The document outlines a project for the Mali government to establish a national certification label for sustainable and socially responsible mining practices. It aims to regulate both industrial and artisanal mining sectors in Mali. The project would create a national agency to research, develop standards, and provide certification for companies. It seeks to formalize artisanal mining, improve social and environmental standards, increase investment and tax revenue, and promote Mali's mining industry internationally. Key deliverables include establishing national standards compliant with international frameworks, evaluation and audit protocols, and management systems to monitor industry practices.

1. Project SUSTAINABLE CERTIFICATION LABEL
Themes REGULATORY INSTITUTIONS, NATURAL RESOURCES
UN-SDGs
Main
Characteristics
Clients: MALI GOVERNMENT - MINISTRIES: DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMY & FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF MINES, DEPARTMENT OF INVESTMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR PROMOTION, DEPARTMENT OF
THE ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY & WATER, DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ; THE WAEMU UNION OF CHAMBERS OF MINES ; THE MALI
CHAMBER OF MINES
Project: ●Institutionalization & Integration of CSR and SRI Standards ●Creation of “THE GREEN MINERAL LABEL”
Value: EUR 850M of evaluated Assets & Investments
Performance: ●Creation of a national label and labeling agency for research, evaluation and CSR & SRI compliance certification ●Research and development of risk matrix and impact valuation criteria
●Integration of decision support tools into the asset/investment portfolio management systems
Macro Socio-
Economical
& Historical
Context
- The Mali Government has placed the Natural Resources and more specifically the Mineral and Mining Sector as a top national priority sector for development, for both the formal and informal
traditional activities.
- The informal sector emanates from a multi-secular traditional activity, which represents an important part of the Mali economy with an annual output of 22 tons of artisanal gold in 2015, and
thrives on a growing population of more than 1 Million people who in turn provide a living for their families and rural communities. This activity largely non regulated acts increasingly as a
destabilizing factor to the Mali economy and to the Mali society as well
- Facing such shortfalls in resources valorisation at the national level and in international investment & business appeal, it has become critical to regulate and give guidance to streamline the
Exploration, Extraction, Logistics, Commerce, Benefication and International Trade to maximise the national value chains, and to level up the social, environmental and governance standards.
Stakeholders
Ecosystem
/ Frameworks
- Mali Government Ministries:
+ Ministry of Mines, Department of the Environment & Sustainable Development,
Department of Energy & Water, Department of Investment and Private Sector
Promotion, Department of Industrial Development,
- The Mali Chamber Of Mines
- National Directorate of Geology and Mines (DNGM)
- Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA)
- Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)
- National Union of Mining Operators (UNOMIN)
- Union of Collectors & Mineral Counters (ACCOR)
- Mali Mining House SA
- Technical Partner : Bureau Veritas
The Vision
Ensure the development of the natural resource and mining sectors in favour of these main Principles:
- A Socio-Economic Development coherent with the “Fair Trade” principles.
- Sustainable Development and Safeguarding the Environment.
- The Empowerment of Mali Nationals and of broad base Local Communities.
- The “Rationalisation” of the traditional Mining Sector.
- Child Labour, Health, Security and Education Awareness.
Our Mission
- Conceive and implement a National Evaluation Agency and Certification Label compliant to International Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Development Standards for the Mining and
Mineral Value Adding Sectors: “THE GREEN MINERAL LABEL"
- Have the National Certification Label endorsed and enforced by the Mali Chamber of Mines with the guidance of a world class valuation and certification agency.
OBJECTIVES PERFORMANCE - DELIVERABLES - MEASUREMENT CRITERIA
- Coordinate and aggregate various situational analysis, sector
diagnostics, market and activity impact studies
- Define the mineral and mining sectors main challenges and
bottlenecks
- Identify, produce and analyse data:
+ Conduct and order internal market studies and impact assessments
+ Artisanal Mining Social and Environmental impact studies
+ Industrial mining Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA)
+ CSR and Quality Assurance system manuals for the industrial mining industry

2. - Engage all Stakeholders
- Select and engage ideal Technical Partner
- Stakeholders: National Union of Mining Operators (UNOMIN), Mali Mining House SA, National Directorate of Geology and
Mines (DNGM), Ministry of Mines, Department of the Environment & Sustainable Development, Department of Energy & Water,
DEPARTMENT OF INVESTMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR PROMOTION, Department of Industrial Development, Union of Collectors
& Mineral Counters (ACCOR)
- Engaged Technical Partner : Bureau Veritas West Africa
Determine the objectives for the implementation of
- the National Evaluation Agency, and
- Certification Label to sustainable development standards
- Rationalise the informal mineral sector and to control it
- Progressively integrate this rural and urban activity into the formal national economy, and to raise taxes
- Reduce criminality, to improve security, to regulate and stop illegal workers & mining equipment from foreign states, as well as
the illegal trading activities
- Regulate and stop endemic diseases, to improve health conditions and life conditions of rural communities
- Control and reverse environmental misconduct
- Improve working conditions, and eradicate child labor
- Increase investment into the mining and mineral sector at large
- Improve governance over the whole sector via setting up transparency of activities and traceability of production
- Accelerate Mali rural economy and its regions, to stabilise rural populations in order to reduce emigration
- Ensure equilibrium of earnings at each step of the value chain
- Promote a new image for the sector internationally To create a virtuous cycle in order
Draw consensus and deliberate on the Label Charter 1. The Mineral Extraction Processes are not ecologically disruptive beyond recovery. This means that the impact of the
extraction processes must always allow for the recovery and the rehabilitation of the ecosystems. Or the transformation into a
new, healthy ecosystem approved by the monitoring parties.
2. Reservoirs, pools, rejections and tailings do not exceed the ecosystem capacity for rehabilitation.
3. The used waters and rejections into ground water, phreatic tables, river, or lake systems are controlled in quality, quantity
and frequency, so that the native aquatic ecosystem is not disrupted.
4. Topsoil removed from the site is replaced during and after exploitation.
5. No Cyanide nor Mercury are to be used, no toxic chemicals are to be dispersed.
6. The mining operations are conducted in agreement with the local Communities, the CHAMBER OF MINES, and the
Government; respectful of local, regional and national regulations.
7. Child Labour and Education awareness programs are conducted.
8. The Green Gold “premium pricing” is redistributed back to the Monitoring Institutions and directly back to the local
communities or the Foundation for Quality of life improvements.
- Define the evaluation and certification protocols
- Advocate and assist the adoption by the public bodies at the national
level
- Adapt Management System and define training programs for the audit and evaluations of the different activities in the mineral
value chain
- Create a large panel of supporting information documents to spread public awareness and industry readiness
- Obtain endorsement and assist adoption from the pertinent Government bodies: the Mali Chamber of Mines
Mgmt. Systems
& Tools
/ Regulatory
Frameworks
/ Evaluation
Method /
Reporting
▪ Set up of National Norms & Standards compliant to International
Sustainable Development, Quality Assurance & Improvement
Frameworks:
+ Quality Management ISO9000,
+ Occupational Health & Safety ISO45001
+ Environmental Management ISO14000,
+ Social Responsibility ISO26000
▪ Evaluation systems and tools developed with the stakeholders
▪ Dedicated Progress Reports produced for the various Stakeholders
▪ Reconcile and attune forecasting & management systems with high quality standard international regulatory institutions for
Governance and Measurement of progressive & continuous improvement, I.e.: U.N frameworks