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Keywords SDG 9 · Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure · Small-scale mining
industry · Governance · Sustainability · Bolivia
10.1 Introduction
Global governance arrangements in the resource sector have imposed new responsibilities on the small-scale mining (herein SSM) industry, yet they do not hold the
capacities to actively participate in such arrangements and achieve SDG 9, Industry,
Innovation, and Infrastructure. International mandates more often encourage stakeholders to follow sustainable practices in the regions within they operate (ICMM
2005; ISO 2010; PDAC n.d.; RJC 2011). Compliance with both international and
national regulatory mandates to protect the environment and foster local development through tax revenues and royalties are some of the emerging accountabilities
imposed on the SSM industry. However, small-scale miners wonder if these governance arrangements are valuable for them and local communities or if they should
comply with a more context-based governance framework that targets priority areas
for them (CANAMIL 2015). The absence of a sustainable SSM governance framework increases existing SSM challenges threatening productivity and therefore livelihood options for locals. A situation that escalates discontent and tensions among
stakeholders (miners, civil society, governments, and large-scale companies)
(Franco 2014; Guzmán and Manuel 2015; Makki 2015). Based on a governance
analysis of international precepts, domestic mining policies, perceptions of smallscale miners, and selected stakeholders, the research presented here proposes a
capacity- building roadmap for sustainable SSM governance in Bolivia. This roadmap can be applied to other developing resource economies in Latin America and
elsewhere.
Mining represents the largest source of income for small-scale miners, particularly in developing resource economies. Research indicates that ungoverned SSM
escalates socio-environmental issues such as loss of livelihood options, unsustainable use of mercury, and loss of royalty revenues, among others (Cardenas 2011;
Franco 2014). So far, stakeholders in isolation or through collaborative processes
have implemented solutions to address these issues, namely, formal agreements
between small-scale miners and large-scale mining companies, financial support,
access to credit, capacity-building, and technical assistance, among others. These
initiatives have somehow contribute to build small-scale miners’ capacity, forge
sustainable livelihoods, and increase taxes, royalties, and income generation
(Molina-Escobar and Restrepo-Baena 2010; Ponce 2010; Veiga et al. 2001; Hilson
2006; Hilson and Banchirigah 2009; Franco and Ali 2016). However, these initiatives remain insufficient, particularly in the Bolivian context where issues around
SSM are greater and small-scale miners’ voices have not been heard.
I. B. Franco et al.
Keywords SDG 9 · Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure · Small-scale mining
industry · Governance · Sustainability · Bolivia
10.1 Introduction
Global governance arrangements in the resource sector have imposed new responsibilities on the small-scale mining (herein SSM) industry, yet they do not hold the
capacities to actively participate in such arrangements and achieve SDG 9, Industry,
Innovation, and Infrastructure. International mandates more often encourage stakeholders to follow sustainable practices in the regions within they operate (ICMM
2005; ISO 2010; PDAC n.d.; RJC 2011). Compliance with both international and
national regulatory mandates to protect the environment and foster local development through tax revenues and royalties are some of the emerging accountabilities
imposed on the SSM industry. However, small-scale miners wonder if these governance arrangements are valuable for them and local communities or if they should
comply with a more context-based governance framework that targets priority areas
for them (CANAMIL 2015). The absence of a sustainable SSM governance framework increases existing SSM challenges threatening productivity and therefore livelihood options for locals. A situation that escalates discontent and tensions among
stakeholders (miners, civil society, governments, and large-scale companies)
(Franco 2014; Guzmán and Manuel 2015; Makki 2015). Based on a governance
analysis of international precepts, domestic mining policies, perceptions of smallscale miners, and selected stakeholders, the research presented here proposes a
capacity- building roadmap for sustainable SSM governance in Bolivia. This roadmap can be applied to other developing resource economies in Latin America and
elsewhere.
Mining represents the largest source of income for small-scale miners, particularly in developing resource economies. Research indicates that ungoverned SSM
escalates socio-environmental issues such as loss of livelihood options, unsustainable use of mercury, and loss of royalty revenues, among others (Cardenas 2011;
Franco 2014). So far, stakeholders in isolation or through collaborative processes
have implemented solutions to address these issues, namely, formal agreements
between small-scale miners and large-scale mining companies, financial support,
access to credit, capacity-building, and technical assistance, among others. These
initiatives have somehow contribute to build small-scale miners’ capacity, forge
sustainable livelihoods, and increase taxes, royalties, and income generation
(Molina-Escobar and Restrepo-Baena 2010; Ponce 2010; Veiga et al. 2001; Hilson
2006; Hilson and Banchirigah 2009; Franco and Ali 2016). However, these initiatives remain insufficient, particularly in the Bolivian context where issues around
SSM are greater and small-scale miners’ voices have not been heard.
I. B. Franco et al.