USAID AMPR Gold Questionnaire Report_FINAL

The project focuses primarily on diamond and secondarily on gold production in the Central African Republic (CAR), as well as targeted technical assistance to other USAID missions and operating units in addressing land and resource governance issues within the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. The project builds upon activities and lessons from the Property Rights and Artisanal Diamond Development (PRADD I and II) projects. The USAID AMPR contract was signed on September 28th, 2018, and will run initially for three base years and with two optional years. Most project activities will be carried out in the Central African Republic. The U.N. Security Council has repeatedly emphasized the need for the Government of the Central African Republic (GoCAR) to combat illicit exports of gold and diamonds to achieve peace and stability. The Artisanal Mining (ASM) sector supports the livelihood of many Central African miners and families but is threatened by armed group predation entrenched in illicit mineral exploitation and trade. Objective 3 of USAID AMPR is focused on Increasing Awareness and Understanding of the Opportunities and Challenges of Establishing Gold Supply Chains. Under Objective 3, the project is working with two sub-contractors IPIS and RESOLVE to increase awareness and understanding of the opportunities and challenges of establishing responsible gold supply chains in the Central African Republic. A mine site questionnaire was developed by IPIS to collect data on gold mine site locations and geology; production, pricing and trade dynamics; ownership and licensing; gold exports and trade; community resource governance and social cohesion; roles and constraints of men, women, and youth; and the role(s) of the Ministry of Mines and Geology (MMG) and mining cooperatives. The questionnaire is designed to be administered by "site," and not to individual miners. The results are intended to generate an overview of individual mine sites and will also be extrapolated and analyzed across sites to discern trends and patterns. The IPIS site questionnaire will also be administered in all the locations where the AMPR team will administer the KAP Survey. The questionnaire has been reviewed and feedback has been requested from numerous stakeholders and experts. The draft questionnaire and data analysis plan were prepared based on a review of recent studies on the artisanal mining sector in CAR and data previously collected by the USAID PRADD II and AMPR projects around diamond and gold mining sites and supply chains. The questionnaire is designed to be simple and short, rather like a guidebook for the enumerator. As a result, information may be picked up of predatory behavior of government authorities. The physical presence of armed actors will be monitored by the enumerator based on observation and discussions with various stakeholders. The results of the questionnaire will be used to complete a full diagnostic study and interactive web map of CAR's gold sector and support the development of an Action Plan in close collaboration with national stakeholders, donors, and AMPR staff. The Action Plan is intended to provide recommendations regarding the formalization of the gold sector, ensuring tax collection from legal exports, and developing traceability requirements based on international conventions and best practices.