Reclaim Sustainability – Gold Project Baseline Study Report

Overview

Baseline for the Reclaim Sustainability! Gold project, run by a Solidaridad-led consortium in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASM) areas. It covered Migori, Narok and Kakamega counties in Kenya, and Busia, Mubende-Kassanda and Buhweju in Uganda. The study measured baseline values for the programme's indicators under its three impact areas (accelerate disruptive innovations, advocate through inclusive dialogue, amplify the voice of citizens). It also reviewed whether the 2025 targets were realistic. Fieldwork took place in mid-2021, and the report is dated 29 September 2021.

Key findings

• The baseline was zero for almost all indicators. The exception was public sector actors developing new or improved frameworks: 2 (Kenya 1, Uganda 1), namely Kenya's Artisanal Mining Strategy 2021 and Uganda's Mining (Amendment) Act 2021.
• Neither country had new or improved private sector policies or inclusive business models for ASM gold. Fairtrade and EPRM requirements had not yet been met for ASM gold in either country.
• Progress towards policy change was rated low. Miners said Kenya's Mining Act 2016 has not been put into practice, and Uganda's Mining Act 2003 does not recognise artisanal miners.
• County and national miners' associations (e.g. MICMA, KCMA, NASMA) exist, but weak leadership and unclear mandates limit their influence.
• Miners have had training on safe mining, processing, laws and gender, but there is no data on how many have better access to information. Miners' own role in dialogue is weak, and CSOs lead most of it.
• ASM tools and technologies are mostly rudimentary. Some sites have started using crushers, compressors and excavators, but not as part of systematically designed models.

Recommendations

• Focus the 'amplify the voice of citizens' strategy on building miners' own organisations and their capacity to raise issues with authorities, with support from strong CSOs.
• Raise the 2025 target for public sector actors developing frameworks from 3 to 4 per country, to include county governments, NEMA and other agencies.
• Set a 2025 target of 2 implemented frameworks per country, and a 'medium' level of policy change progress (consensus reached and recommendations submitted).
• Raise targets for CSOs taking part in dialogue and for CSO advocacy initiatives to 6 per country, or set lower targets if the project works through CSO networks.
• Cut the target for CSO solutions/recommendations adopted by decision-makers from 4 to 2 per country, because adoption takes a long time.
• Align the targets for individuals mobilised with the miner targets: 3,500 in Kenya (2,000 male, 1,500 female) and 2,300 in Uganda (1,500 male, 800 female). Raise CSO-led awareness campaigns from 1 to 2 per country.

Methodology

Qualitative design: document review, separate focus group discussions with male and female miners and ASM organisations (6-8 per group), key informant interviews with CSOs, the private sector, and county/district and national government, and mine-site observation checklists. Interviews were held in person or virtually depending on COVID-19 rules.