Private Sector and Infrastructure 189 v;IsO N AL ed August 2001 Findings reports on ongoing operational, economic, and sector work camed out by the World Bank and its member govemments in the Africa Region. It is published penodically by the Knowledge and Leaming Center on behalf of the Region. The views expressed in Findings are WORLD BA N K those of the author/s and should not be attributed to the Worid Bank Group. Tanzania: Women in the Mining Sector he Government of Tanzania sion and contamination of water T has, in recent years, focused bodies. The spread of small-scale ( 0 = Xon revitalizing its mining sec- mining activities in and adjacent to tor in order to attract foreign in- sensitive ecosystems such as the vestment, with the goal of raising Serengeti and the Lake Victoria its contribution to Tanzania's GDP may, unless carefully addressed, from 2.1 percent to at least 10 per- have irreversible impacts on criti- cent in the medium term. With sup- cal habitats and disrupt ecosystem port from the World Bank through services. The social issues include the Mineral Sector Development potential for conflicts between tra- Project (MSDP), the legal and fiscal ditional users of the land, exposure regimes were revised and an envi- to mercury and other hazardous ronmental framework was put in substances and the spread of com- place. Institutional capacity build- municable diseases such as HIV/ ing is being promoted and the ra- AIDS. The increasing use of child tionalization and improvement of labor is also a serious cause for the small scale mining sub-sector concern, as is the number of and is being addressed. constraints suffered by women in- volved in mining as well as in spin- The current situation off industries and services. As the growth of this sub-sector While there ae still only a handful continues, so do the challenges, for of large-scale mining operations in both men and women. These in- Tanzania, small-scale and artisan clude a general lack of support ser- mining, primarily of gold and tan- vices, a lack of geological informa- zanite, is an important economic tion, technical assistance in envi- activity. Undertaken in remote ru- ronmentally sustainable and safe ral areas, it employs over 500,000 mining and processing, lack of ex- people directly and, combined with posure to best practice in commer- seasonal subsistence agriculture, is cialization, as well as inefficient and U a significant source of income for unsafe equipment and practices. the local population. It is recog- nized, however, that small-scale The role of the government and -TY mining raises a number of social the World Bank and environmental concerns. The environmental issues include po- The government is playing an im- tential for deforestation, soil ero- portant and proactive role in regu- larizing and improving small-scale small scale mining sub-sector will Tanzania Women Miners mining as well as fostering its need to be carried out as a longer- Association (TAWOMA) growth . Its present approach aims term effort. Additionally, there is to enhance the social conditions of wide recognition that continued TAWOMA is a non-governmental rural life with improved small-scale support and technical assistance to and non-prof organization formed mining activities, conducted in a both the public as well as the pri- in 192 Widua it mission climate of gender equality under vate sector are required to ensure ship of 192 individuals, its mission sound technical, environmental, that the benefits of mining are eq- is "to facilitate women miners to or- legal and social terms. It recognizes uitably shared; that gender ineq- ganize and access required finan- that for small-scale mining to uities are eliminated; and that ap- cial, technical and marketing ser- emerge as a vigorous rural indus- propriate environmental and social vices so that they can carry out try gender contributions must be safeguards are in place. mining activities that are both eco- duly integrated. These criteria are nomically and commercially viable reflected in the ongoing MSDP. Women and mining and environmentally sustainable This project aims to establish and thereby raise the standard of much-needed support systems for Mining is a demanding physical living for women miners and their small-scale miners. This support activity, which historically has been families." Specifically, its goals are: will take the form of regular exten- conducted with very little mecha- * to lobby for support and recogni- sion services to small-scale mines, nization and has traditionally been tion of women in mining nation- advice on mining methods, mineral a male activity. However, with ad- ally, regionally and internation- processing, environment, safety vances in technology and increas- ally and health matters, as well as mar- ing mechanization, women are in- * to identify the training and tech- ket access. Pilot tests, demonstra- creasingly participating in mining nical needs of women miners and tions and dissemination of mining activities. organize resources required to and processing equipment for Tanzanian women miners are meet these needs small-scale miners are being initi- actively contributing to the national * to prove relevant market informa- ated. In addition, the creation of economy while improving their tion and facilitate the marketing cooperatives will be encouraged, family's standard of living and the of mineral products including women miner coopera- conditions in their villages. How- * to set up a revolving fund to en- tives. The project aims to promote ever, they face numerous obstacles able women miners to access the the development of women miners to increased participation in this necessary funding required for not only through the creation of sector. Many lack a formal educa- their operations these cooperatives but also through tion, which hinders their ability to * to serve as an advocate for women education, training and skills de- deal with formal lending institu- in mining to the government on velopment, including promotional tions. An additional barrier to ob- policy issues and constraints presentations at schools and tar- tain credit is the requirement of faced by women. geted workshops on further aspects property for collateral, as most of mining practice, and relevant property is under traditional joint Through its committed leader- management practices. ownership with spouses. Further, ship, the Association has estab- Addressing issues in small-scale women may require their hus- lished an initial portfolio of activi- mining that involve economic, eco- bands' consent for loan applica- ties including the establishment of logical and social conditions re- tions. Time constraints are another a gem-cutting unit and a resource quires interventions that are long adversity facig women, who gen and information center. TAWOMA term, and are adaptive and inte- erally bear the traditional triple also organizes training and partici- grated in nature. While the MSDP burden of household chores, tend- pation in relevant forums. It net- has set up the basic framework for ng to children as well as bedig en works with various private sector promoting the mineral sector in the gaged in a livelihood. Tradtlonal mining companies as well as with country on a sustainable footing, male and female rolestmay also diis organizations such the Global Fund there is wide awareness among couragefemaleparticipationithis for Women and Unifem. stakeholders that support to the sector. In the long term, TAWOMA would like to establish the following: Forfurther information on * a center for the rental and test- TAWOMA, please contact them at: ing of mining equipment and Tanzania Women Miners Associa- tools tion, tel. No.: 255 51 150496; fax * a lapidary and jewelry production no.: 255 51 114275. Postal ad- unit dress L PO Box 78464, Dar es * a skills training center in mining Salaam, Tanzania. related fields such as environ- For further information on the mentally sound, more efficient MSDPproject, please email mining methods and mineral pro- Lmaraboli(aworldbank.org or cessing, gemology, health and 1hewawasam(a-worldbank.ora. safety aspects and the rehabili- Forfurther information on World tation of ecologically sensitive Bank gender and energy projects mining areas. in Africa, please email Sroddis(worldbank.org 0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FincIgs _ Findings would also be of interest to: . . Name Institution Letters, comments, and requests for publications not available at the World Bank Bookstore should be addressed to: Editor, Findings Operational Quality and Knowledge Services Africa Region, The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Room J-5-055 Washington, D.C. 20433 e-mail: pmohan@worldbank.org