World Gold Council and Artisanal Gold Council Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Responsible Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

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.

David Tait, Chief Executive Officer of the World Gold Council, said: 

“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.”

Rene Roger Tissot, Executive Director, Artisanal Gold Council, said:

“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.”

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.