Overview: Angola hasss embarked on the development of a Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA – UNEP as the GEF Implementing Agency), Ratification Dossier (UNITAR – funding from the Government of Switzerland) and National Action Plan on Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (NAP – UNIDO as the GEF implementing Agency).

Angola became a signatory to the Minamata Convention on 11 October 2013. Aware of the threats mercury can impose on human health and the global environment, the Government has been an active participant in international programmes and agreements to address mercury releases and uses.

NAP Development in Angola

In Angola, although mining is carried out by large and medium scale companies, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) is significant. Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is not structured and information about such activities in Angola is scarce. As such, Angola has commenced its NAP in 2020 in order to establish an ASGM overview as a baseline for the situation, and develop priorities and actions to address mercury use in the ASGM sector.

Angola is undertaking its NAP process with funding from the GEF and UNIDO serving as the GEF Agency, with UNITAR serving as an executing agency providing technical support and ongoing assistance to the activities that constitute the NAP. UNITAR has worked on mercury management for several years, and is experienced in supporting NAP processes with countries.

Development of a National Action Plan for ASGM in Angola – Inception Workshop

• Thursday 8 October 2020, Luanda, Angola (and online)

Main workshop documents / Principais documentos do workshop

• Agenda - PT
• Agenda - EN
• Addressing Health in the Development of NAP - PT
• Apresentação
• ASGM Overview and Initial Findings - PT

Background Documents / Documentos de base

• NAP template and guidance
• UNEP’s NAP lessons-learned document “Defining the road ahead: challenges and solutions for developing and implementing national action plan to reduce mercury use in artisanal and small scale gold mining”
• Project document – submission to the GEF
• WHO guidance on health in ASGM NAPs
• Minamata Convention on Mercury: annotated bibliography of WHO information, WHO, 2021. English | Português. Other languages
• Step-by-step guide for developing a public health strategy for artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the context of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, WHO, 2021 (the Guide plus 13 Annexes). English | Português. Other languages
• Developing public health strategies for artisanal and small-scale mining within the Minamata Convention on Mercury: findings and lessons learned from country workshops, WHO, 2021. English | Português. Other languages
• Human biomonitoring in artisanal and small-scale gold mining: ethical and scientific principles, WHO, 2021. English | Português. Other languages.
• Exposure to Mercury: a major public health concern, second edition, WHO, 2021. English | Português. Other languages.