142
Focus groups with small-scale miners showed that a capacity-building roadmap
for sustainable SSM governance has the potential to increase SSM production by
15%, increase exports and revenues, and contribute to the achievement of SDG 9.
Evidence also shows that miners value a bottom-up approach to capacity-building
rather than a top-down agenda imposed by governments or international organizations. Such a bottom-up approach will be presented and discussed in forthcoming
sections.
10.4 Discussion and Results
10.4.1 SSM Governance in Bolivia
10.4.1.1 Governance: Policy Analysis
The SSM sector in Bolivia is supported on a strong governance framework.
However, it does not necessarily mean the existing governance environment is
equally strong. Governance comprises policies and multi-stakeholder collaborative
processes (Rakodi and Lloyd-Jones 2002; Davies 2005; Minnery 2007). These two
pillars should be strong enough to secure sustainable SSM governance. Findings
show that despite the proliferation of policies and regulations in place, multistakeholder collaboration is still fragile and needs to be enhanced in priority areas
valuable for locals. Table 10.3 shows the existing policy framework that regulates
the existing SSM governance:
Table 10.3 Policy framework for SSM governance (the Authors 2017)
Policy
Description
National Constitution of Bolivia Articles 369,
370, 371, and 372 (Congreso Nacional de la
Republica de Bolivia 2009)
The constitution regulates mining operations
carried out by state-owned and private
companies and SSM cooperatives
Law no. 1777, 1997 Mining Code (Congreso
Nacional de la Republica de Bolivia 1991a)
Former mining code
Law 535 of Mining and Metallurgy (Congreso
Nacional de la Republica de Bolivia 1991a)
Existing mining code
Replaces Law No. 1777
Decree 29272, 2007 (Congreso Nacional de la
Republica de Bolivia 2014a)
Approves the existing development plan and
encourages better governance through four
actions:
a) Modernization of existing legal mining
framework
b) Strengthening the role of the government as
a key actor for mining development
c) Development and diversification of Bolivia’s
mining potential
d) Strengthening of SSM
I. B. Franco et al.
Focus groups with small-scale miners showed that a capacity-building roadmap
for sustainable SSM governance has the potential to increase SSM production by
15%, increase exports and revenues, and contribute to the achievement of SDG 9.
Evidence also shows that miners value a bottom-up approach to capacity-building
rather than a top-down agenda imposed by governments or international organizations. Such a bottom-up approach will be presented and discussed in forthcoming
sections.
10.4 Discussion and Results
10.4.1 SSM Governance in Bolivia
10.4.1.1 Governance: Policy Analysis
The SSM sector in Bolivia is supported on a strong governance framework.
However, it does not necessarily mean the existing governance environment is
equally strong. Governance comprises policies and multi-stakeholder collaborative
processes (Rakodi and Lloyd-Jones 2002; Davies 2005; Minnery 2007). These two
pillars should be strong enough to secure sustainable SSM governance. Findings
show that despite the proliferation of policies and regulations in place, multistakeholder collaboration is still fragile and needs to be enhanced in priority areas
valuable for locals. Table 10.3 shows the existing policy framework that regulates
the existing SSM governance:
Table 10.3 Policy framework for SSM governance (the Authors 2017)
Policy
Description
National Constitution of Bolivia Articles 369,
370, 371, and 372 (Congreso Nacional de la
Republica de Bolivia 2009)
The constitution regulates mining operations
carried out by state-owned and private
companies and SSM cooperatives
Law no. 1777, 1997 Mining Code (Congreso
Nacional de la Republica de Bolivia 1991a)
Former mining code
Law 535 of Mining and Metallurgy (Congreso
Nacional de la Republica de Bolivia 1991a)
Existing mining code
Replaces Law No. 1777
Decree 29272, 2007 (Congreso Nacional de la
Republica de Bolivia 2014a)
Approves the existing development plan and
encourages better governance through four
actions:
a) Modernization of existing legal mining
framework
b) Strengthening the role of the government as
a key actor for mining development
c) Development and diversification of Bolivia’s
mining potential
d) Strengthening of SSM
I. B. Franco et al.