The Development Gold Ghana (DGG) Performance Standard has been designed and developed to align with the expectations of key international frameworks, including:

• OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains

• London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) ASM sourcing toolkit and criteria

• Swiss Better Gold Association (SBGA) Sourcing Strategy

• World Bank’s Involuntary Resettlement Policies (OP/BP 4.12)

• ILO Guidance on Child Labour

• High Conservation Value (HCV) Network biodiversity criteria

DGG also aligns with The Impact Facility’s investment and improvement framework and follows the Fairtrade and Fairmined best practice criteria (years 0, 1, 3, and 6). This alignment allows qualifying small, medium and micro-scale (SMME) gold producers to seek Fairtrade or Fairmined certification, adding value to their gold.

The Standard also underpins DGG’s assurance process, allowing ASGM operators to earn the DGG Assurance Mark once they meet compliance requirements. Our Gold Escalator approach ensures miners implement essential ESG practices at entry and continuously improve over time—a concept inspired by The Impact Facility for Sustainable Mining Communities.