How Tanzania’s small-scale miners are turning grit into growth

IN the hills and hinterlands of Tanzania, far from the polished boardrooms of Dar es Salaam, a quiet transformation is taking shape. Beneath the red soil and sunbaked landscapes, small-scale miners long operating in the shadows are emerging into the spotlight with a new sense of purpose and possibility.

Once dismissed as informal, unregulated and often misunderstood, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is undergoing a much-needed facelift. Today, the sector stands on the brink of a new chapter one built on partnerships, training and digital innovation.

For decades, Tanzania’s small-scale miners have toiled largely unnoticed. Isolated in remote regions, many worked without access to basic services, training, or support left to navigate difficult terrain, both literal and regulatory. The risks were high, the gains uncertain. Safety standards were minimal, health risks abundant and market access limited.

Wary of engagement with authorities, many miners operated informally, moving from site to site in search of minerals while avoiding official channels. Without clear legal protections or institutional backing, their efforts though essential to local economies, often remained disconnected from national development strategies.

But things are changing. The world’s growing demand for minerals such as graphite, cobalt and lithium essential for the clean energy transition is reshaping the global mining map. And Tanzania, with its rich deposits of these critical resources, is positioning itself as a key player.

In this shift, small-scale miners have become part of the equation. Recognising the potential of the ASM sector, the Tanzanian Mining Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched a bold initiative to professionalise and empower miners.

Through a threeyear Development Minerals Programme, supported by the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, extension services are now being rolled out in four key regions: Dodoma, Singida, Morogoro and Tanga.

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The programme known as UNDP’s ACP-EU initiative aims to bridge the gap between small-scale miners and institutional support systems. The focus is both practical and transformative: providing training in environmental management, occupational health and safety, legal compliance, market linkages and financial literacy.

“By addressing these significant gaps, the programme aims to formalise and professionalise small-scale mining, ensuring it can meet Tanzania’s growing infrastructure requirements,” says Mr Godfrey Nyamrunda, the programme’s National Coordinator.

The vision goes beyond improving skills. It seeks to reframe ASM not as a fringe operation, but as a vital contributor to the nation’s economy one that can align with global sustainability standards and attract responsible investment.

Embracing the digital age

One of the most forward thinking elements of the programme is its focus on digital literacy. In a world increasingly driven by technology, small-scale miners are being introduced to digital platforms learning to use social media, online marketplaces and even artificial intelligence tools to improve visibility and efficiency.

For miners who’ve worked their entire lives with tools in hand and mud underfoot, the shift to digital might seem daunting. But the benefits are clear: increased access to market information, better communication with stakeholders and new opportunities for funding and partnership.

The initiative aims to reach 2,000 miners within six months, combining digital tools with scientific training to improve not just livelihoods, but also the environmental conditions in which they work.

For those on the ground, the transformation is already taking root. For instance, Geoffrey Mutagwa, Engineer at the Singida Regional Mining Office, notes that the shift is encouraging a new culture within the sector one focused on collaboration and learning.

“This is not just about increasing productivity,” he says.

“It’s about creating a community of miners who share knowledge, who understand the science behind what they’re doing and who can see the bigger picture.” His counterpart in Dodoma, Engineer Chacha Megewa, agrees. He highlights how research into improving ASM practices often remains inaccessible due to language barriers or a lack of outreach.

The new programme changes that. “This programme ensures knowledge is accessible in Kiswahili and other local languages, enabling miners to engage meaningfully and receive real-time guidance, regardless of their education level,” Megewa explains.

It’s a simple but powerful concept: making information understandable, usable and relevant. By doing so, the programme is not just teaching miners what to do, but empowering them to take ownership of their work and its impact. Perhaps one of the most important outcomes of this initiative is its potential to reshape how ASM is perceived by the public, the government and the miners themselves.

Too often, small-scale miners have been viewed as informal workers unwilling to comply with regulations or adopt new practices. But as this initiative shows, the issue has never been unwillingness it’s been lack of access, training and support.

By introducing structured training, digital tools and community engagement, the programme is challenging outdated narratives.

It’s revealing a sector full of potential, resilience and innovation one that, with the right support, can meet both local development goals and international sustainability standards. As the programme gains momentum, there’s a growing sense that Tanzania may be setting a benchmark for other mineral-rich countries facing similar challenges.

“This is not just a project; it’s a model,” says Nyamrunda.

“If we can show how targeted support and strong partnerships can unlock the potential of small-scale mining, other regions and other countries will take notice.” The hope is that what begins in Dodoma, Singida, Morogoro and Tanga can be replicated elsewhere, creating a nationwide framework that supports miners from every region and background.

At its core, the transformation of Tanzania’s ASM sector is about turning challenges into opportunities. It’s about giving miners the tools they need not just to survive, but to thrive.

And it’s about recognising that the path to economic growth and sustainability runs not just through corporate mines and megaprojects, but through the hands of everyday Tanzanians working beneath the soil. By embracing digital tools, sharing knowledge and creating space for collaboration, the programme is breathing new life into an old sector.

In many ways, the miners of Tanzania are no longer just extracting minerals they are extracting hope, dignity and a stake in the country’s future.