Socio-economic ASGM Research Methodology

This document, developed for UNITAR, provides a suggested approach for collecting and analyzing socio-economic information about the ASGM sector. The methodology has been designed to be used in conjunction with UN Environment’s Baseline Estimates Toolkit, and can help to obtain a holistic understanding of the ASGM sector that accounts for local socio-economic dynamics. The information that can be collected with this methodology can help countries to inform key elements of the NAP, such as strategies for formalizing the ASGM sector, for managing gold and mercury trade, and for protecting and empowering women and children; and more generally, to inform the behavioural change that the NAP envision to achieve.