Effects of the Mining Legal Framework on Women Participation in Artisanal and Small Scale Mining: Lessons from Taita Taveta County (Kenya)

David Mugo,Florence Ondieki Mwaura,Miriam Omolo

doi:10.6007/ijarbss/v11-i7/9969

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is increasingly the focus of the national efforts to effectively regulate the sector as an initiative to ameliorate national benefits by increasing women participation in the sector while seeking to address challenges that they face. Despite women’s participation in the ASM sector being estimated at nearly 50% in the mining areas, their significant participation has largely been overlooked. The study investigated the effect of legal framework on women participation in ASM. To achieve this, the study used data from a cross-sectional survey of 146 women working at different nodes of the ASM sector in Taita Taveta County. Descriptive statistics and linear regression was employed to analyse data. The results show that the requirements for mining permits have a positive effect on women participation in ASM while the process of obtaining a mining license had a negative influence. We recommend policy frameworks that facilitate easy access to mining licenses by women in the ASM sector. Specifically, there is a need to establish a field office for offering the ASM mining licenses and reduce bureaucracies associated with obtaining mining permits.

Highlights

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has in recent times experienced monumental growth worldwide, in rural areas of the developing countries where unemployment rates are relatively higher and widespread
The study collected data from 146 women who participated in ASM within Taita Taveta County
According to the F-statistic (ANOVA test), the model was found statistically significant given the p-value of 0.000

Summary

Introduction

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has in recent times experienced monumental growth worldwide, in rural areas of the developing countries where unemployment rates are relatively higher and widespread. Given the important role of women's involvement in economic activities through the provision of labour, ownership of production inputs, direct participation in the production process, and carrying out the household chores (Mwakumanya et al, 2016), there is a need to understand the local gender dynamics, detachments and encounters around the ASM sector. This calls for stakeholders to recognize the gender dynamics at all stages of the ASM value chain before developing ASM assistance strategies and/or programmes, and the need to mainstream gender in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector (Rijksoverheid, 2015). The fees or amount of payable tax to business whether paid either annually or periodically to either County or National Government, the technical or administrative support provided by County and National Government officers to artisanal miners and identify how women are involved in decision-making processes in mining issues

Research Methodology

Results and Discussion

Conclusion