Pact receives grant to combat child labor in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Tanzania

This week, Pact received a $4 million award to address child labor issues and improve working conditions in Tanzania’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector. Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, the project, Watoto ni Hazina (or Children are Treasure), will build the capacity of government and civil society to reduce child labor and promote acceptable conditions of work in gold mining communities in the Geita region of Tanzania. 

Child labor in mining is one of the worst forms of child labor. According to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs’ recent Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor report, children experiencing child labor in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Tanzania are exposed to hazardous working conditions. These include crawling through tiny and unreinforced mineshafts into deep, unstable pits, working with toxic metals and chemicals, hauling gold ore bags and operating heavy machinery. 

The new project will enable key partners to produce and disseminate data, increase the capacity of the government to monitor and identify labor violations and pilot effective community-based approaches to withdrawing children from illegal and exploitative labor conditions. 

“This partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor marks a significant milestone for our organization and highlights the transformative collaboration between the Government of Tanzania and the United States,” said Dr. Levina Kikoyo, Pact's Country Director in Tanzania. “This project reflects a shared vision of a future where children are free from exploitative labor and communities drive sustainable change. Through innovation, partnership and evidence-based solutions, we are ready to strengthen systems, empower communities to lead and ensure that children are given the freedom and opportunity to thrive.” 

“There are 26 countries, including Tanzania, where gold is produced using child labor, making gold the U.S. Department of Labor’s most listed good by geography. Adding to Pact’s history of work reducing child labor and improving working conditions in gold, cobalt and mica mining communities in Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and elsewhere, our new Watoto ni Hazina project will enable thousands more children to leave mining,” said James McQuilken, Pact’s Director of Responsible Mining. “By addressing the underlying economic and social drivers of child labor alongside the structural governance challenges and poor working conditions, together with communities, government and civil society partners, we can secure artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Tanzania as decent work for economic growth and community-led development.” 

Pact has worked for more than a decade to address child labor in mining. Using a systemic, integrated approach that is tailored to each community, we begin by understanding factors that are contributing to child labor. Then we work in partnership with communities, governments, the private sector and miners themselves to address these root causes. Along the way, we build the capacity of local institutions, including schools, health and social service agencies and child protection organizations. We also work with parents and caregivers to boost their income – a main driver in keeping children in school and out of the labor force.