Building Capacity to Counter Illegal Mining

PROJECT PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

INL seeks to fund programs with a focus on West Africa, Southeast Asia, and/or Mongolia that improve the will and capacity to investigate, arrest, prosecute, convict, and sentence the criminal groups and individuals involved in criminal mining, in accordance with international best practices and human rights standards.

INL will support projects that reflect a two-fold approach to address criminal mining: projects should improve law enforcement and judicial capacity to investigate and prosecute criminal mining, including money laundering through gold and other minerals, and to cooperate internationally with other officials where appropriate. Projects should also build government capacity to close loopholes that allow TCOs to operate by improving legislation in the mining sector and assist government agencies to create a legal and legitimate artisanal and small scale mining sector.