The planetGOLD Programme – Learnings and Looking Ahead

Save the Date: 

Tuesday, 4 November 2025 
13:15 - 14:45 CET 
CICG Room A

The Global Environment Facility-funded planetGOLD programme works in partnership with governments, the private sector, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities with the objective of eliminating mercury from the supply chain of gold produced by ASGM. 

The programme recently completed a cross-programmatic assessment of its first phase (2018-2025), which comprised nine country-level projects as well as a global coordination project. 

This in-person event held on Tuesday, the 4th of November held in Room A presented and discussed observations and lessons learned from that analysis, touching on best practices and challenges for formalization, technology transfer, and improving miner access to finance and markets, and will look ahead to the next phase of the programme. 

Live interpretation was available in English, French and Spanish, and lunch was served.

Agenda:

• Welcome, Introduction and Opening Remarks
• Panel Discussion 1: Reflections on Challenges and Achievements So Far
• Panel Discussion 2: Learning and Looking Ahead
• Closing Remarks

Speakers:

• Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary, Minamata Convention on Mercury - Closing Remarks
• Ludovic Bernaudat, Officer-in-Charge, Head of the GEF Chemicals and Waste Unit, Chemicals & Health Branch, UNEP - Moderator
• Anil Sookdeo, Chemicals and Waste Coordinator, Global Environment Facility (GEF) - Opening Remarks
• Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, Undersecretary for Finance, Information System and Climate Change, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines
• Barthelemy Bationo, Environmental Inspector, Ministry of Environment, Burkina Faso
• Abigail Mwailenge, Project Manager, planetGOLD Zambia - Artisanal Gold Council (AGC)
• Abigail Ocate, National Project Manager, AGC Philippines
• Cristian Gonzalez, Chemical Substances and Hazardous Waste Specialist, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ecuador
• Gabriela Urquidi, Deputy Project Manager, planetGOLD Bolivia - Projekt-Consult
• Hanitriniaina Liliane Randrianomenjanahary, National Project Coordinator, planetGOLD Madagascar - Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Madagascar
• Ibrahima Sory Sylla, Project Manager, planetGOLD Guinea - Centre Africain pour la Santé Environnementale (CASE)
• Lynn Gitu, Project Manager, planetGOLD Uganda - IMPACT
• Mario Rodas, Programme Officer, UNDP Ecuador
• Saidou Kabre, National Project Manager, planetGOLD Burkina Faso - Artisanal Gold Council (AGC)
• Yao Arthur Kouame, Project Manager, planetGOLD Côte d'Ivoire - CASE

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