Voices from Tanzania – Exploring cultural norms limiting women’s participation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities in Mwakitolyo, Shinyanga region
Women have historically contributed to mining activities across the world, yet their roles have often been overlooked or undervalued. Also in Tanzania’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector, women face systemic barriers rooted in cultural norms, legal frameworks, and socio-economic structures.
In this study, Thubutu Africa Initiatives (TAI) explores the cultural and social factors that hinder women’s involvement in gold mining in Mwakitolyo, a key artisanal and small-scale gold mining site in Shinyanga region where women represent a significant albeit minority portion of the ASGM labor force.
Voices from Tanzania – Her place in the mine: Women’s struggles and aspirations in the gemstone sector of Kalalani, Tanga
Tanzania is a key source of coloured gemstones, including tsavorite, rubies, and sapphires. The sector, driven largely by artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), contributes to the national economy but women—who make up 25–30% of the workforce—are often confined to insecure, low-paying roles and see little of its benefits. This report, carried out by HakiMadini with methodological and editorial support from IPIS, focuses on Kalalani ward in Tanga region, a long-standing gemstone-producing area. Based on field research with women miners, it examines the barriers they face, the coping strategies they adopt, and the opportunities that could strengthen their participation.
Voices from Tanzania – Well-being and economic mobility of women in the Mirerani Tanzanite mining area, Manyara
Tanzanite, a rare and valuable gemstone, holds significant economic potential for Tanzania. Yet, the country’s mining sector is marked by persistent socio-economic inequalities, particularly affecting women.
In Mirerani – the only place on earth where tanzanite is found – women face systematic barriers to decent work, equipment, training and leadership positions.
These challenges – compounded by entrenched discrimination and restrictive societal norms – exclude women from fully benefiting from tanzanite wealth and perpetuate cycles of poverty.
Carried out by the Tanzanian civil society organization CSP (Civic Social Protection Foundation) with support from IPIS, this report helps close the critical knowledge gap on the socio-economic and health challenges faced by women miners in Mirerani, providing evidence-based insights to guide inclusive and gender-responsive policy design.
Voices from Tanzania – Social and economic impacts of land acquisition by Barrick North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania: A case study of Komarera, Kewanja and Mjini Kati villages in Tarime District
In Tanzania, the need for land has increased dramatically in recent years, to accommodate different types of investment that push for the country’s industrialization, economic growth and development. Despite the existence of well-established procedures and legal provisions, challenges persist within Tanzania regarding land acquisition […]
Voices from Tanzania – The social-economic impact of land acquisition practices related to Bulyanhulu Gold Mine on communities in Msalala district council, Shinyanga region
This publication is part of IPIS’ Voices from Tanzania series and its edition on “The impact of land acquisition practices in the extractive sectors of northern Tanzania”. In their Voices from Tanzania study Rafiki SDO assesses the socio-economic impacts of land acquisition practices by the Bulyanhulu gold mine on 2 villages in Msalala district council, […]
Voices from Tanzania – Small-scale producers’ awareness and involvement in the process of land acquisition for the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline: The case study of Kilindi district in Tanga region
This publication is part of IPIS’ Voices from Tanzania series and its edition on “The impact of land acquisition practices in the extractive sectors of northern Tanzania”. In their Voices from Tanzania study HAKIARDHI assesses the level of awareness and involvement of small-scale producers in the land acquisition processes for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline […]
Voices from Tanzania – The impact of land acquisition processes for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project on communities in Kiteto district, Manyara region
This publication is part of IPIS’ Voices from Tanzania series and its edition on “The impact of land acquisition practices in the extractive sectors of northern Tanzania”. In their Voices from Tanzania study Kinnapa Development Programme discusses the impact of land acquisition processes for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project on 3 village […]
Voices from Tanzania – The human rights impact of large-scale infrastructure projects: Case studies on Business & Human Rights
The Voices from Tanzania series supports local field-based studies into business and human rights topics in Tanzania. This third volume presents five cases studies that focus on the human rights impact of large-scale infrastructure projects. The studies assessed the human rights impact of 3 energy supply projects– the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Manyara region), […]
Voices from Tanzania – Land rights and environment: Case studies on Business & Human Rights
The second volume of “Voices from Tanzania” presents four cases studies that focus on “land rights and environment”. Download this publication in pdf Pakua muhtasari kwa kiswahili The studies are conducted by Tanzanian civil society organisations Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) , HakiArdhi (the Land Rights Research and Resources Institute), Tanzania Women Empowerment in Action […]
Voices from Tanzania – Case studies on pertinent corporate human rights issues in Tanzania
“Voices from Tanzania – case studies on Business and Human Rights (Volume 1)” presents five studies on pertinent corporate human rights issues in Tanzania as conducted by Business and Human Rights Tanzania (BHRT), the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG), Governance Links Tanzania, the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) and IPIS’ project […]
