The SMO Foundation supports practical projects connected to mining communities and landscapes. Established by Single Mine Origin in 2025, the SMO Foundation brings together the wider SMO Gold community, specialist charities and local partners to support projects in areas where mining has shaped both communities and the environment.

Its work currently focuses on three areas: community healthcare, biodiversity conservation and the rehabilitation of mining-impacted landscapes.

The Foundation is designed to complement - rather than replace - the environmental and social programmes undertaken by mining companies themselves. By working with experienced delivery partners, it directs charitable funding towards clearly defined projects where specialist expertise can make a meaningful contribution.

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Make it Happen

FUNDRAISING & SUPPORT

The SMO Foundation welcomes donations from individuals, organisations, and businesses committed to making a positive difference for mining communities. 

By supporting the foundation, donors will not only be contributing to the existing ESG initiatives of SMO member mines, but amplifying their positive impact. 

How you can get involved:

1. Donate: 

Your contributions will enable us to implement meaningful projects and initiatives to benefit the relevant communities.

2. Fundraise: 

Host your own fundraising event to support the SMO Foundation's mission. Whether it's a charity run or a community fundraiser, your efforts will help drive positive change.

3. Spread the Word: 

Help raise awareness about the SMO Foundation’s work and mission. Share our initiatives, success stories, and impact on social media, and encourage others to join our cause.

Together, we can make a lasting difference and contribute to building a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

The SMO Foundation is a Micro-Trust of Giving Works | Charity Number 1078770

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SMO FOUNDATION PROJECTS

MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN

Current projects span rural healthcare in Senegal, the protection of Taï National Park in Côte d’Ivoire and the restoration of former artisanal and small-scale mining sites in Suriname. Together, they reflect a simple principle at the heart of SMO Gold's approach: mining and the gold industry should be connected more closely to the people and places behind the material.

 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH 

CRITICAL CARE INTERNATIONAL | SABODALA COMMUNE, SENEGAL

THE CHALLENGE

The Sabodala MNCH project works across communities around the Sabodala-Massawa mine to reduce maternal, neonatal and child morbidity and mortality. Early work has focused on establishing trust, listening to community needs, and strengthening local health structures before full operational launch.

  • 382

    people sensitised to date across assessment and contact phases.

  • 6

    target villages reached and health posts assessed.

  • 127

    women reached through AVEC groups in the April–May contact phase.

  • 4

    clinical training and coaching sessions delivered.

WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE

  • Women and community groups have received practical sensitisation on antenatal care, malaria prevention and childhood vaccination.

  • Health-post nurses have been assessed and coached against national IMCI protocols covering malaria, respiratory infections, diarrhoea and malnutrition in under-fives.

  • Community interviews have identified barriers such as bed-net non-use and treatment non-adherence, shaping the next phase.

  • The September launch brings in the wider District-provided team: general practitioner, midwife, gynaecologist and Bajenu Gox community relays.

A COMMUNITY SIGNAL

Health-post staff report that more women are attending pregnancy follow-up and, importantly, that husbands are increasingly accompanying them — an early sign that community messaging is beginning to change behaviour.

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 REHABILITATING GOLD MINES 

IUCN NL | COMPAGNIE KREEK, SURINAME

THE PURPOSE

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining can leave barren, unstable landscapes where soil, water and biodiversity struggle to recover naturally. This pilot is creating a practical blueprint for restoring abandoned mining sites into productive, biodiverse land under community-led stewardship.

  • 12,150m²

    degraded mining land
    rehabilitated

  • 7,000m³

    soil excavated and strategically
    redistributed

  • 3,350m²

    agroforestry plot
    established

  • 31

    people trained in post-mining rehabilitation techniques

EARLY IMPACT

  • The rehabilitation phase at Compagnie Kreek has been completed successfully and is moving into monitoring and maintenance.

  • The former mining pit now functions as a sedimentation and water-management feature, with improved drainage and safer creek access.

  • Soil restoration processes have begun, with increased organic matter observed in parts of the site.

  • Most planted agroforestry species are successfully established despite challenging site conditions.

  • The project was presented at a national validation workshop in August 2026, attended by about 60 participants from government, NGOs, academia and the mining sector.

  • Wildlife monitoring will begin in the 2026 dry season, with camera traps expected to remain in place until December 2027.
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 PROTECTING TAÏ NATIONAL PARK 

LEADERSHIP FOR CONSERVATION IN AFRICA | CÔTE D’IVOIRE

WHY IT MATTERS

Taï is one of West Africa’s most important remaining rainforest ecosystems. The programme seeks to place the park on a stronger footing across three linked pillars: knowledge, protection and sustainability, with community engagement running through all three.

  • ~534k ha 

    Upper Guinean rainforest under
    protection

  • 5 

    OIPR sectors covered
    by ranger patrols

  • 4

    camera traps in the first baseline
    deployment

  • 1

    national eDNA laboratory being
    installed

WHAT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY

  • Ranger patrols continue across all OIPR sectors, with patrol intensification planned before year end.

  • SMART patrol data used for threat-hotspot mapping; a move to Sensing Clues is being evaluated.

  • Kayak patrols on the Hana River target illegal mining access routes; first-aid and training planned.

  • First camera-trap baseline session completed; analysis is underway with academic partners.

  • An eDNA laboratory at UNA, Abidjan, is targeted for installation by the end of 2026.

  • A Homebrew documentary, eco-tourism pilots and future carbon/restoration options aim to build long-term financial resilience.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Further funding can help move critical work from promising beginnings to a permanent platform: sustained ranger coverage, field-team training, water-quality monitoring, community informer networks, and the scientific baseline needed to measure biodiversity gains over time.

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SMO Golden Gala

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM GALA

In 2025, SMO Gold hosted the Golden Gala at London’s iconic Natural History Museum to celebrate the launch of the new philanthropic SMO Foundation.

The SMO Foundation supports global charities focused on conservation, healthcare, and social equity. Its founding partners include the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Critical Care International, and Leadership for Conservation in Africa.

Guests at the Golden Gala enjoyed a three-course dinner, live entertainment, and a charity auction in support of the Foundation’s mission.

All funds raised on the night went directly to the SMO Foundation’s work with its charity partners, driving meaningful, lasting impact in mining communities around the world.

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