More than 10,000 artisanal and small-scale miners are at work across Namibia, supporting a further 25,000 dependents in rural regions such as Kunene, Erongo, and //Karas.
Together, they represent a quiet but powerful workforce—35,000 Namibians whose livelihoods are tied directly to the extraction of the country’s minerals.
From semi-precious gemstones such as aquamarine, topaz, and amethyst to emerging critical minerals like copper, the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) sector has become a pillar of survival and a potential driver of inclusive growth.
Yet, this essential sector remains trapped in informality. ASM operations are fragmented, unregulated, and poorly financed.
Licensing processes are complex and costly, with little support for miners who often lack formal education or technical training.
Many work with outdated tools and minimal safety procedures, while the absence of value-chain linkages restricts their access to markets. Despite its contribution to rural economies, the sector’s total factor productivity — its efficiency and output per worker — remains constrained by bureaucracy, limited land access, and lack of geological data.
Formalisation and opportunity
Namibia’s ASM sector holds significant promise if given structure and support. The Kunene Frontier Corridor, often described as the nation’s next mineral and energy frontier, offers opportunities for discoveries and community-based extraction models.
Semi-precious stone and dimension-stone value chains could anchor rural enterprise development if local beneficiation and cutting centres are established.
Introducing regional hubs for cutting, polishing, and processing could transform ASM into a formal, tax-paying segment of the economy.
Such infrastructure would allow miners to add value before export, multiplying incomes and creating skilled jobs.
At the heart of the problem lies an outdated regulatory framework. Licensing remains centralised and costly, deterring small miners from formalising their operations. Many claims are situated on communal or privately owned land held by larger exploration licence (EPL) owners, restricting legal access for ASM operators.
The lack of institutional support from the Geological Survey of Namibia further limits miners’ ability to identify viable deposits or test their ore for quality and value.
Access to finance is another persistent obstacle. Without collateral or banking records, miners cannot secure loans for equipment or expansion. A proposed solution involves establishing an equipment-leasing and working capital facility for ASM and mining-linked micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), backed by government guarantees and paired with mandatory business and safety training.
MSMEs: The connective tissue of local mining
Mining-related MSMEs have grown alongside large-scale mining (LSM) projects, forming the connective tissue between national investments and local economies. Thousands of enterprises now operate within or adjacent to mining value chains — from logistics and catering to construction and maintenance. In 2024 alone, mining-linked MSMEs supplied more than N$24 billion in goods and services to the industry.
However, these enterprises face structural constraints similar to those of ASM: limited access to finance, shortages of technical skills, outdated technology, and unreliable infrastructure. Targeted credit facilities, mentorship programmes, and inclusion in supplier databases could transform their productivity and enable meaningful participation in high-value contracts.
Women make up just 18% of Namibia’s mining workforce, and fewer than 10% have held executive positions since 2009. Youth participation remains marginal, mainly due to the lack of structured pathways from education to employment. Despite this, women and young people are increasingly recognised as key to innovation and sustainability within the sector.
Empowering women and youth is more than a moral imperative — it is a strategic necessity. As Namibia expands uranium and gold production and moves into new frontiers like lithium and rare earths, inclusion will be vital to sustaining growth and driving innovation. Youth bring digital literacy and new perspectives that are essential for modernising mineral value chains and advancing local beneficiation.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy, together with industry stakeholders, is exploring reforms to fast-track low-cost licensing for ASM and simplify environmental and safety standards. Proposed frameworks include a dedicated ASM land-access policy, shared processing hubs, and mining extension services offering on-site training and technical assistance.
At the same time, gender- and youth-inclusion programmes are being designed in partnership with vocational training centres to build technical and entrepreneurial capacity. Setting measurable participation targets, not quotas, would ensure women and youth are integrated into supplier development, apprenticeships, and local-content opportunities.
Namibia’s ASM, MSME, and inclusive mining ecosystem could become a cornerstone of sustainable industrialisation if supported with finance, technology, and training. Formalising small-scale mining, empowering local enterprises, and centring women and youth in capacity building would not only expand employment and skills but also strengthen national supply chains.
The challenge is not potential — it is policy and coordination. If unlocked, the combined energy of Namibia’s artisanal miners, small businesses, and emerging young talent could redefine the country’s mining economy from the ground up.
