Building Resilience through Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Participatory Approach to Sustainable Critical Mineral Supply Chains and Rural Livelihoods in Zambia
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) – the low-tech, labour-intensive processing and extraction of minerals by individuals or groups – plays a dual role in global mineral supply chains and rural livelihoods. This role is increasingly vital as global demand for critical minerals, essential for low-carbon technologies, is projected to grow five-fold by 2050, while climate-induced shocks are driving rural communities to adopt ASM as an alternative livelihood strategy. However, ASM is often associated with persistent socio-economic and environmental challenges, whilst remains one of the most poorly researched sectors in the Global South. Zambia exemplifies this paradox: hosting abundant critical minerals and an ASM sector that supports 500,000 livelihoods, whilst facing significant challenges in harnessing these for sustainable development.
My PhD asks: How can ASM contribute to responsible critical mineral supply chains whilst supporting resilient rural livelihoods? Using Zambia as a case study, it employs Participatory Systems Dynamics Modelling (PSDM) to map ASM’s socio-economic and ecological interactions and identify leverage points for sustainable interventions. This decolonised, stakeholder-driven approach will develop actionable pathways for integrating ASM into critical mineral supply chains whilst advancing social equity, environmental stewardship, and economic resilience.
By generating robust, context-specific insights and pioneering PSDM in the ASM context, this research addresses key knowledge gaps and offers replicable frameworks for inclusive critical mineral resource governance. It aims to reshape the global narrative around ASM, positioning it as an indispensible component of a just, sustainable post-2030 development vision.