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Handling uncertainty: Policy and organizational practices in Tanzania's small‐scale gold mining sector

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  • Jesper Bosse Jønsson
  • Niels Fold

Abstract

Small‐scale mining supports the livelihoods of several hundred thousand rural households in Africa. Nonetheless, the understanding of the organizational dynamics of small‐scale miners' activities is modest. The paper outlines the small‐scale mining codes in Tanzania and contrasts them to prevalent organizational practices in two Tanzanian small‐scale mining settlements. It is argued that there is a need to adjust the regulatory mechanisms to well‐consolidated practices: If basic practices differ substantially from official prescriptions of the mining codes over an extended period of time, certain elements of the regulatory framework need reconsideration. The paper examines three pertinent operational components that vary in form and managing practices between the two study sites: dealing with licence acquisition, accessing working capital, and sharing output. These components are considered vital for the proper manoeuvring of local small‐scale mining operators and the reasons for the variations are essential to understand for policymakers and development practitioners. By incorporating prevalent practices and context‐dependent variations in some of the crucial organizational components, it is possible to design a robust and resilient regulatory framework for small‐scale mining. A number of policy adjustments are consequently proposed.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesper Bosse Jønsson & Niels Fold, 2009. "Handling uncertainty: Policy and organizational practices in Tanzania's small‐scale gold mining sector," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 33(3), pages 211-220, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:33:y:2009:i:3:p:211-220
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2009.01226.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Banchirigah, Sadia Mohammed, 2008. "Challenges with eradicating illegal mining in Ghana: A perspective from the grassroots," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 29-38, March.
    2. Gavin Hilson, 2005. "Strengthening artisanal mining research and policy through baseline census activities," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 29(2), pages 144-153, May.
    3. Eleanor Fisher, 2008. "Artisanal gold mining at the margins of mineral resource governance: a case from Tanzania," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 199-213.
    4. Mohammed Banchirigah, Sadia, 2006. "How have reforms fuelled the expansion of artisanal mining? Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 165-171, September.
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    2. Corbett, Tony & O'Faircheallaigh, Ciaran & Regan, Anthony, 2017. "‘Designated areas’ and the regulation of artisanal and small-scale mining," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 393-401.
    3. Poignant, Adrian, 2023. "Small-scale mining and agriculture: Evidence from northwestern Tanzania," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Katherine C. Malpeli & Peter G. Chirico, 2013. "The influence of geomorphology on the role of women at artisanal and small‐scale mine sites," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 37(1), pages 43-54, February.
    5. Goetz, Julian M., 2022. "What do we know about rural and informal non-farming labour? Evidence from a mixed methods study of artisanal and small-scale mining in Northwest Tanzania," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).

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