Job Description
Due Date: 14 March, 2026
Background
A public interest environmental law organisation is looking for a consultant to undertake a research on an analysis of investment incentives in the mining sector and an exploration of policy incentives for sustainable mining. The recently adopted National Development Strategy (NDS) 2 ( 2025-2030) gives much more priority to environmental protection and sustainable mining as a national development thrust given the increasing central role of mining on the development trajectory of the country. In line with this development thrust, Government is implementing a number of policy initiatives such as the Responsible Mining Audit, which aims to assess the compliance of mining companies with national laws including environmental laws. On the other side, there are efforts by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to include more Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) obligations to companies in the ongoing Mines and Minerals Development Bill.
From the fiscal policy side, there have been efforts by the Government to remove mining fiscal incentives that have discounted the capacity of government to collect a fair share of revenue from mining and use it to address some of its sustainable development objectives. For example in the 2026 National Budget and the enacted Finance Act of 2025, the Government successfully recalibrated the sliding scale royalty rate for the Large-Scale Gold Sector by including a new top tier of 10% only for prices above US$ 5000 per ounce, in order to benefit from the ongoing gold price boom. However, there remains a challenge of arbitrage which is brought about by the 1% preferential rate for the ASM sector. The Government admitted in the 2026 proposed National Budget that 1% preferential royalty for the ASM sector could be exploited by Large Scale Gold Miners, to the disadvantage of Government, either through Large Scale Mining companies leasing claims to small scale gold producers or other gold mining investors who are not under the ASM category but disguising their investment as small scale gold producers, thereby benefiting from a discounted royalty rate. Whilst the efforts to leverage on the ASM sector to promote economic empowerment and livelihoods, there is need to ensure that the sector formalises. At the same, there is need to address risks that incentive arbitrage and aggressive tax planning by Large Scale Mining sector so that they operate as large scale investors without having to take advantage of the arbitrate opportunities in the ASM sector.
On the environmental side, the Government and local authorities are increasing developing policies and fiscal measures to collect more resources for environmental rehabilitation. This is coming from the fact that some of the investors are not complying with environmental obligations. These policies and fiscal measures such as environmental rehabilitation levy, environmental levies and local authorities environmental levies. However, these measures have been viewed by the mining industry to also affect easy of doing business and investment attractiveness in the country.All these developments point to the need for a 360 degree approach to review and assess the policy and fiscal incentives with the view of suggestion a policy design that balances investment attractiveness and the need to attract responsible investment. Given the role that ZIDA is expected to play under the NDS 2 on attracting responsible investments into the mining sector, it is important that from the onset, the issues of policy and fiscal incentives that balances investment attractiveness and sustainability are embedded in investment planning and promotion. It is against this background, that a research on the gap analysis of investment incentives in the mining sector and an exploration of policy incentives for sustainable mining is being commissioned. This work builds on the inroads that ZIMACE made to influence the 2026 National Budget on removal of arbitrage opportunities between large scale gold miners and artisanal and small-scale mining. While the enacted National Budget dropped this reform initiative, the fact that the Executive Budget Proposal, a cabinet decision, included this important reform shows that ZIMACE should not give up hence the need to closely work with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA).Objectives of the research• To review and assess the policy and investment incentives that are given to the mining sector and establish what is working and what is not working in terms of balancing investors’ interests with responsible mining objectives of government• To compare the Zimbabwe’s investment incentive policy framework with other countries that have been doing well on attracting investment. These countries include Rwanda.• To provide recommendations on what a policy design which balances investment attractiveness and sustainable investments looks like.
Duties and Responsibilities
Methodology
The research entails literature review to glean key lessons at country, regional and international levels, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FDGs) and case studies. A participatory methodology will be used where key stakeholders will be engaged in data collection. The study will use a co creation approach to come up with recommendations for an appropriate policy design on attracting sustainable investments in the mining sector.
Deliverables
• Full research report• A policy brief for policy advocacy targeting relevant stakeholders
Qualifications and Experience
Key Experience and Qualifications
• Possess a post graduate qualification in Economics, Trade and Environment Environmental law, Public Finance and Fiscal Policy, Business Studies, Sustainability, Public Policy or equivalent• Possess more than 10 years of experience in conducting similar studies• Fluency and written and oral communication in English• Possess access and influence on the subject matter• Excellent reporting writing
How to Apply
Interested candidates may send an email, application, proposed budget and their CV expressing interest to conduct the research to procurementzw@gmail.com not later than 14 March, 2026