Natural Resources Management for Sustainable Development in Kenya
TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS
Study to Identify the Economic and Job Creation Potential of Artisanal and Small-Scale
Mining, particular for youth and women, in Taita Taveta County
Background
The management of extractive industries is one of the most critical challenges facing many
resource-dependent developing countries today. Rather than stimulating broad-based
economic development, reliance on resource extraction has tended to concentrate wealth
and power in the hands of a few, exacerbate corruption and inequalities, lead to
environmental degradation and pollution, while doing little to reduce poverty, economic
disparities and generate employment. Worse still, in many countries extractive resources
have fuelled violent conflicts1. In addition, gender equality and ensuring women`s issues
especially, have not been given a visible arena within the extractive industries. In such
contexts, there are thus several challenges for developing sustainable human
development, and gains made over years of progress with respect to meeting the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and democratic reforms can easily be undone.
The recent announcement of oil discovery and other minerals has propelled Kenya as a
new player in the global market for hydrocarbons and valued minerals. The International
Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that oil production in Kenya is expected to start in six to
seven years from now, giving the country time to prepare to manage its endowment to
the achieve its development goals as stipulated in the 2030 Vision. In addition to oil, Kenya
is also rich in gas, rare earth metals, coal, iron ore, gold, limestone, gypsum, soda ash,
gemstones, manganese ore, fluorspar, diatomite, titanium, zircon, chromite, niobium and
silica sand. Most recently, Cortec Mining Kenya Limited has announced that Mrima Hills in
Kwale County has one of the largest rare earth mineral deposits in the world with a
potential in-ground value of up to $62.4 billion.
Kenya is very well known for gemstone mining, however, the small-scale (artisanal) miners
dominate the industry. Artisanal mining accounts for over 60% of annual gemstone
production in Kenya; women and youth play a major role in artisanal mining. In 2002 Kenya
had an estimated production of 10.9 tonnes of Ruby corundum (5.86 tonnes in 2001) and
61.4 tonnes of gemstones (compared to 73.3 tonnes in 2001). There has been a decline in
Kenya's gemstone mining industry recently; with the same traditional players continuing
to dominate the sector.
In Taita Taveta County, it has been reported that the artisanal and small-scale miners who
prospect for the minerals are violently evicted from the mines by powerful and well1
Nicholas Shaxson (2007) Poisoned Wells: The Dirty Politics of African Oil
connected large-scale prospectors, miners and traders who claim legal ownership of the
land as soon as the locals discover mineral deposits. Conflicts between small-scale
gemstone miners and large scale-miners gemstones miners arise because most of the land
in the lower zones of Taita-Taveta County is not demarcated; the general feeling is that the
locals have been robbed of their land and resources.
Most artisanal mining in Taita Taveta is rudimentary in nature; the miners mainly use easily
available explosives to break down the rocks in search of gemstones and precious metals.
The health and environmental risks are enormous. Besides these issues, the markets for
gemstones is not well established – a few dealers and brokers still control the entire
process; the small-scale artisanal miners in Taita Taveta have limited market powers. It has
been reported (but not confirmed) that there is a big black market selling of gemstones.
The miners also lack the technical knowhow, capacity, to correctly value the gemstones.
The benefits accruing from the extractive industry are enormous and estimated to run into
billions of shillings; however there is no clear policy, regulatory & legislative framework to
adequately address the issues of royalties and benefit sharing between the investors,
communities, the county and national governments. The issue of resources royalties is a
huge part of the debate about transforming the sector. In addition, there is limited
information on artisanal mining in Kenya, including employment numbers, safety
measures and effects on youth and women.
Generally, men tend to have greater access to benefits and opportunities for extractive
industries, while women bear more of the social, environmental and economic impacts.
Promoting and working toward greater inclusiveness is key to ensuring that high-value
resources as the extractive sector can provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for men
and women equally. It is thus important to undertake studies on artisanal and small-scale
mining to identify the economic and job creation potential of this sector, as well as the
environmental and social impacts of artisanal mining on women and men, boys and girls,
in Taita Taveta County.
Scope of Study
The consultant will carry out a study to generally assess and identify the “Economic and
Job Creation Potential of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, particular for youth and women
in Taita Taveta County”.
The proposed study shall provide a comprehensive assessment of the opportunities,
challenges and risks of men, women and youth participating in the artisanal mining. The
study shall provide an assessment of the impacts of the artisanal mining operations on
men and women in the focus areas – especially the potential of artisanal mining to bring
about socio-economic transformation and enhanced job creation for the communities in
the Taita Taveta County with a special focus on youth and women.
Objective of the study
The objective of the study is: to assess and identify the risks, challenges and opportunities
of men, women and youth of in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, particularly for youth and
women in Taita Taveta County”.
To achieve this objective the consultant will be required to:
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Define the assessment criteria
Assess current contribution of artisanal mining to household income within the
communities in Taita Taveta County.
Provide gender specific socio-economic data and analyses, based on gender
disaggregated statistics / data, to determine the current contribution to household
incomes, economic opportunities and job creation potential for both men and
women and youth within the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in Taita Taveta.
Carry out a supply chain analysis of gemstones trade in Kenya with a special focus
on Taita Taveta County; providing details in terms of prices, quantities, quality and
processes used at various links in the value chain.
Identify challenges faced at various links in the value chain, with particular focus
on small-scale mineral producers / miners (upstream), covering the following
issues:
a. Inputs and equipment
b. Finance
c. Environmental sustainability
d. Social problems such as conflicts, gender-based violence, etc.
e. Alternative livelihood opportunities available (this is relevant only to smallscale mineral producers/ miners)
f. Laws and regulations (or the lack thereof)
g. Access to information, including geological information
h. Existence and functioning of institutions such as associations and business
development agencies
Highlight policy, economic, social, and political factors hindering growth in the
supply of gemstones and the development of effective value chains that integrate
the poor with a gender specific focus of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector
in Taita Taveta County
Define causes of low royalty returns to the national government
Recommend gender sensitive approaches on how to mitigate these challenges and
enhance the equitable and sustainable artisanal and small scale mining
Develop and share guidelines implementing the recommendations
Based on stakeholder consultation workshop(s), provide recommendation for
policy and legislative action that will ensure equitable distribution of artisanal
mining operations benefits to men, women and youth.
Outputs
The key output from this assignment will be a report on the “Economic and Job Creation
Potential of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, particularly for youth and women, in Taita
Taveta County”.
The report should include the following:
 An assessment of risks, challenges, opportunities for enhancing sustainable
livelihoods from small scale gemstone mining with a particular focus on youth and
women of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in Taita Taveta County
 An assessment of the impact of small scale gemstone mining for women, men and
youth
 A description (with gender specific examples) of the factors hindering growth of
the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in Taita Taveta County.
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A value chain analysis by gender of artisanal mining
Recommendations on gender sensitive approaches on how to mitigate these
challenges
Guidelines implementing the recommendations.
Provide recommendation for policy and legislative action that will ensure equitable
distribution of artisanal mining operations benefits to men, women and youth.
The list of outputs expected from the consultant includes the following:
Outputs
Inception report including draft structure of final report and assessment criteria for
analysing the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in Taita Taveta County to
determine its economic and job creation potential particularly for youth and women
First draft of final report sent to UNDP for comments
Facilitation of stakeholder consultation workshop (s)
Final report (after incorporating comments and feedback)
The Consultancy
UNDP seeks a consultant that can adequately carry out the above task within the given
time frame.
Duration of Contract
50 days over a period of 2 months
Reporting lines
The Consultant will work under direct supervision of the Taita Taveta County Executive
Committee (CEC) Member in-charge of the Ministry of Mining, Environment, Wildlife and
Natural Resources with technical backstopping from the Team Leader of the Inclusive
Economic Growth (IEG) Unit of UNDP Kenya.
Duty Station
The duty station shall be Voi town, Taita Taveta County. The county government of Taita
Taveta County shall provide a working space but the consultant shall provide their own
equipment (computers, software, etc.)
Payment Modalities
Payment to the consultant will be made in three instalments upon satisfactory completion
of the following deliverables:
 1st instalment: 20% upon production and presentation of inception report
 2nd instalment: 30% upon submission of first draft report
 3rd instalment: 50% upon submission of the final report with all deliverables
Competencies and Qualifications of Consultant
The consultants should have the following minimum qualifications and competencies.
 Minimum MA/MSc in Economics, International Development, Public Policy or
other relevant field.
 Over 7 years of experience in research, socio-economic work, development policy
research, gender related work or related fields
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Experience in supply chain analysis, especially gemstones and precious metals
value chains in Kenya and elsewhere
Proven understanding of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in Kenya and
especially in Taita Taveta County
Highly developed analytical skills with ability to produce high quality analytical
reports and policy papers
High organizational and facilitation skills and ability to handle complex tasks with
tight deadlines
Excellent ability to communicate in English and Kiswahili
Must fulfil the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya on
integrity.
Application Procedure
Interested and qualified firms or individual consultants should submit their applications
which should include the following:
1. A technical proposal which should include the approach and detailed
methodology for carrying out the work, list of personnel and their detailed CVs,
timelines and schedule.
2. UNDP Personal History Form (P11) for all Consultants involved in the study.
3. Individual Contract Proposal Form
Please quote “Economic and Job Creation Potential of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining
in Taita Taveta County” on the subject line.
Applications should be emailed to consultants.ken@undp.org to reach us not later than
(date) at 4.00 P.M Kenya Time.
Please see the “Terms of Reference”, the “P11 Form”, the “Individual Contract Proposal
Form” and the Terms and Conditions of Individual Contracts by visiting the UNDP Kenya
Website: - http://www.ke.undp.org/content/kenya/en/home/operations/procurement