Over decades good governance of the extractive sector has remained  insufficient with mineral, oil and natural gas wealth failing to fully deliver on expected economic prosperity

Extractives Governance Program

Mining is a cornerstone of Tanzania’s economy, contributing nearly 10% of GDP and over half of non-traditional exports. With rich deposits of gold, gemstones, industrial minerals, and strategic green transition minerals such as graphite, nickel, and lithium, the sector holds great promise for national development. Tanzania is a member to regional and global minerals governance frameworks such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the Kimberly Process and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) minerals certification. The government has commenced a process to institute new mining reforms, with a view of capturing more benefits from its strategic green or critical minerals.  Yet, governance and transparency challenges persist, with risks of revenue loss, community exclusion, and environmental harm. Tanzania’s mining sector includes both artisanal, small, medium and large-scale operations.

At the regional level, East Africa and the Great Lakes region host some of the continent’s richest mineral and petroleum resources. However, weak governance, mineral smuggling, low value addition, and exploitative practices have fueled conflict, poverty, and inequality. The global shift toward decarbonization also places pressure on the region to manage critical minerals responsibly while planning for a just transition away from fossil fuels.

Our program strengthens governance of Tanzania’s and the region’s extractive sector through research, advocacy, and public awareness. We work to:

  • Promote progressive extractive policies, legal reforms, and fair taxation.

  • Enhance transparency, accountability, and community benefits.

  • Advance responsible governance of green and critical minerals.

  • Foster public dialogue on decarbonization and the future of oil and gas in a just transition.

More about our work in this program can be viewed via our project pages, latest news, publications and reports sections of this website