On July 24, Pure Earth Peru, Solidaridad, CINCIA, and the Wyss Academy signed an inter-institutional collaboration agreement to establish a technical support group that will strengthen the Madre de Dios Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (MAPE) Network.
The Madre de Dios Women in MAPE Network is an organization that, for the past three years, has brought together women miners committed to responsible alluvial mining in a highly sensitive region severely affected by disorganized and illegal extractive practices. In this challenging context, the Network seeks to transform the sector by promoting good social and environmental practices, strengthening the role of women in mining activities, and building a model of alluvial mining that balances economic development with sustainability.
“This alliance represents a key step forward in our joint work with the Women in MAPE Network. At Pure Earth, we contribute our expertise in mercury-free technologies and environmental health, and now we do so in a more coordinated way, alongside organizations with complementary capacities. This allows us to expand technical coverage in the field, optimize resources, and achieve greater impact in the transition toward cleaner, more responsible mining led by women. By working together, we are not only adding efforts—we are multiplying results.” – Rodrigo Velarde, Country Director of Pure Earth Peru.
This collaboration will provide essential technical and organizational support to women miners in the region and their communities in the following areas:
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- Leadership and Representation: Strengthening the voice and legitimacy of women miners in the region, promoting their engagement with public and private actors at national and regional levels, and ensuring the inclusion of youth leadership to continue the advocacy and representation work initiated by the Network’s current leaders.
- Capacity Development: Through training processes, exchange of experiences, and technical assistance, the initiative will promote technical, organizational, and leadership skills.
- Responsible and Safe Mining: Promoting good mining practices, including the use of clean technologies and the progressive elimination of mercury; mine closures for artisanal and small-scale alluvial gold mining in the Amazon; as well as improving occupational health and safety standards in alluvial mining operations.
- Market Opportunities: Identifying national and international market opportunities interested in working with and building commercial ties with Network members who are implementing good practices.
- Advocacy and Public Policy: Fostering dialogue with authorities to build public policies that support mining formalization, considering the specific context of the type of mining practiced in Madre de Dios. It will also strengthen access to social programs aimed at populations linked to artisanal and small-scale gold mining, in coordination with relevant public entities.
“For the Network, this alliance is highly valuable to continue addressing the challenges we face on our path toward truly responsible mining. This support will help us stop being seen as a sector that only causes harm, and instead be recognized as an activity that cares for the environment and the community. We also hope this joint effort will finally open the doors to government support, with policies that recognize the good practices we have already been promoting.” – Griselda Zubizarreta, President of the Women in MAPE Network of Madre de Dios.
This alliance is a clear demonstration of the commitment among institutions working to support the responsible development of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Peru, aiming to achieve greater impact hand in hand with women miners, such as those who are part of the Regional Network of Women Miners of Madre de Dios.
