Oxford Policy Management/DFID: Assessment of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) Programmatic Intervention Priorities for K-EXPRO

Client: Oxford Policy Management

End Client: UK Department for International Development (DFID)

Collaboration: N/A

The Kenya Extractives Programme (K-EXPRO) is a UK Department for International Development (DFID) funded programme that aims to contribute to poverty reduction in Kenya through inclusive and sustainable economic development within the extractive industries.

Oxford Policy Management, who is implementing K-EXPRO on behalf of DFID, contracted Levin Sources to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Mining in Kenya. The focus of the work was to support measures to improve management of the ASM sector.

Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) provides employment opportunities for an estimated 160,000 people in Kenya and has a key role to play in sustainable rural development. However, when unregulated and unsupported, the sector often fails to achieve the great potential it holds in this respect. Conversely, it is often a catalyst for negative impacts on women, children, economically marginalised people, and the environment. The K-EXPRO therefore focuses on addressing the political and economic contexts that constrain sustainable growth of the extractive industries.

Levin Sources’ involvement in K-EXPRO was spread over three phases:

1. Stakeholder consultations. As part of the initial research to assess the current state of sector governance and options for interventions, Levin Sources engaged in desk and field-based research.
2. Working closely with the Government of Kenya (GoK)’s Ministry of Mining (MoM) to identify priority thematic areas for ASM programming. This included a participatory workshop facilitated in Nairobi to build the government’s understanding of the ASM sector and capacity to engage with it.
3. Providing technical support in the development of a Kenyan Artisanal Mining Strategy. The strategy was prepared through through a consultative process, including a two-day national strategy workshop and ongoing support to the MoM’s newly established ASM Technical Committee.

The project provided the GoK with a platform from which to effectively plan and allocate resources targeted at improved regulation and development of the ASM sector. It also provides a reference document against which the MoM can be evaluated and held accountable by civil society and target beneficiary groups.

Tom Onyango, Deputy Team Leader for the K-EXPRO programme, praised Levin Sources’ work for “…great leadership and expertise.”

“It was truly an honour working with Levin Sources in this strategy development process.”