Just Gold
IMPACT’s Just Gold project brings legal, traceable, and conflict-free artisanal gold from communities where security and human rights are at risk to international markets.
IMPACT works with miners, traders, and exporters to create incentives for legal sales and provides capacity building to implement the traceability and due diligence required by the Just Gold project, in alignment with regional and international standards. We support artisanal miners to enter the formal economy, while promoting gender equality and environmental stewardship.
Every sale of gold from the Just Gold project is linked to a deep paper trail and validated data. Customers and international market actors have peace of mind that their gold has been produced legally and is free of human rights violations. They have the knowledge that they are responsibly sourcing gold directly from artisanal mining communities, advancing women’s empowerment, and environmental protection.
Milestones
First traceable, legal, conflict-free artisanal gold from Democratic Republic of Congo to international market (2017)
First traceable, legal, conflict-free artisanal gold from Democratic Republic of Congo to a United States refiner (2018)
First traceable, legal, conflict-free artisanal gold from Côte d’Ivoire to international market and LBMA-accredited refiner (2020)
Democratic Republic of Congo
IMPACT first began developing a traceability and due diligence system for artisanal gold in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2012. The project picked up the name Just Gold in 2017. The first successful chain of custody from mine site to export was announced in June 2017. A month later, the first conflict-free, traceable, and legal artisanal gold from Democratic Republic of Congo hit the market in Canada.
The Just Gold project was funded by Global Affairs Canada as part of IMPACT’s Building Responsible Supply Chains for Development in Africa’s Great Lakes Region program. A previous pilot was launched in 2014 with the support of the Public Private Alliance to test an incentive-based model for artisanal gold traceability in eastern DRC. The one year pilot and its lessons developed into the Just Gold project. The Just Gold project launched in 2015 and is funded by Global Affairs Canada, with additional funding previously provided by USAID, through their Capacity Building for Responsible Minerals Trade (CBRMT) project, and the International Organization for Migration. Funding for the project has also come from Apple and Humanity United.
Côte d’Ivoire
The Just Gold project was expanded to Côte d’Ivoire, with a successful chain of custody and first export to the international market announced in 2020.
Funding for the project was provided by the European Union.
Recent Highlights
The Just Gold Project: Lessons for the Future of Artisanal Gold in Democratic Republic of Congo
March 2021
Read about IMPACT’s experiences and lessons learned from implementing the Just Gold project in Democratic Republic of Congo from 2012 to 2020.
Focus Area: Environmental Stewardship
September 2020
Our latest brochure outlines IMPACT’s approach and efforts on environmental stewardship, one of our five focus areas.
The Just Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire
September 2020
Learn more about how the Just Gold project supports artisanal gold miners, a mining cooperative, traders, and exporters to ensure artisanal gold in Côte d’Ivoire is produced and sold according to international standards. Available in French only.
Just Gold: Bringing Responsible and Conflict-Free Gold from Artisanal Mines to International Markets
April 2018
Learn about the Just Gold project and how it is supporting artisanal mining communities in areas where security and human rights are at risk.
Just Gold: How it Works
April 2016
Find out more about the Just Gold project and how it works in our brochure that takes you from mine site to exporter.
An Ivorian Artisanal Mining Cooperative Breaks Barriers on the International Market
New Training Videos Support Artisanal Miners to Improve Health, Safety & Gender Equality
Understanding Due Diligence in Artisanal Gold Mining
No Viable Future for Conflict-Free, Traceable, Responsible Gold from Democratic Republic of Congo Without Major Shifts in Market Expectations: New Report
Supporting Artisanal Gold Miners to Become Environmentally Responsible
First Responsible, Traceable, and Commercially-Viable Artisanal Gold Supply Chain Operational in Côte d’Ivoire
US Customs Checks on Artisanal Gold Stigmatize Democratic Republic of Congo
Join us at a Canadian Theater Near You: The Shadow of Gold
MEDIA ADVISORY: Women Artisanal Gold Miners from Democratic Republic of Congo in Ottawa for Gender Equality Week
Women in Democratic Republic of Congo Create Network to Empower Women in Mining Communities
New Partnership Merges Human Rights, Development, and Technology for Solution to Cut Links between Minerals and Conflict
Jeweller Completes First Export of Responsible & Conflict-Free Artisanal Gold from Eastern Congo to Canada
First Responsible and Conflict-Free Artisanal Gold Supply Chain Operational in Eastern Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo Recognizes Partnership Africa Canada’s Just Gold Pilot Project in a Memorandum of Understanding
