ECA’s Continent Wide Initiative on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment acknowledges the central role of women in Africa’s structural transformation, due to their significant, yet undervalued contribution to the economic, social and political landscape of the continent. In recognition of this, the African Centre for Gender (ACG) and the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) are jointly implementing a project that aims to unleash women’s potential as key economic actors and agents for change in the mining sectorby supporting member States to address the gender dimensions hindering productivity in mining - resulting in inclusive, sustainable economic growth. This is aligned to the Africa Mining Vision (AMV) that foresees a mining sector that is safe, healthy, gender and ethnically-inclusive, environmentally friendly and socially responsible.

In implementing the project, ECA has initiated the preparation of a Compendium showcasing experiences of women artisanal miners that highlights opportunities and challenges as well as accessible financial mechanisms in existence; a Report on mining policies, laws, regulations, standards and codes; and Policy recommendation templates aimed at supporting the creation of a conducive environment that meets women’s practical needs and strategic interests in this sector.

 An expert group meeting on Gender and Mining in Africa will be held from 22 to 23 October 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the aim of: (i) facilitating the sharing of knowledge, information and best practices in Gender and Mining on the African continent; (ii) reviewing, validating and finalizing the Compendium on good practices and initiatives on economic empowerment of women in artisanal and small-scale mining in Africa, and the Report on Gender and Mining in Africa.