Tanzania: Building capacities to tackle the risks of illicit financial flows in gold trade

(Participation in U4's workshops is by invitation only, and is organised through the hosting U4 partner agency.)

Gold is central to Tanzania’s economy and public finances. It is the country’s single largest export, accounting for over 40% of total export earnings and more than 90% of mineral export value, while the mining sector contributes around 7–10% of GDP and supports up to 1.5 million livelihoods through large-scale and artisanal mining. However, Tanzania loses substantial revenue to illicit gold trade, particularly from artisanal and small‑scale mining, where smuggling, under‑invoicing and informal trading networks divert gold beyond state oversight; estimates suggest billions of dollars are lost annually in illicit financial flows linked to gold in the region. This is not just a Tanzanian problem: globally, artisanal and small‑scale mining produces around 20% of the world’s gold, much of which passes through opaque or illegal channels that fuel organised crime, corruption and conflict, making illicit gold a significant global governance and security challenge.

This workshop seeks to deepen understanding of the risks of illicit financial flows and illicit activity associated with the gold trade in Tanzania. To this end, this event will provide a space for sharing of best practice between relevant actors from government, civil society, and international cooperation.