TORs - Consultancy to Conduct Research on Financial Models for Environmental Rehabilitation without raising the cost of Doing Business in Zimbabwe’s Mining Sector, with a Focus on Critical Minerals.
Consultancy, Research Jobs
Job Description
Assignment Duration: 90 days
Deadline for Applications: 31 May 2026
Background and Context
Zimbabwe’s mining sector is central to national economic development and is increasingly well positioned within global critical minerals supply chains, particularly in relation to lithium and other minerals required for energy transition. However, the expansion of mining activities has also raised serious concerns regarding environmental degradation, abandoned mine sites, water pollution, biodiversity loss, land disturbance, community displacement, and weak mine closure planning.
Environmental rehabilitation and mine closure remain major governance challenges in Zimbabwe’s mining sector. In many cases, mining affected communities and the state bear the long-term costs of environmental harm when companies fail to rehabilitate mined out areas or when financial guarantees are inadequate, unenforceable, or poorly monitored. Balancing the cost of doing business, financing mine rehabilitation and environmental management requires a balancing act. These challenges are particularly urgent in the context of critical minerals, where rapid investment and extraction may intensify environmental risks if not matched by strong regulatory, institutional, and financial safeguards. The Mines and Minerals Bill proposes the establishment of Environmental rehabilitation financing mechanisms. The private sector has however, indicated that the model can increase the cost of doing business.
Against this background, a non-governmental organisation seeks to undertake applied research to explore and assess innovative models for promoting environmental rehabilitation and mine closure in the mining sector without raising the cost of doing business in Zimbabwe. The research will examine global, regional, and comparative models that can inform practical, enforceable, and climate-responsive rehabilitation schemes for Zimbabwe.
Purpose of the Consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct research exploring and assessing models for financing environmental rehabilitation schemes in mining, with a particular focus on critical minerals. The study will generate evidence-based policy recommendations and practical options for strengthening Zimbabwe’s legal, institutional, and financial frameworks for mine rehabilitation and closure and at the same time help to attract responsible investments.
The consultant will examine how different rehabilitation financing and governance models operate, how they allocate risk, how they secure long-term funding for rehabilitation, and how they prevent environmental liabilities from being transferred to the state and mining-affected communities. This should be done without raising the cost of doing business.
Overall Objective
To assess innovative and practical models and schemes for environmental rehabilitation financing models that secures long-term funding for rehabilitation, prevent environmental liabilities from being transferred to the state and mining-affected communities and does not disproportionately raise the cost of doing business in Zimbabwe.
Duties and Responsibilities
Specific Objectives of the Assignment
The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:
1. Review Zimbabwe’s current financial or fiscal provisions in mining or related legislation governing mine rehabilitation, environmental management, and mine closure.
2. Examine global and regional financing or fiscal models and institutional frameworks for environmental rehabilitation schemes
3. Assess how different rehabilitation models allocate financial, legal, environmental, and operational risks among mining companies, government, regulators, insurers, financial institutions, and communities.
4. Assess how best to finance mine rehabilitation and environmental management programmes without increasing the cost of doing business in Zimbabwe.
5. Analyse the effectiveness of rehabilitation schemes in ensuring long-term financial security for mine closure and preventing the transfer of environmental liabilities to the state and communities.
6. Assess the institutional capacity and effectiveness in handling finances related to mine rehabilitation and environmental management.
7. Examine how financial frameworks in mine rehabilitation schemes can effectively address: water resource protection; ecosystem restoration; biodiversity conservation; climate resilience; land rehabilitation; post-mining land use; agriculture and alternative livelihoods for affected communities.
8. Draw lessons from comparable jurisdictions and assess their relevance and adaptability to Zimbabwe.
9. Develop practical policy or legal recommendations and implementation options for Zimbabwe.
Scope of Work
The consultant(s) shall undertake the following tasks:
1. Prepare an inception report outlining the proposed research approach, methodology, workplan, key research questions, stakeholder mapping, and structure of the final report..
2. Conduct a comprehensive desk review of relevant laws, policies, reports, academic literature, international standards, and comparative case studies. This should include a review of Zimbabwe’s mining, environmental, climate, water, land use, and public finance frameworks.
3. Analyse and compare different environmental rehabilitation financing and governance models, including but not limited to:
- Insurance based mine rehabilitation schemes: mechanisms where insurance products are used to cover rehabilitation obligations and environmental liabilities.
- Environmental bonds and guarantees: financial securities lodged by mining companies to guarantee rehabilitation.
- Pooled rehabilitation funds: collective funds financed by mining operators to address rehabilitation and closure obligations.
- Performance-based escrow accounts: ring-fenced accounts released according to verified rehabilitation performance.
- Public–private rehabilitation trusts: trust-based mechanisms involving government, private sector, and possibly community representation to manage rehabilitation resources.
- Hybrid models: combinations of the above mechanisms adapted to specific mining contexts.
4. Identify and analyse selected case studies from comparable jurisdictions.
5. Assess the feasibility of adopting or adapting rehabilitation schemes in Zimbabwe.
6. Assess how best to finance mine rehabilitation and environmental management programmes without increasing the cost of doing business in Zimbabwe.
7. Develop clear policy and practical options for establishing rehabilitation schemes in Zimbabwe.
Deliverables
1. Inception Report and Workplan
2. Draft Research Report
3. Stakeholder Validation presentation
4. Stakeholder Validation Workshop Report
5. Final Research Report
6. Policy brief
Duration of the Assignment
The consultancy is expected to be completed within 90 days from the date of contract signing
Qualifications and Experience
Required Qualifications and Experience
The consultant(s) should have:
• Advanced Degree in economics, finance, mining, natural resources governance, environmental science, development studies, or a related field.
• Previous practical experience (7-10 years) working for an NGO, Government department or company focussing on environmental, energy projects, mine closure, mining or financial management issues is a must for this assignment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Zimbabwe’s mining and environmental governance and policy oriented research.
• Familiarity with critical minerals, responsible sourcing, climate resilience, just transition, and environmental justice.
• Understanding of rehabilitation financing mechanisms, environmental bonds, guarantees, insurance, trust funds, or related financial instruments.
• Proven experience engaging government, communities, civil society, private sector, and development partners.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills.
• Although not mandatory, a consultancy team combining legal, environmental, and financial expertise would be an added advantage.
How to Apply
Application Process
Interested consultants (individuals or as teams) must submit the following by 31 May 2026.
• Expression of interest outlining understanding of the assignment, methodology, financial proposal and work plan
• CVs or Company profile
• Portfolio of similar work
Applications must be sent to: procurementzw@gmail.com with the subject line: Consultancy to Conduct Research on Models for Environmental Rehabilitation Schemes in Zimbabwe’s Mining Sector, with a Focus on Critical Minerals.
