Between a rock and a hard place: Livelihood diversification through artisanal mining in the Eastern DR Congo

Living conditions of the rural population in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have suffered from prolonged violent conflicts, poor governance, declining soil fertility, and lack of infrastructure to support economic development. In parallel, artisanal mining has become a widespread livelihood activity in the area. This study investigates how rural households integrate artisanal mining into their traditional farming livelihoods. It uses empirical data collected in household surveys conducted around Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve in the South Kivu province in a hurdle regression model to show that mining is used as both complementary and substitutory to farming. Results indicate that households that use mining to complement their farming activities tend to experience higher food security compared to non-mining households. As the reliance on mining increases, households tend to cultivate less land. These findings can help to inform actions against the prevalent issue of food insecurity in the region, but also point to dilemmas and trade-offs among environmental and development goals. • Artisanal mining is an important element in livelihood diversification strategies in South Kivu. • The extent to which artisanal miners diversify differs and depends on risk and income differentials compared to other livelihood activities. • Households that have diversified into mining have experienced more food security. • Substitution of farming activities was observed, but only for higher levels of mining involvement. • Addressing food security in the region is closely connected to improving farm livelihoods and can be supported by creating stronger synergies with the artisanal mining sector.