“The ladder that sends us to wealth”: Artisanal mining and poverty reduction in Tanzania

This article explores the contribution that artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) makes to poverty reduction in Tanzania, drawing on findings from research on gold and diamond mining in Mwanza Region. The evidence suggests that people working in mining or related services are less likely to be in p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Resources policy 2009-03, Vol.34 (1), p.32-38
Main Authors: Fisher, Eleanor, Mwaipopo, Rosemarie, Mutagwaba, Wilson, Nyange, David, Yaron, Gil
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artisanal and small-scale mining
Artisanal and small-scale mining Poverty reduction Gold Diamonds Tanzania
Buffers
Diamonds
Gold
Gold mines
Informal sector
Ladders
Miners
Mining
Occupation
Policies
Poverty alleviation
Poverty reduction
Reduction
Socioeconomic status
Tanzania
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Summary:This article explores the contribution that artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) makes to poverty reduction in Tanzania, drawing on findings from research on gold and diamond mining in Mwanza Region. The evidence suggests that people working in mining or related services are less likely to be in poverty than those with other occupations. However, the picture is complex; while mining income can help reduce poverty and provide a buffer from livelihood shocks, people's inability, to obtain a formal mineral claim or to effectively exploit their claims, contributes to insecurity. This is reinforced by a context in which ASM is peripheral to large-scale mining interests, is only gradually being addressed within national poverty reduction policies, and is segregated from district-level planning.
ISSN:0301-4207
1873-7641
DOI:10.1016/j.resourpol.2008.05.003