[{"bbox": [97, 153, 1132, 212], "category": "Text", "text": "along the CRM value chains for its positive impact on the environment, capacity to attract green finance, and to create sustainable, inclusive and decent jobs."}, {"bbox": [97, 212, 1133, 500], "category": "Text", "text": "Additionally, the weak regulatory framework and its enforcement, the inconherence of State policy across departments and functions in addressing adverse human rights impacts, the lack of clear expectations that business operating respect human rights add up to the instability and the underperformance of the sector. For instance, in 2022, a Chinese-owned open-cast copper mine begun operations within the Lower Zambezi National Park, threatening wildlife in Zambia and Zimbabwe, and clearly showing the gaps in the regulatory system. This is a major weakness in a country where 18% of the total land area is dedicated to national parks and reserves. Weak business and human rights regulatory frameworks translate into a highly developed informal/illegal mining sub-sector, violations of land and environmental rights, with heavy repercussions on labour rights, and on communities and individuals' health and safety."}, {"bbox": [97, 500, 1133, 733], "category": "Text", "text": "While referring to an enabling environment for the mining and downstream processing sectors, reference needs to be made to the broader regulatory systems in the country: poor transport infrastructure, lack of reliable sources of energy, high cost and low availability of capital, as well as the high cost of doing business in Zambia are major challenges for the mining sector's development. Also, apart from discriminatory legislative framework and social norms, the gender related myths or taboos surrounding the mining activities are barriers to women's full participation and benefiting from the minerals as natural resources. There are a lot of beliefs which have affected women's participation and the same beliefs do not apply to men as far as mining activities are concerned."}, {"bbox": [97, 744, 444, 772], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Inadequate and insufficient skills"}, {"bbox": [97, 773, 1133, 860], "category": "Text", "text": "Zambia's mining labour market is characterised by a very diversified workforce engaged in various roles, from skilled engineers and geologists, to technicians, to day laborers involved in crushing stone, digging or panning. Generally, the industry faces significant challenges finding a skilled workforce."}, {"bbox": [97, 860, 1133, 1497], "category": "Text", "text": "The ASM sub-sector mainly employs people with low levels of education, exacerbating the general challenges the sector faces, and creating serious barriers to its formalization. Cumbersome and bureaucratic licensing process and difficulties in preparing Environmental and Social Impact Assessments and proposals are certainly more difficult for people of lower educational attainment. The government's emphasis on formalization of the sub-sector, accompanied by increasing measures to strengthen the regulatory framework, could increase the risk of unemployment and of driving away those in the sector, especially women and youth, who may face challenges, for instance, in obtaining licenses. Low literacy levels, including financial literacy, make it very difficult to access financing options such as microfinance, grants, or soft loans to invest in operations and the sector as a whole. Lack of access to finance also hampers the ability to buy and use appropriate up-to-date technology and equipment such as efficient mining tools, safety gear, and environmental monitoring equipment. In particular, women and young people with inadequate access to financing are unable to meet the costs attached to obtaining mining rights which also makes their mining activities vulnerable as they operate outside the legal framework where formalisation strategies have little impact on their productivity. As a consequence of the weak regulatory framework, and due a lack of knowledge and inability to afford Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE), individuals are often exposed to hazardous pollutants. Lack of adequate skills and less power negotiating powers over their minerals increases also the chances of exploitation by buyers in the market, especially among women and young people, limiting their potential to expand and reap the benefits of the sector. There is also a correlation between families with lower levels of education and the risk of child labour, as limited livelihood options or access to education lead some children to join the workforce at very young ages. Lack of knowledge can also lead to the abuse and degradation of the environment."}, {"bbox": [97, 1524, 1133, 1641], "category": "Text", "text": "In the large-scale mining sector, only skilled labour is generally required for most of employment offered, and mining companies often offer intensive training at the place of employment. However, making available specific mining skills in-country, would also improve the enabling environment for further investments in Zambia. The availability, locally, of the required skills is hindered by the fact that the"}, {"bbox": [604, 1653, 629, 1677], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "12"}]