Dar es Salaam, Aug. 18 -- IN the hills and hinterlands of Tanzania, far from the polished boardrooms of Dar es Salaam, a quiet transformation is taking shape. Beneath the red soil and sunbaked landscapes, small-scale miners long operating in the shadows are emerging into the spotlight with a new sense of purpose and possibility.

Once dismissed as informal, unregulated and often misunderstood, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is undergoing a much-needed facelift. Today, the sector stands on the brink of a new chapter one built on partnerships, training and digital innovation.

For decades, Tanzanias small-scale miners have toiled largely unnoticed. Isolated in remote regions, many worked without access to basic services, training, o...