End poverty in all its forms everywhere
The North Mara Gold Mine is part of the Twiga partnership between the Tanzanian government and Barrick. Here, Barrick is working to show how responsible mining can help reduce poverty. The company’s approach of “mining with integrity” focuses on local employment, business development, and long-term investment in social infrastructure, ensuring its presence is a positive force.
A key element has been the creation of Community Development Committees, whose role is to allocate community investment to projects and initiatives identified as most critical by local stakeholders. “What we have done over the past five years has actually brought us closer to the community,” says Melkiory Ngido, Barrick Tanzania Country Manager.
North Mara is one of the country’s largest gold mines and a significant contributor to the national economy. Thousands of employees and contractors work at the operation, the vast majority of whom are Tanzanian.
The mine also supports a wide network of local suppliers – from construction firms to food producers – helping to stimulate broader economic activity across the region. Ngido describes the mine as a national asset “run by Tanzanians for Tanzanians”.
Agriculture is a vital component of local livelihoods, and the land around North Mara is rich and fertile; however, existing operations were mostly small and unproductive.
In September 2022, Barrick launched the Matongo Agricultural Project to showcase the region’s agricultural potential to local youth and provide sustainable work and livelihood opportunities. The project currently works ten acres of land for cultivation, and provides pesticides, seedlings, and irrigation equipment. It has also engaged expert agronomists from the Tanzanian Horticultural Association to deliver training and technical support.
The project has been highly successful, with nearly 100 individuals from 11 villages participating, before going on to develop their own land. By producing high-quality, seasonal crops for sale, including to the mine and its suppliers, the initiative is helping to transform subsistence farming into a viable business while creating opportunities for the next generation.
Barrick’s community work to fund social programs, support local businesses and create jobs at North Mara aligns closely with SDG 1, which aims to end poverty in all its forms. Through its partnership with the Government of Tanzania, Barrick is also supporting access to clean drinking water – aligned with SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) – through the construction of a major water reticulation facility at North Mara. This provides safe, reliable water to more than 35,000 residents in the neighboring villages, with future expansion underway.
Through a partnership with the Tanzanian government, Barrick has committed US$30 million to invest in education infrastructure across the country.
