Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005869
The Papua New Guinea ASGM Mercury reduction opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005869) is a discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, focused on reducing mercury risks tied to artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Papua New Guinea. The program is framed around the reality that mercury is a highly toxic neurotoxin and a serious public health threat, and that ASGM is the single largest global source of mercury emissions. In practical terms, the grant is meant to help Papua New Guinea get ready to meet the commitments it would take on for the ASGM sector after joining the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from mercury pollution.
At the center of the proposed work is building the evidence base Papua New Guinea will need to develop its ASGM National Action Plan (NAP), which is a requirement under the Minamata Convention for countries where ASGM is considered significant. Papua New Guinea was completing its Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Minamata Initial Assessment at the time, and this grant is positioned as a follow-on effort that moves from broad national assessment into the more detailed sector-level data collection needed for compliance planning. The idea is that better data on where and how mercury is used in gold production will allow the government and partners to design realistic, targeted interventions that reduce mercury releases while reflecting on-the-ground practices.
The project scope is essentially an inventory and characterization of Papua New Guinea's indigenous ASGM sector. That includes determining how much mercury is being used, what processing techniques are being applied (for example, amalgamation practices and other steps where mercury might be introduced or released), and collecting associated demographic information about the mining communities involved. Those demographic details matter because mercury exposure is both an environmental and a public health issue: it affects miners directly, families and nearby communities through air and water contamination, and downstream populations through mercury entering the food chain. By mapping practices and populations, the resulting dataset can help identify hotspots, exposure pathways, and the specific points in the mining process where reductions, safer alternatives, training, or controls would have the biggest impact.
Funding is offered as a grant with an award ceiling of $398,000, and the announcement anticipated a single award. The opportunity was posted May 10, 2019, with an original closing date of July 8, 2019. The activity category is environment under CFDA 19.017, and eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with further clarification expected in the full eligibility text of the announcement. Overall, the grant is structured as a targeted, preparatory effort: produce the core sector inventory and supporting information needed for Papua New Guinea to draft an ASGM National Action Plan under the Minamata Convention, and in doing so, lay the groundwork for practical mercury reduction actions in one of the most significant mercury-emitting sectors globally.Apply for SFOP0005869
- The Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Papua New Guinea ASGM Mercury reduction" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 10, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 08, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $398,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Papua New Guinea ASGM Mercury Reduction opportunity?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. The effort focuses on reducing mercury-related risks linked to artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Papua New Guinea.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0005869.
Who is offering this grant?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
What problem is this grant designed to address?
The grant is designed to address mercury pollution and exposure associated with ASGM. Mercury is described as a highly toxic neurotoxin and a serious public health threat, and ASGM is identified as the single largest global source of mercury emissions.
Why is the work connected to the Minamata Convention on Mercury?
The stated purpose is to help Papua New Guinea prepare for the commitments it would take on for the ASGM sector after joining the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international treaty intended to protect human health and the environment from mercury pollution.
What is the main goal of the proposed work?
The core goal is to build the evidence base needed for Papua New Guinea to develop an ASGM National Action Plan (NAP). The NAP is a requirement under the Minamata Convention for countries where ASGM is considered significant.
What is an ASGM National Action Plan (NAP) in this context?
In this context, the ASGM National Action Plan is the planning document a country needs to develop under the Minamata Convention when ASGM is significant. The grant is positioned as producing the inventory and supporting information needed to draft that plan for Papua New Guinea.
How does this grant relate to the Minamata Initial Assessment?
Papua New Guinea was completing a Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Minamata Initial Assessment at the time. This grant is described as a follow-on effort that moves from a broad national assessment to more detailed, sector-level data collection needed for compliance planning in the ASGM sector.
What types of activities are within the project scope?
The scope is described as an inventory and characterization of Papua New Guinea's indigenous ASGM sector, including gathering detailed sector-level information on mercury use and mining and processing practices.
What specific information is the project expected to determine about mercury use?
The project is expected to determine how much mercury is being used and where and how mercury is introduced or released during gold production and processing.
What processing techniques are mentioned as relevant to the inventory?
The description highlights processing techniques such as amalgamation practices and other steps in the production process where mercury might be introduced or released.
What demographic information is expected to be collected, and why?
The project includes collecting demographic information about the mining communities involved. These details matter because mercury exposure is both an environmental and public health issue affecting miners, families, nearby communities (via air and water contamination), and downstream populations through mercury entering the food chain.
How will the resulting data be used?
By mapping practices and populations, the resulting dataset can help identify hotspots, exposure pathways, and the specific points in the mining process where reductions, safer alternatives, training, or controls would have the biggest impact. It is intended to support drafting an ASGM National Action Plan under the Minamata Convention.
Is this grant focused on planning and data collection or on implementing mercury-reduction interventions?
Based on the description provided, the grant is structured as a targeted, preparatory effort. It emphasizes producing a core sector inventory and supporting information to enable Papua New Guinea to draft an ASGM National Action Plan and lay groundwork for practical mercury reduction actions.
Where is the work geographically focused?
The work is focused on Papua New Guinea, specifically its indigenous artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector.
What is the award type?
Funding is offered as a grant.
What is the maximum funding amount available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $398,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated a single award.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 10, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was July 8, 2019.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is environment.
What CFDA number is associated with this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.017.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the note that further clarification would be expected in the full eligibility text of the announcement.
What is meant by building an "evidence base" for ASGM?
In the description provided, building an evidence base refers to collecting detailed, sector-level data on mercury use, processing techniques, and community demographics so that Papua New Guinea can design realistic, targeted interventions and develop an ASGM National Action Plan aligned with Minamata Convention requirements.
Why does the opportunity emphasize exposure pathways and hotspots?
The description notes that mercury affects people and ecosystems through multiple routes (air and water contamination and entry into the food chain). Identifying hotspots and exposure pathways helps pinpoint where mercury reductions and related measures would have the greatest impact.
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