Expert on professionalisation in small-scale mining (TVET Skills Development, Due Diligence, Occupational, Health, Safety, environmental and social standards) for Sustainable Development of the Mining Sector in Rwanda(Great Lakes Cluster)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

GIZ has been commissioned by the European Union and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development to implement the project “Sustainable Development of the Mining Sector in Rwanda”. The Action aims to strengthen the contribution of the mining sector to economic and social development through a holistic and demand-oriented intervention. Even though the Rwandan government authorities endorse professionalization and the application of international standards in mining operations throughout the country, the actual implementation still needs support regarding operationalized and digitalized sector services, capacity building, sensitization and targeted trainings. The intervention will apply a holistic approach and combines direct support to the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), support to relevant TVET institutions and schools delivering mining skills training, and support to private supply chain actors.

More specifically, rudimentary mining techniques and limited mining and processing skills together with low usage of modern technology are the major issues affecting the potential growth of the mining sector in Rwanda. The dominant use of simple tools leads to low productivity and weak processing of extracted materials, leaving a big percentage of minerals unrecovered in tailings and has serious effects on the environment. RMB in cooperation with GIZ and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, BGR) started to develop mineral processing skills as well as on occupational health and safety through training and demonstrations across different 3T mine sites during 2021 and 2022. The present project will build upon the achievements.

The project “Sustainable Development of the Mining Sector in Rwanda” thus intends to:

• enhance compliance with responsible mineral sourcing standards,
• support modernization through digitalization of licenses and RMB services,
• strengthen the provision of TVET skills on mining,
• improve professionalization through the strengthened application of international safety and environment standards, as well as with EU regulations.

The project is part of a wider commissioning to GIZ to promote “Cooperation for peace, security and responsible natural resource governance in the Great Lakes Region”, which supports the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in implementing its Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region, including the protocol on the Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources.

GIZ would like to recruit an expert for the position of Expert on professionalisation in small-scale mining (TVET Skills Development, Due Diligence, OHS, environmental and social standards) for the project Sustainable Development of the Mining Sector in Rwanda). The practical modalities will be clarified as part of the work plan.

Location: Kigali

Fixed Term: One year (1/2024 – 11/2025) with possibility of extension

Position: 1

The Expert on professionalisation in small-scale miningperforms the following responsibilities and tasks:

Responsibilities

• Identify capacity building needs at the different levels to be tackled to reach the project’s goal for the area of compliance with laws, regulations and standards governing Environment, occupational health and safety in mining;
• Develop the training modules, training methodologies and deliver practical trainings on best practices of Environment, occupational health and safety in mining;
• Advise University of Rwanda /School of Mining and Geology and Rutongo School of Mining on curriculum improvement and support the implementation of a new BTech Degree on Mining Technology
• Advise University of Rwanda /School of Mining and Geology and Rutongo School of Mining in the conceptualisation and implementation of short-term courses on mining (mine planning, blasting and quarrying, OHS, environment)
• Liaise with relevant actors in the sector (i.a. TVET schools and institutions, Rwanda Extractive Workers Union, Rwanda Mining Association, companies in the mining sector, other development cooperation projects) to take advantage of complementarities and synergies
• Regular monitoring of and reporting on outputs and outcomes; support to developing visibility material on activity implementation

Tasks

• In very close coordination with stakeholders, esp. the RMB, development of a multiannual work plan and a detailed annual work plan
• Organize trainings for on-job miners in collaboration with RMB, the University of Rwanda /School of Mining and Geology, Rutongo School of Mining, REWU and RMA on topics such as mine planning, blasting and quarrying environmental, occupational health and safety needs.
• Advise mining companies on the implementation of measures to improve responsible mining practices (due diligence, environmental, occupational health and safety)
• Provide skills transfer plan and training to counterparts.
• Provide a plan to sustain the imparted skills and knowledge.
• Prepare different reports (circumstantial, weekly, monthly, annual, mid-term and any other relevant report the area under his/her responsibilities.
• Liaise with different stakeholders’ operation in the field of TVET, OHS and Environment especially in mining sector.

Required Qualifications, Competences and Experience

Qualifications and professional experience

• University Degree in mining engineering, environmental engineering or environmental sciences; occupational Health and Safety;
• Proven work experience in the mining sector within the Great Lakes Region;
• Proven work experience of more than five (5) years in environmental projects related to mining sector;
• Proven experience of relevant working experience in capacity building and / or professionalization in the mining sector: developing training methodology and material, and conducting trainings
• Demonstrated experience in working with small-scale artisanal mining operations; experience with 3T is an asset.
• Skills development in mining sector is an asset
• Regional experience in Sub-Saharan Africa is an advantage.

Other knowledge and additional competences

• Excellent oral and written skills in English are a prerequisite for this position; good oral and written skills in French or Kinyarwanda is an asset.
• Hands-on, creative solution finder, rigorous and structured
• High cultural sensitivity, partner and target group-oriented and team player

Interested candidates should submit their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references) via our electronic job portal by using the button “apply”; until 9^th October 2024 at 4:00 PM. All attachments should be put together in one PDF file not larger than 2 MB.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age or sexual orientation. We support equal opportunities and welcome applications from people with disabilities.

This includes the provision of reasonable accommodation, if needed, in order to participate in the job application and interview process and to perform essential job functions. Please let us know, if you have any particular requirements should you be invited for assessment/interview or that you wish us to consider, when considering your application.

Women and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for test and interview.