origin verification and digital supply chain tracking.  
• Work with local communities, regional institutions and host governments to create an enabling ecosystem to support formalization.  

The partnership will also focus on helping de-risk ASGM communities by strengthening governance, supporting legal formalization and licensing, building technical capacity, and creating incentives that encourage participation in formalization schemes.  

"Artisanal and small-scale mining supports the livelihoods of millions of people around the world, yet many communities continue to face barriers to formal participation in responsible gold markets. By partnering with the Artisanal Gold Council, we are combining complementary strengths to help build practical pathways to formalization, improve environmental and social outcomes, and create greater opportunities for miners to benefit from responsible and transparent gold supply chains."

— David Tait, Chief Executive Officer of the World Gold Council

"For more than two decades, the Artisanal Gold Council has worked alongside artisanal mining communities at the village level, helping miners, cooperatives and local institutions develop practical solutions that improve livelihoods while protecting people and the environment. As a non-profit organization, our strength lies in our highly decentralized approach—working where change actually happens—while bringing the technical expertise, governance, and project management capacity needed to deliver complex, multi-country initiatives. Partnering with the World Gold Council allows us to combine global industry leadership with deep community engagement to accelerate the formalization of ASGM and create responsible, transparent and commercially viable gold supply chains that benefit miners, governments, industry and consumers alike."

— Rene Roger Tissot, Executive Director, Artisanal Gold Council

To guide implementation, the organizations will establish a Joint Steering Committee to oversee work plans, monitor progress, address strategic issues, and support expansion into additional jurisdictions.  

The MOU establishes a five-year framework for collaboration and reflects the organizations’ shared commitment to legality, transparency, environmental stewardship, social inclusion, human rights, gender equality, accountability, sustainability, and responsible sourcing.  

About the World Gold Council  

We 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. Our team of experts builds understanding of the use case and possibilities of gold through trusted research, analysis, commentary, and insights. We drive industry progress, shaping policy and setting the standards for a perpetual and sustainable gold market.  

You can follow the World Gold Council on X (Twitter) at @goldcouncil and LinkedIn.  

About the Artisanal Gold Council

The Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) is a Canadian charitable non-profit organization headquartered in White Rock, British Columbia, dedicated to transforming the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector into one that is environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable. Since 2008, AGC has implemented projects in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, working directly with mining communities, governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to advance responsible ASGM practices. Drawing on deep field experience and a decentralized implementation model, AGC combines village-level engagement with world-class technical expertise in formalization, mercury reduction, environmental management, governance, responsible gold supply chains, traceability, gender equality, access to formal sources of finances and market access. Through practical, community-based solutions, AGC helps miners improve livelihoods while supporting governments and industry in building transparent, responsible, and inclusive gold value chains.  

For more information, visit www.artisanalgold.org

Media Contacts:

• Mary Sacchi, World Gold Council | T: +1 212 317 3882 | E: mary.sacchi@gold.org  
• Rene Roger Tissot, Artisanal Gold Council | T: +1 250 540 8290 | E: rtissot@artisanalgold.org