The Mining Earth Resource Management (MERM) bureau, established by the School of Mines and Geosciences (SoMG) and Mineral Resources Institute (UDSM-MRI) of the University of Dar es Salaam - serves as a coordination center for consultancy services, contracted research, professional development programs, and direct services. It follows the concept of coordinated decentralization, leveraging the expertise of the academic staff from both institutions in various disciplines such as geosciences, mining and mineral processing engineering, petroleum science and engineering, and more.

The primary objective of UDSM-MERM is to coordinate and manage consultancy activities within SoMG and UDSM-MRI, while also nurturing the development of scientists and engineers into professional consultants.

The bureau aims to provide guidance, source and deliver consultancy services, market the expertise of the institutions, promote outreach activities and public services, build consultancy capacity among staff, establish links with industries and institutions, offer training and development programs, and provide direct services in
the mining and petroleum industry. Additionally, it aims to ensure equitable access to consultancy assignments for staff members, maintain quality and a continuous flow of consultancy activities, maintain databases of consultancies undertaken, and safeguard the reputation and intellectual property rights of the institutions.

The scope of UDSM-MERM encompasses all departments and units under SoMG (Geosciences, Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering, Petroleum Science and Engineering) and UDSM-MRI as well as all staff involved in teaching, research, and consultancy.

In terms of marketing, the bureau targets various institutions and entities, including government organizations (local governments and government ministries), mining and exploration companies, oil and gas companies, private groups and individuals, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, other entities within the University of Dar es Salaam, other universities and colleges (both government and private), and other service providing entities in its area of expertise.