East and Southern Africa Regional Consultative Workshop: Towards an Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Continental Strategy

The Programme supported the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) in organizing a regional workshop to discuss the artisanal and small-scale mining strategy for East and Southern Africa.

This consultative workshop supported the implementation of the African Mining Vision (AMV) within the artisanal and small-scale mining sector by proposing a strategy to address new and emerging challenges, refining activity options, and harmonizing outcomes at sub-regional and country levels. 

During the workshop, participants engaged in validating a baseline assessment and a value chain analysis of Development Minerals in Tanzania. The two analyses included a detailed profiling of the ASM sector and a review of relevant legal, policy, and institutional frameworks governing ASM in Tanzania. The analyses also addressed the environmental, health, safety, and socio-economic impacts of ASM, and emphasized gender-inclusive strategies to promote equal opportunities for both men and women within the value chain in Tanzania.

Policy discussions also focused on aligning the ASM sector with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), particularly to enhance women’s participation. The event also promoted networking and capacity-building among media practitioners to improve reporting on AMV activities while reflecting on regional implementation strategies and drawing lessons from countries in East and Southern Africa.