How The Mining Sector Contributes To Community Development Initiatives

It plays a significant role in Rwanda's overall development, contributing to infrastructure, job creation, health, education, and even environmental conservation. It's not just about extracting resources; mining is mandated to build up the communities and nation alongside its operations.

- GAMICO AND IMC

Every registered mining company in Rwanda develops and implements corporate social responsibility initiatives. These plans detail specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound activities that the mining and quarrying companies commit to, ensuring their contribution to the social and economic development of surrounding communities.

Beyond its financial contribution, mining plays a crucial role in job creation. As the country's largest export revenue earner, it currently offers off-farm jobs to over 70,000 people, ranging from miners and engineers to metallurgists, health and safety workers, environmentalists, and geologists.

Revenue sharing is key to distributing the benefits of mining. Over the past four years, over RWF2 billion ($1.5 million) have been injected into this scheme, directly funding development projects in key mine-hosted communities and districts. For example, mining contributed to building the Ruhunde Health Center in Burera District, a modern facility serving surrounding communities, eventually adding a maternity ward.