Sand extraction in Ethiopia has historically been overlooked in discussions on extractive resources, such as gold, opal, and tantalum, despite being in place for decades. The demand for sand surged significantly after 2010, driven by the rapid growth of the country’s construction industry (Mains, 2019; Tiwari, 2016). However, despite this increase, the government has paid little attention to the activity. Historically, sand extraction was largely informal and controlled by networks of actors closely tied to local authorities. In some cases, individuals within local authorities were covertly involved in sand extraction activities. It is only in recent years, particularly since 2019 when the government began reforming the mining sector, that sand mining has gained attention.

This study aims to bring the issue of sand extraction into the broader debate on extractive industries, which has largely sidelined this important resource.  Applying the Governance of Commodity Chains (GoCC) framework, it explores the stakeholders involved, governance structures, and socio- ecological impacts of sand mining in the Alage and Sankura districts of Ethiopia.