COMPETITIONS
Launched in 2019, the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge is an open innovation competition accelerating the development of solutions to make artisanal and small-scale mining more environmentally responsible and socially equitable
The Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge is a global competition accelerating solutions that make artisanal and small-scale mining more environmentally responsible and socially equitable. There have been two iterations of this competition:
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First launched in 2019, the global round of the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge accepted applications from anyone in the world and focused on developing solutions that could be applied anywhere in the world, and for any type of mineral or metal.
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Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: the Amazon, launched in 2021, was focused on addressing the specific challenges of gold mining in the Amazon. Half of the Challenge grant funding was dedicated to innovator teams from the Amazon region.
In the two competitions, solutions were identified in the following four categories:
ARTISANAL MINING GRAND CHALLENGE: GLOBAL
Transforming Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining for Water and Biodiversity
2019 - 2020
The first round of the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: Global ran from 2019 to 2020. Conservation X Labs awarded $750,000 to innovators for solutions to help monitor, restore, and mitigate impacts from artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) on water resources, biodiversity, and communities around the world.
90
applications
submitted
42
countries represented among applicants
11
finalists
selected
$750K
awarded to 5
winners
ARTISANAL MINING GRAND CHALLENGE: THE AMAZON
Accelerating Solutions for People & the Planet
2021 - 2022
The Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: The Amazon (now closed) was the second round of the initiative, and identified innovations that make artisanal and small-scale gold-mining more environmentally responsible and socially equitable in the Amazon region. It was part of a broader program and global development alliance funded by USAID, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Microsoft, and Esri.
122
applications submitted
22
countries
represented among applicants
12
finalists
selected
$ 300K
awarded to 4 winners
MEET THE WINNERS
Explore the highest performing innovator teams from both rounds of the Challenge.
