Artisanal Gold Council
Artisanal Gold Council is a Canadian nonprofit that professionalizes the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector by deploying mercury-free processing facilities, formalization support, and gender-equity programs across 30+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersVictoria, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Artisanal Gold Council does
Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) is a Canadian nonprofit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, with charitable status granted by the Canada Revenue Agency in March 2024. It is the only nonprofit exclusively devoted to the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector, which it characterizes as responsible for roughly 20% of global gold production and 37% of global mercury emissions. AGC serves four core beneficiary groups: individual artisanal miners and cooperatives seeking formalization, national mining and environment ministries responsible for ASGM regulation, mining-affected communities including women and children, and downstream gold buyers seeking responsibly sourced supply. Services are delivered at no cost to end beneficiaries and are organized around four objectives: mercury reduction, enhanced gold recovery (claimed up to 90% recovery improvement), gender equity, and access to formal markets. {}
Artisanal Gold Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Artisanal Gold Council
- Legal name
- Artisanal Gold Council
- Website
- https://artisanalgold.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Artisanal Gold Council is a Canadian nonprofit that professionalizes the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector by deploying mercury-free processing facilities, formalization support, and gender-equity programs across 30+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Artisanal Gold Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisanal Mining Development Services
- NAICS
- Gold Ore and Silver Ore Mining (21222), Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333131)
- SIC
- Gold And Silver Ores (1040), Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Gold Mining (IMAKAEAA)
Keywords
Where Artisanal Gold Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Victoria
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Artisanal Gold Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: AGC receives donations from individuals and organizations following receipt of charitable status from Canada Revenue Agency in March 2024. Partnerships like the one with Their (jewelry company) donate $1 per item purchased to support the organization.
- Government and Development Agency Grants: Primary funding comes from international development organizations including Global Environment Facility (GEF), U.S. Department of State, Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), and other government agencies. Projects include planetGOLD programmes, Roadmap to Responsible Gold in Guyana, and various country-specific initiatives.
- Partnership and Program Funding: Funding from strategic partnerships including planetGOLD (GEF-funded, led by UNEP and UNIDO), various UN agencies, and development partners. AGC receives $55 Million+ in project funds according to scale metrics.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Artisanal Gold Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) is a non-profit organization that delivers mercury-free gold processing facilities, training and capacity-building programs, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) formalization assistance, and policy advisory services to mining communities, national governments, and international development partners across more than 30 countries. Its work combines technical equipment provision, field-based training, and policy guidance aimed at reducing mercury use and improving the formalization, legality, and sustainability of artisanal gold supply chains.
Product overview
The Artisanal Gold Council offers a suite of services focused exclusively on artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector professionalization and mercury elimination. The core offerings include mercury-free processing facilities (15 built globally), the ASGM Technical Report Writing Guide for geological reporting, and comprehensive training and capacity building programs. AGC operates as the executing agency for the planetGOLD programme across multiple countries, providing formalization services, technical assistance, and access to markets support. The organization works at the intersection of environmental protection, social development, and economic empowerment for ASGM communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mercury-Free Gold Processing Facilities
- ASGM Training and Capacity Building Programs
- ASGM Formalization Advisory Services
- ASGM Technical Report Writing Guide
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 90% gold recovery improvement with mercury-free processing technologies
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Artisanal Gold Council
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Artisanal Gold Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Artisanal Gold Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Maquinaria e Ingenieria Oro Sinu S.A.S. (OroSinu)coreMOU with Colombian company specializing in design and manufacturing of high-quality machinery for gold extraction and processing. Partnership aims to professionalize ASGM through accessible, efficient technologies. OroSinu has 25+ years experience and 300 successful projects.
- Their (jewelry company)flagshipFirst-of-its-kind partnership where Their donates $1 per item purchased to AGC. Partnership aims to support 10 million people working in ASGM (responsible for 20% of world gold supply) and reduce 37% of manmade mercury pollution. Commits to 1% For The Planet environmental initiative.
- East Africa Association of Women in Mining in Africa (EA-AWIMA)corePartnership to help women in mining sector while promoting safer and more sustainable mining practices across East Africa. Focus areas include funding joint projects, promoting sustainable mining methods, training and empowering women, and hosting events.
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)flagshipJoint leadership of planetGOLD programme. UNEP works with AGC on global ASGM initiatives and Minamata Convention implementation support.
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)coreJoint leader of planetGOLD programme alongside UNEP. Partners with AGC on technical assistance and ASGM formalization initiatives.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreLong-standing partnership on ASGM development projects and mercury reduction initiatives globally.
- Minamata Convention on MercuryflagshipAGC serves as implementing partner for Minamata Convention objectives, particularly ASGM mercury elimination. Participated in COP-6 and supports National Action Plan development.
- World Health Organization (WHO)minorPartner on health aspects related to mercury exposure in ASGM communities and occupational health initiatives.
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)minorPartnership on financial inclusion and access to finance initiatives for ASGM communities.
- GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit)minorGerman development agency partnership on ASGM sector development and mercury reduction projects.
- Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI)corePartnership on CRAFT Code implementation and responsible sourcing standards for ASGM formalization.
- RESOLVEcoreCollaborator on CRAFT Code development and implementation for ASGM responsible sourcing.
- Mongolia Ministry of Environment and Climate ChangeflagshipGovernment partner for planetGOLD Mongolia project, achieving formalization of 158 miners and approval of Government Resolution No. 296 governing ASGM.
- Burkina Faso Ministry of Mines and Environment / SONASPflagshipGovernment partnership for planetGOLD Burkina Faso and STAG project. AGC developed technical training program recognized as trade qualification and supports national gold buying office.
- Guyana Ministry of FisheriescorePartnership on sustainable livelihoods in ASGM communities through Canada Fund for Local Initiatives funding, including aquaculture systems development.
- Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)flagshipLong-standing partner for planetGOLD Philippines and new GEF-funded National Action Plan development. DENR Usec. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh collaborates on mercury-free ASGM achievements.
- Canadian Embassy in MaliminorOngoing support for initiatives advancing responsible mining in Mali, with discussions at Golden Days 2026 conference.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Artisanal Gold Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Tetra Tech: Tetra Tech is a large engineering and development consultancy that regularly wins USAID, World Bank, and GEF mining-related contracts. It represents the kind of broad incumbent that bids for the same ASGM programme funding pool as AGC.
- Fairtrade Foundation: Fairtrade Foundation operates the Fairtrade Gold standard for responsibly sourced artisanal gold, an adjacent certification framework directly relevant to AGC's CRAFT Code and formalization work for ASGM supply chains.
- Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI): RMI is the industry-wide initiative setting due-diligence standards (including the CRAFT Code co-developed with AGC and RESOLVE). It is a broader incumbent shaping the regulatory environment AGC operates in and the primary standards body for ASGM sourcing.
- Conservation International: Conservation International is a global environmental non-profit engaged in biodiversity and mercury-elimination programmes that overlap with AGC's environmental mandate, and competes for parts of the same GEF-funded project portfolio.
Direct peers
- Pact: Pact implements large-scale, donor-funded ASGM community development programmes (e.g., mineral supply chain formalization and miner livelihoods) with offices in many of the same countries as AGC, making it a competing implementing partner for GEF and bilateral grants.
- RESOLVE: RESOLVE is a multi-stakeholder non-profit that co-developed and stewards the CRAFT Code alongside AGC and RMI. It operates at the same intersection of standards design, due diligence, and ASGM formalization that defines AGC's work.
- Solidaridad: Solidaridad is an international civil society organization running responsible mining and gold supply-chain programmes across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with a comparable community-led model and donor-funded project structure to AGC.
- Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM): ARM is a non-profit dedicated to transforming the ASGM sector through Fairmined certification and standards - the closest direct peer to AGC, operating in largely the same countries and miner communities with overlapping mercury-reduction and formalization mandates.
Emerging players
- Pure Earth: Pure Earth (formerly Blacksmith Institute) is a non-profit tackling mercury and heavy-metal pollution in ASGM communities, overlapping AGC's mercury-elimination mission but with a stronger health-and-pollution focus than ASGM formalization.
- Levin Sources: Levin Sources is a specialist consultancy advising on responsible mineral supply chains, ASGM formalization, and due-diligence frameworks. It competes with AGC for technical-advisory grants from the same development donor pool.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Artisanal Gold Council social profiles
Digital presenceArtisanal Gold Council compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Artisanal Gold Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Artisanal Gold Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Artisanal Gold Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Artisanal Gold Council M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Artisanal Gold Council
What does Artisanal Gold Council do?
The Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) is a non-profit organization that delivers mercury-free gold processing facilities, training and capacity-building programs, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) formalization assistance, and policy advisory services to mining communities, national governments, and international development partners across more than 30 countries. Its work combines technical equipment provision, field-based training, and policy guidance aimed at reducing mercury use and improving the formalization, legality, and sustainability of artisanal gold supply chains.
Is Artisanal Gold Council a public or private company?
Artisanal Gold Council is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Artisanal Gold Council founded?
Artisanal Gold Council was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Artisanal Gold Council based?
Artisanal Gold Council is headquartered in Victoria, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Artisanal Gold Council make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government and Development Agency Grants and partnership and Program Funding.
Who are Artisanal Gold Council's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Tetra Tech, Fairtrade Foundation, Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and Conservation International. Direct peers are Pact, RESOLVE, Solidaridad and Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM). Emerging players are Pure Earth and Levin Sources.
Does Artisanal Gold Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for Artisanal Gold Council.
What industry is Artisanal Gold Council in?
Artisanal Gold Council's product category is Artisanal Mining Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAL, Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support), with a secondary code of IMAKAEAA, Gold Mining. Its NAICS code is 21222 and its SIC code is 1040.