Critical Minerals
Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Expertise
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) supports the livelihoods of tens of millions of people worldwide, and sits alongside a growing share of large-scale critical mineral operations. TDi Sustainability has directly delivered ASM engagement strategies, baseline studies and management plans for large-scale mining projects in Guinea, Tanzania, Nicaragua and beyond. We also work directly with our sister organisation, The Impact Facility, which invests in ASM productivity and formalisation on the ground in Kenya, the DRC, Tanzania and Uganda.
TDi provides ASM advisory work on the following areas:
- ASM Management Plans
- Community engagement feasibility studies
- Human Rights Impact Assessments including ASM engagement
- Human rights due diligence involving ASM
- ASM baseline studies
- Stakeholder engagement plans
- Coexistence and formalisation strategies
The Impact Facility (TIF) | On-the-ground investment and delivery
TDi’s sister organisation, The Impact Facility, has an on-the-ground investment role that complements TDi’s own advisory work. TIF provides ASM communities with technical assistance, capital, equipment and market access to professionalise and scale their operations.
TIF co-founded and serves as permanent secretariat for the Fair Cobalt Alliance, established in 2020, which has since set up 27 savings groups with 604 members (saving USD 160,617 in 2025 alone) and supports child labour prevention and remediation in nine mining communities. Learn more at theimpactfacility.com and faircobaltalliance.org.
Working togetherTDi advises large-scale operators on ASM coexistence and formalisation strategy; The Impact Facility invests directly in ASM communities to build capacity, access to finance and market readiness on the ground. Clients working with TDi on ASM engagement get both perspectives – strategic advisory and on-the-ground delivery – through one relationship.
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)
Case Studies
Case Study
Human Rights Impact Assessment in Nicaragua
FAQs
Artisanal and small-scale mining
What experience does TDi have with artisanal and small-scale mining?
TDi has directly delivered ASM management plans, baseline studies and stakeholder engagement strategies for large-scale mining projects in Guinea, Tanzania, Nicaragua and beyond, alongside policy-level ASM research for the European Commission and the UK government. Please see our case studies above for more information.
What is the difference between TDi and The Impact Facility?
TDi is an advisory firm – we help large-scale operators develop ASM engagement, coexistence and formalisation strategies. The Impact Facility is our sister organisation that invests directly in ASM communities on the ground, providing capital, technical assistance and market access. The two work together but do different jobs.
Has TDi worked on ASM in West Africa?
Yes – most recently developing in Guinea – see the case study here.
Does TDi help large-scale mines coexist with ASM?
Yes, this is a core part of our ASM advisory work – developing engagement plans, stakeholder consultation processes, and formalisation strategies that let large-scale operations and ASM communities operate alongside each other constructively rather than in conflict.
Progress on your journey to business resilience. We can make sure your organisation and your supply chain stand up to scrutiny, today and in the future
25+ Years of experience
Other services that may be of interest:
Your project
made possible
However complex your supply chains, we have a simple solution. Our experts can create a tailor-made risk map or toolkit to suit your needs, or show you one of our existing solutions.
